Page 19 of The Highlander’s Unexpected Wife

Chapter Five

Alison stared out the window of the carriage and tried to ignore Henry’s stare. She well understood the necessity of a chaperone, but she had planned on taking Lily with her for the luncheon with the earl. If her mother was living, it might make sense for her to accompany Alison. A father would likely demand a meeting that didn’t include her, but that meeting would be with Cameron Hunter, demanding the marriage. Only then, if a gentleman refused to comply, would a father speak with the earl.

For Henry to accompany her drew into question whether the earl could be trusted to lunch with a young woman he believed to be his future daughter-in-law. Worse, Alison fully expected Henry to make a scene, most likely informing the earl that the marriage would not take place.

“I know you are not pleased with me.” Henry sighed. “I am not pleased with you, either. You may not understand why I am accompanying you, but after last night, I cannot trust you to know what is best.”

Alison kept her gaze on the passing homes.

“You think yourself a woman of the world. Perhaps, compared to Erin, you are. But you are still an innocent, and it is my duty to make certain no one takes advantage of you.”

“We discussed this, Henry. Even if the earl insisted I marry his son, that is not taking advantage of me.”

“Forgive me for saying so, Alison, but you have already made a mess of things. I know how much Robert means to you. I would hate to see this situation get in the way.”

She yanked her gaze onto him. “The earl cannot force me to marry his son.”

Henry didn’t flinch from her stare. “When you are safely wed to Robert, you will thank me.”

“I will thank you to mind your own affairs,” she snapped.

Anger flashed in his eyes. “You are my affair.”

They said nothing more until the carriage stopped in front of the earl’s home at exactly one p.m. Henry opened the door and leapt to the ground. Alison was forced to accept his hand as she stepped from the carriage. She ignored the arm he offered and started up the walk.

He lengthened his stride to catch up, then said under his breath, “You will not embarrass me. Do you understand?”

She looked at him in shock. “Me embarrass you? You are treating me like a child and are insulting the earl by attending a luncheon for which you received no invitation.”

“You are naïve if you think the earl doesn’t expect a guardian to accompany you.”

“You have known me all my life, yet you do not know me at all. I am no fool. We both know that Lily’s presence would have kept any tongues from wagging.”

He gave her a thin-lipped look. “It isn’t wagging tongues I am concerned with.”

She wanted to demand to know exactly what he was concerned with, but they reached the door and he lifted the knocker and knocked three times.

A moment later, a tall man with graying temples answered. “May I help you?”

“I am Lady Alison,” she said. “His lordship is expecting me for lunch.”

The man looked at Henry and waited.

“This is my cousin, Henry Hamilton.”

“I see.” The man stepped aside. “Please, come in.”

They entered and the man led them up the stairs to a parlor on the next floor where sat the Earl of Weston on the divan. He looked up from the newspaper on his lap. Surprise flickered in his eyes, then was gone.

He folded the paper and tucked it under his arm as he rose, then approached them, where they stood just inside the door. “Lady Alison, I am pleased to see you.”

Alison curtsied. “My lord.” She straightened and said, “May I introduce my cousin, Henry Hamilton.”

“Sir,” Henry said with a slight bow.

The earl angled his head in acknowledgement.

“My cousin didn’t explain my presence,” Henry said. “I am Alison’s guardian.”