To Tempt A Highland Duke: A Scottish Romance Novella by Bronwen Evans

Author:Bronwen Evans [Evans, Bronwen]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-11-07T18:30:00+00:00

Chapter 6

Flora’s head was still spinning as she reentered the crowded ballroom. She wondered if everyone looking at her knew what Dougray had been planning. Did everyone know he wanted her because she was the woman who could not bear a child?

She spotted her brother ahead with Tessa at his side and made her way toward them.

“Sister, dear. We have been looking for you. Where have you been?”

“Just the retiring room.”

Tessa leaned close. “I don’t know if I’ll make it through the King’s visit. I’m exhausted and I’m out of polite conversation already.”

She wanted to blurt out what had happened. She wanted to talk with Tessa and get her advice. Flora wanted Tessa to say she wasn’t being stupid. That Dougray and her would be silly to wed, given her condition.

Tessa continued to talk, but Flora barely heard her as she tried to gather her thoughts. Just then, a prickle at her neck made her look over her shoulder. Dougray had entered the ballroom, and it was causing quite a stir. Already several ladies were vying for his attentions.

Her hands shook as he made his way toward them. Not here. Not in public. She could not face him. Her breathing tightened.

A hand landed on her arm. “Is everything all right, Flora? You’ve gone very pale.”

She forced her lips to curve in a smile. “It’s so hot in here. Shall we take some air?”

Tessa took one look at her face and slipped her arm through hers and led her toward the terrace, calling over her shoulder, “Angus, we will be on the terrace. We won’t be long. Flora needs some air.”

She didn’t look back; instead she focused on her breathing and tried to gather her somersaulting thoughts. Once they reached the terrace, she did not stop. She pulled Tessa along with her and they almost skipped down the steps into the garden itself, moving away from prying eyes and ears.

When they reached a small fountain area with a bench seat, she indicated that Tessa should sit while she paced up and down.

“Did you know that Dougray would ask me to marry him?”

Tessa jumped to her feet on a squeal. “Goodness, how exciting. How long have you two been secretly courting?” Her smiled died. “Wait, it can’t be that long he was with Lady Carissa, only the other…” She stopped with a hand on hips. “The Kings visit.”

“Exactly.”

Tessa sunk down on the seat. “But this is what you have always wanted. He obviously merely needed a prod to finally face the fact it’s long overdue for him to settle down.”

“So I’m a convenience? If only that were the whole of it.” At Tessa’s frown she added, “Dougray proposed, saying he has always loved me.”

Tessa’s eyes narrowed. “Always? Then where has he been for the past two years once you came out of mourning? I thought Dougray was an honorable man, but why is he lying to get you to agree. Surely he knows you love him and would marry him in a flash.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.