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Gilroy had arranged breeding rights with Lord Feathering? That was new. And completely wrong. Lord Feathering had been trying to pawn off his rams as worthy studs for a long time. But the offspring never took to the hills of Whetland. He needed to get home before more idiocy happened.
Evan stifled the urge to groan and send his cousins back to Whetland. No telling how deep Gilroy had gotten into it with Lord Feathering. He forced a nod.
“We’ll be a day or two behind ye back to Whetland—that was the only stop,” Duncan said.
Evan waved them back onto their horses. “Off with ye, then. We’ll see you at Whetland.”
“I look forward to getting to know all of you at Whetland.” The enthusiasm in Juliet’s voice would hearten the gloomiest of souls.
Smiles on all their faces, each of the cousins inclined his head to Juliet before returning to their horses. Besotted.
Bloody well besotted.
Juliet didn’t move away from him, her arm clutching tight to his back as they watched his cousins ride out of the village. Silent until they were out of view, and then she took a step away from him, sipping her now cooled tea.
The grace and intelligence with which she handled his cousins unnerved him. He’d wanted someone like this—grace and intelligence—but the way she slipped in and out of character, in and out of lies, was disconcerting.
He eyed her. “You do have an imagination about you.”
She shrugged. “I’m always ready to tell people what they want to hear. That being said, we do need to work on the story of our meeting. I gave them that tidbit, but they will want more.”
“Aye, we do.”
“And you need to work on how to lie about it. Not a one of your cousins believed a word you said until I interjected.”
She was right and there was no use denying it. If the whole of this fake engagement failed to convince his grandfather, it would be his fault, not hers.
Juliet looked over her shoulder to the road, then took another sip of her tea, her blue eyes centered on him. “Your cousins clearly have affection for you.”
“Aye. And I for them. We grew up together at Whetland. All the boys running amok. Lots of swords and battles and storming the castle.”
She smiled. “I can just imagine.”
“We count on family. That was what I learned in those days.”
She nodded, the smile fading from her lips. She turned from him slightly, hiding her face with her tea cup.
“Your biscuit?” He held up the biscuit to her.
“Thank you.” She took it from him and bit off a corner, staring at him as she chewed. “And not only do they have affection for you, it was how their bodies moved, their eyes watched you.”
“And how was that?”
“You’re not only a friend, you’re their leader. They must be pleased you are the heir to the title? I would imagine it is a relief to all those around Whetland to have an earl that they respect and know they can depend upon. Too often I meet men that should have no business inheriting their titles and estates.”
Evan lifted his shoulders. “I don’t ken if they’re pleased or not, though none have ever said otherwise.”
“I don’t suppose they would.” Her head shook. “They must be just as anxious as your grandfather to see you married and focusing on the next generation. Yet you’ve said you would not marry. Do they know that?”
Evan stilled. “No, they’re not privy to that knowledge.”
She nodded, her jaw shifting to the side in thought. “Why is it you won’t marry?”
His glare shifted to her. “That isn’t information for you, Juliet. And I know what you’re up to. I’m not some London fop you can manipulate to get the answer you seek.”
Her head snapped back. “I never treated you as such.”
“You didn’t just now?”
