Page 22 of The Highlander Is All That

“Here we are,” Aunt Esmeralda warbled as she tugged on her gloves. “Our gels and our Scotsmen.” She gave each man the once-over and then nodded. “Excellent. Quite excellent. You look very daunting.”

“Do we?” the baron said with a grin.

“Indeed you do. Shall we go?” She scanned the gaggle of practically identical nieces and frowned. “Where is Catherine?”

“She has a megrim,” Victoria said with a grin.

“Does she?” Esmeralda’s nose wrinkled. “Sickly gel. Well, I suppose it cannot be helped. Onward!”

They filed outside, where two coaches awaited them. To Elizabeth’s annoyance, all the females were crammed into one, while the men had the other all to themselves. When she complained, her aunt told her in no uncertain terms that it would be wildly inappropriate to arrive at Almack’s in a carriage with a Scotsman. But when Anne asked if it would not also be inappropriate to arrive at Almack’s with Scotsmen at all, Esmeralda waved her into silence.

“They are our secret weapon,” she insisted. “These men, aside from being a reminder that we have the patronage of a very wealthy and powerful man, will create an unforgettable sensation.”

“It seems wrong,” Elizabeth felt compelled to mention, “to put them on display like creatures in a zoo.”

“Nonsense. They are your protectors. And do you know what that implies?”

“What?”

“That you are something worth protecting. Something quite valuable and rare.”

“I rather like that,” Mary said, bouncing on her seat until her ringlets danced. Since her seat was Elizabeth’s lap, this was annoying.

“Do stop.”

“Now, gels, pay attention. Be sure you greet Lady Jersey immediately upon your arrival. And be certain to compliment her on her hair.”

“Does she have special hair?” Mary asked.

Esmeralda frowned at her. “Not that I am aware of. But a compliment is necessary.”

“It will seem strange if we all compliment her on her hair,” Victoria said. “Perhaps we should discuss who will compliment what on Lady Jersey’s person.”

Mary bounced again. “I would prefer to compliment her dress.”

Victoria nodded. “Anne can compliment her jewelry and Elizabeth, her hair.”

“What if I don’t want to compliment her hair?” It was probably wrong to be so difficult, but this conversation was far too absurd.

“Fine then,” Victoria said on a sigh. “I shall take the hair. You can compliment . . .”

“What?”

“Her smile?”

“She rarely does,” Esmeralda muttered.

“Oh dear. That is a conundrum,” Elizabeth said through her grin. “I suppose I shall just have to play it by ear.”

“Perhaps you can compliment her ears,” Victoria said with a grin.

Esmeralda ignored this aside, nodding to Elizabeth. “You do that, dear.” She glanced out the window. “We’re almost there. Now remember. When you walk in, chins up, eyes forward, and glide. Your future husband could be in that room at this very moment.”

Anne caught Elizabeth’s eye and grimaced.

It took a minute or two for them all to untangle and exit the coach with some element of elegance, by which time, their Scotsmen were already waiting for them.

Elizabeth dared another glance at Hamish—to be precise, at his knees—and then quickly looked away and sucked in a breath as her head had suddenly gone woozy. Thankfully, she had hold of Anne’s arm, and her sister steadied her. Anne never did anything as frivolous as going woozy, thank heaven.