Page 74 of The Highlander Is All That

“Aye. Should ha’.”

“May I remind you there are children present?” Esmeralda snapped.

Mary blinked. “Where?”

Her aunt glowered at her. “Shall we maintain a civil conversation at morning calls?”

“You’re the one who brought Scotsmen in,” Lady Callinda hissed.

“You’re the one who asked them to perform,” Elizabeth responded tartly.

“I say!” Obviously Lady Callinda didn’t care to be called on her bad behavior.

“I thought they did quite well,” Victoria said brightly, and then, she applauded.

Miss Althea, who had revived herself because she didn’t want to miss anything, sputtered. “What do you mean?”

Anne chuckled. “They’ve been bamming you. They really are quite civilized.”

“Yes,” Elizabeth added. “They use silverware and everything.”

“Well, I never,” the good lady huffed.

“Do you no’?” Ranald murmured. “There’s a pity.”

Lady Callinda, and all the ladies, in fact, gaped like a brace of landed trout. “I . . . I . . . I . . .”

“Oh dear,” Lady Belinda Battersby gushed. “Is that the time? I really must be going.”

No doubt she did. The woman had gossiping to do.

All the women rose then and nodded. They seemed alarmed that Hamish and Ranald rose with them, as though they’d forgotten it was the polite thing for a gentleman to do. “We really must go. So many calls to make,” Lady Callinda warbled as they scuttled for the door.

“So right.” Sally Albright offered a somewhat venomous smile.

“Do have a lovely day,” Esmeralda said with the flick of her fingers. It was clear they couldn’t have left soon enough for her liking.

When the door closed on them, all the St. Claires and a couple Scotsmen collapsed in very inappropriate laughter.

“Hush,” Anne said through a snort. “They’ll hear us.”

“I don’t give a fig,” Victoria said. “How horrible were they?”

Ranald shrugged. “I enjoyed it.” He glanced at Hamish. “After reinforcements arrived, of course.

“Of course.” Hamish clapped him on the shoulder.

“And how was your journey?” Mary asked.

“It was a bluidy awful two weeks.” Ranald shook a finger at the girls. “Don’t any of you get it in your head to hie off to Scotland and elope.”

“Catherine was kidnapped,” Elizabeth reminded him.

“Beside the point. I doona want to have to make that ride again. My arse is sore.”

“Language!” Esmeralda trilled but, judging from her smile, it was clear she was pleased to have them back.

There were more callers, mostly younger girls who seemed to be actual friends of the St. Claires. While they were polite and subdued, it was clear they’d come to get a look at the St. Claire Scotsmen as well.