Love in the Highlands by Barbara Cartland - Love in the Highlands

Author:Barbara Cartland - Love in the Highlands [Cartland, Barbara]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Love, romance book, Christian, romance and love, Religious, romance historical, romance historic history, General, Romance, romance historical romance, Gothic, Romance Fiction, romance novel, barbara cartland, Fiction, romance ebook, romance author
ISBN: 9781906950323
Google: UWaYh2BVXIoC
Barnesnoble:
Goodreads: 12802304
Publisher: Barbara Cartland.com
Published: 2003-12-31T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SIX

Dressing for dinner that evening, Lavina took great care about her appearance. She wanted to make an excellent impression on her new relatives.

It was only when she went downstairs that she discovered that there were other guests for dinner, who had been out fishing that day.

"Cousin Lavina," said Andrew, "let me introduce my friend, Sir James McVein, whose estate runs next to this one."

Sir James was six feet tall and had been, she learnt later, in the army until he came into his father's title. He had then retired to look after his very large estate.

She found herself sitting next to him at dinner, and realised that he was definitely one of the best looking young men she had ever seen. Also one of the most amusing.

He kept her laughing by telling her the things which had happened in the north since he had served in the army and the difficulties he had encountered since he became a land owner.

"My father was Scottish and my mother was English," he told Lavina. "So when I have a problem to solve I ask myself which will be the most sensible or the most valuable."

Lavina laughed.

"One always gets back to money in the south," she

replied. "I am sure people in the north are the same, although I expect you to be more patriotic."

"I think we are patriotic," the Scotsman agreed. "At the same time we try to be sensible and not in any way so easily aroused to anger as our ancestors were."

Lavina laughed again.

"As far as I remember, the history of Scotland is full of battles and I have always felt I should be careful in case I insulted anyone, and suffered in consequence."

Sir James smiled.

"I think you are quite safe," he said. "I assure you the Scots love beauty, whether it is a flower or a woman. You will find yourself admired wherever you go."

Lavina blushed.

"Thank you," she said. "Now I will not be so frightened of saying or doing the wrong thing."

"Then Scotland welcomes you with open arms," he replied. "I will give a party immediately in your honour at my own house."

"I shall be delighted to accept," she said. "And so, of course, will my fiancé."

"Your fiancé?" he asked in dismay.

Then she realised that he had not been there for the announcement of her engagement.

"Tell me it isn't true," he said. "This is an imaginary fiancé."

"No, he's sitting over there, next to Lady McEwuan, Lord Elswick."

There was silence. Then the young man said,

"That makes me more sad than I can say."

As he spoke Lavina looked up into his eyes. She felt for a moment as if they held her captive.

Then she blushed and turned away, feeling that something strange and unusual had happened.

*

In the following days the whole neighbourhood opened its arms to them. There were dinners, lunches, dances. Something happened every night.

Sir James invited them to his estate, so that he could show them his horses which, everyone agreed, were the best for miles around.

The Marquis seemed

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