Lessons in Loving a Laird by Michelle Marcos

Author:Michelle Marcos [Marcos, Michelle]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Published: 2012-03-06T03:27:34+00:00

THIRTEEN

Shona bounded through the house looking for Conall. She had a small fortune in a case under her arm, and maybe, just maybe, it would earn her another trip out to the tollhouse.

He wasn’t in his study, and he wasn’t in the library. Just then, she saw Mrs. Docherty emerge from the kitchen with a large tray of tea and scones. Shona reached over the housekeeper’s shoulder and swiped one from the dish.

Mrs. Docherty turned angry eyes upon her. “Those are for the guests, Shona! Put it back!”

But Shona had already taken a huge bite of the warm, buttery cake. “Sorry. I haven’t eaten in ages. Who’s here? And why are there so many coaches outside?”

Mrs. Docherty walked toward the end of the hall. “I haven’t got time to gossip idly about the guests. I’m as behind as a cat’s tail. Look at the time, and I’ve just got the tea prepared.”

“Where is everyone?”

“In the drawing room.”

“I’ll get the door for ye.” Shona jumped in front of her, and swung the doors wide open on the drawing room. “Greetings, all! I bring good news of—”

The cheer she brought with her was quickly sucked out through the door. A pall of moroseness hung about the room like a thick winter fog rolling over a dark loch.

Conall stood. Though he was dressed handsomely in a burgundy-colored coat, a doomed expression weighed down his features. “Er, Shona, this isn’t a very good time.”

Worry gripped her. “Is everything all right? What’s happened?”

“There’s no need for you to be alarmed. We just need a few moments to sort things out.”

The two beautiful women on the settee stared at her in polite curiosity. Dressed in emerald and amethyst, they looked as if they belonged in a painting.

The older of the two subjected her to an inquisitive assessment. A wave of self-consciousness splashed over Shona. Shona’s hair was unpinned and tossed about by the fierce winds outside, and her new bluebell-print day dress, though presentable, was leagues beneath the elegance of the ladies’. Although there was no expression of disdain on the woman’s face, Shona could sense her contempt.

“Will you not introduce us, Ballencrieff?” the duchess asked.

Conall’s lips thinned. “If you wish it. Your Grace, may I present Shona MacAslan, my factor. Shona, this is Gwendolyn, Duchess of Basinghall.”

Shona dipped down, as she knew she had to before a peeress. “How do ye do?”

A fine eyebrow arched into the duchess’s forehead. “A female factor? How very novel.”

Shona smirked. “’Tis only because his first one was as useless as a two-legged horse.”

“I see. Miss Shona, may I present my daughter, the Lady Violet.” The duchess focused her full attention on Shona. “Ballencrieff’s fiancée.”

Shona’s eyes grew wide as saucers. She turned to Conall. “Fiancée?”

Conall’s face flushed to the color of his coat. “Yes. It’s just been arranged. You’re the first outside the family to know.”

She cast a glance at the young woman in question. Her pulse throbbed thickly in her veins as she regarded Lady Violet. They were close in age, but Lady Violet was prettier even than Willow.

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