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‘Yes. You are pointed in the wrong direction, Dougal. I’ll have a word with Mrs Langdale while you find a spot to turn. Take Lochlear for me, will you, Ewan?’
Ewan jumped down from the box and took the reins, his jaw slack, but Benneit ignored him and went to open the carriage door. Jo sat in the corner, very straight, her eyes wide and blank. He knew that look.
He held out his hand.
‘Dougal must turn the carriage and this is a rather narrow road, so despite the rain you are safer on terra firma with me than inside.’
‘Is there an obstruction on the road that necessitates our taking a different route to Glasgow, Your Grace?’
‘You are not going to Glasgow. You are returning to Lochmore. If you wish to discuss this here with Dougal and Ewan as audience, I will, Jo, but I prefer not to keep the horses standing for longer than necessary in this weather. Come.’
She did not move and he sighed and began climbing in.
‘No!’ she exclaimed. ‘Oh, very well, outside, then.’
He stepped back out and held out his hand. She ignored it and used the door to help her jump down on to the road. He motioned her towards the track to the standing stones and she strode ahead, her mouth prim and her chin up, the proud effect ruined somewhat by the mud squelching at their feet. He resisted, barely, the urge to pull her back against him, envelop her, melt her resistance and fear.
‘You should not have run away like that.’
She stopped at the first of the standing stones and turned the full force of her great grey-eyed glare on him.
‘I did not run away. Our agreement was for a month and now it is time for me to leave. I came to help you with Jamie and I have done precisely that. It is not my role to hold your hand and warm your bed as you prepare the castle for your next Duchess, Lochmore. Now that you will be announcing your engagement it is no longer appropriate that I remain at the castle. I have too much respect for Tessa McCrieff.’
‘If that is your objection we are quite in the clear. There will be no wedding. She has rejected me.’
‘She... She what?’
‘Unbelievable, I know. I could hardly credit it myself, vain peacock that I am. She told me that on no account would she marry me.’
He smiled a little at the blank shock on her face.
‘Your disbelief goes a little way to restoring my bruised pride. But only a very little way. It will need more than that.’
‘Is there someone else? Is that why?’
‘Most assuredly... Oh, you mean for Tessa McCrieff. I’m afraid I didn’t enquire, though she did appear very willing to be banished to her aunt in Glasgow for some reason. I was rather too dazed at my good fortune to take in the details. I went to throw myself at her mercy and she ended up cutting me loose with hardly a scar to show for it. I can only console myself on my good taste that had matters been different she would have made me a very creditable wife, but she also makes an excellent jilt. In that, too, I am luckier than I deserve. I’m free, Jo.’
* * *
Free.
Jo leaned back against the stone behind her. Her head was pounding, her heart was pounding. She felt sick and terrified of the joy that was trying to burst out of her at this reprieve.
But it made no difference. If Tessa McCrieff would not have him, no doubt McCrieff would toss another clan member at Benneit, or he would find some lord’s lovely daughter from Inveraray or Kilmarchie—she had seen enough pretty things sighing over him during the ball. The principle was the same. All that had been bought was some more time.
But time...
With Benneit and Jamie.
She would give everything she had for this time. She had already given her heart, what did pride and honour and reputation matter next to that?
‘You wish for me to return with you.’ She sounded calm, which was amazing.
‘Yes, Jo. You aren’t leaving.’
‘It is not for you to decide.’
He came and pressed his palm against the rough grey stone behind her.
‘You do realise where you are, don’t you?’
‘In a field. A wet and muddy field.’
‘That, too. But you have very unwisely chosen to stand within the Ring of Inverdine, mo ghràdh.’
She looked away at the casual endearment, finally noticing the peculiar arrangement of stones. The name sounded impressive, but it did not look very daunting. Just an arrangement of tall and very uneven stones laid out in a broad circle. What on earth did that have to do with her whole world closing and opening and ripping her heart to shreds in the process?
