Page 51 of Wild Scottish Fortune

That, I had done for myself.

The hypocrisy in Finlay’s mother’sempathywas only fueling my disgust.

My pain.

Jumping up, I dodged Finlay’s attempt to grab my arm and slipped to the side of the room, taking the first door I could find. Panic gripped me, sweat dripping down the back of my dress, and I hit the stairs at a dead run.

Thank God Willow had let us wear trainers or I would have fallen head over heels down the steps.

I heard my name, but didn’t look back, couldn’t think, couldn’t breathe, and when the Green Lady appeared in front of me, taking my hand, I allowed her to lead me out.

Once again, saving me.

By the time I broke outside into the cool night air, dusk still lingering, I welcomed the cold. A light mist drifted,kissing my cheeks, and I gulped for air on the steps outside the hotel.

“Orla.”

I couldn’t turn, couldn’t bring myself to look at the sympathy I knew I would see in Finlay’s eyes.

“I’m fine, Finlay. I just needed some air.”

What I needed was for him to leave. I didn’t need to see the pitying look on his face that had been mirrored around the room that evening every time someone had looked at a photo of the children at the soup kitchens. Did anyone ever stop to think that maybe the children should be asked if they wanted their photos taken and put on display like that? Bile rose in my throat.

“I’d ask for my mother to apologize to you, but it will be hard for her to speak after I murder her.”

My eyebrows winged up and I turned, certain that Finlay would have made an excuse for his mother’s behavior. Instead it sounded like he was defending me. Confused, I tilted my head and searched his face.

Finlay glanced around at a few people who had stepped outside for a smoke and reached forward to touch my elbow lightly.

“Come with me?”

I nodded, understanding he was sheltering me from the curiosity I had likely created when I jumped up and ran from the ballroom. Finlay drew me around the side of the hotel, and to a set of steps that led to one of the many narrow closes that ran through Edinburgh’s main streets. I loved Edinburgh for that reason, as each close was like a portal to another secret world and would often duck off the main street and follow a winding lane to a hiddenpart of the city. Now, I was grateful for the relatively quiet and safe space it provided. Finlay glanced up as several waiters propped a back door open, stealing a smoke, and he looked back at me.

“Hold on just a second.” Finlay went over to the waiters and drew out his wallet. I turned away, watching the mist drift through a streetlight that had just winked on, and rubbed my hands over my arms.

My skin burned.

I’d never felt so exposed in my life, and I had been on the receiving end of many pitying looks before. Growing up in poverty, I had grown used to the looks that adults gave me.

I had just thought I’d finally left most of that behind me.

I really hoped that Finlay wasn’t getting me food from the waiters. It would just add insult to injury, and I didn’t think I had it in me to explain to him why it would hurt so badly if he did.

“Here, come with.” Finlay was back and I steeled myself, turning to find him brandishing a fancy bottle of champagne and two glasses. The breath left me. I could accept that offering, at least.

Finlay climbed a few steps to the stone landing and put the champagne and glasses on the ground before slipping out of his coat and placing it on the ground before I could stop him.

“Finlay! Your coat.”

“I don’t care.” Finlay’s words were clipped, and I wanted to argue with him about the fine wool being on the damp and dirty ground, but I had enoughstreet smarts to understand when a man was barely containing his rage. Though Fin was entirely controlled, the tension spilled off him and I eased myself up the steps, uncertain of how to proceed. “Sit. Please.”

I sat.

Finlay joined me, his shoulder not quite touching mine, but the heat from his body still brushed my skin. The arch over our heads caught much of the misting rain, and I stared glumly out at the dark steps that dropped below me, winding away into another part of the city. I could go down those steps and keep going, never looking back, and leave it all behind. I’d done it before, hadn’t I?

The pop of the champagne jolted me and then Finlay handed me a glass, which I accepted, watching the bubbles rise in the golden liquid. I had no idea what to say.

“Orla. I truly have no words. I can’t make excuses or explain my mother’s behavior. That was cruel in a way that I can’t ever forgive, and you’ll have to excuse me if I can’t quite find the correct response right now.”

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