Sinful Scottish Laird by Julia London

Author:Julia London [London, Julia]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2017-02-28T08:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWELVE

CAILEAN GAVE THEM time to greet their guest, of course. And he needed to collect himself before he met Spivey face-to-face. He retreated to Daisy’s garden and idly looked around as the happy reunion took place, pretending to examine a wind chime that had appeared since the last time he stood there. His mind was racing, a thousand thoughts slamming through his head at once.

He could not understand what the man was doing at Auchenard. While it was possible Spivey had somehow heard of Cailean here, had somehow used Daisy as an excuse to pursue him, it really made no sense. It was too much of a coincidence. But he slipped his dirk into the waist of his plaid all the same, prepared to defend himself if necessary.

When he could stand it no more, when his curiosity threatened to choke him, he walked out of the garden and onto the terrace. Miss Hainsworth had joined them, and the four of them—Daisy, her cousin, her uncle and Spivey—were laughing, all of them happy, all of them acting as if the great problems of the world had just been resolved and there would be no more war or famine.

They didn’t notice Cailean at first, but after a moment, Daisy caught sight of him. “Arrandale!” she said, reaching out her hand to him.

Arrandale. Not Cailean. Not friends, then.

He walked toward them, his gaze on Spivey. He was as tall as Cailean, but younger and fitter. His hair was dark gold, and his clothing looked as if it had been recently sewn; the collar of his coat was too stiff to lie down properly, his knee breeches shiny. He did not wear the uniform of a captain in the king’s navy. He looked like a country gentleman.

“I, ah... Mr. Spivey, allow me to introduce my neighbor, Lord Arrandale,” Daisy said. She was smiling, but it was not as bright as he’d come to know it. She seemed slightly ill at ease.

“Laird,” he said. “I am laird of Arrandale.”

“How do you do,” Spivey said and walked forward, his hand extended to greet Cailean. But as he neared Cailean, something flickered in his expression. He shook Cailean’s hand enthusiastically, as if meeting the vicar who would perform his marriage to Daisy here and now...but his gaze was shrewd.

“Mr. Spivey has come all the way from Cornwall,” Daisy said.

“Captain Spivey,” he said, and smiled indulgently at Daisy.

“Oh yes, I beg your pardon. Captain Spivey.” She laughed. “I’m not yet accustomed to it.”

“Pardon, sir...have we perhaps met?” he asked Cailean. “You are somewhat familiar to me.”

“Aye, I suspect I am. I am Cailean Mackenzie of Arrandale.”

The color drained from the captain’s face. He jerked his hand free of Cailean’s and put it on the hilt of his sword. “What are you doing here?” he demanded sharply. He looked all around them, as if he expected more Mackenzies to appear.

“I live here,” Cailean said calmly. “I am a Highlander, aye?”

“What you are, sir, is a smuggler!” Spivey said and abruptly pulled his sword.

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