Page 48 of Wild Scottish Fortune

“I don’t blame you. If Lia wasn’t a taken woman, I was considering asking for her hand myself.”

“Thank God she’s wearing my ring tonight. I’m certain I’ll be beating the men off her.” Munroe grimaced, and then tried out a scowling look. “There…does that look intimidating?”

We all grinned at the blond-haired man and his glasses.

“You’re about as intimidating as a golden retriever puppy.” Lia patted his cheek. “But I love you for it anyway.”

“Excuse me, but puppies can be quite fierce.” Finlay rushed to his friend’s defense, holding up a finger. “I still have a bite from one from last week.”

“Thank you, Finlay. You hear that, darling? I’m fierce.” Munroe puffed his chest out and we all laughed. He checked his watch and then motioned for us to follow him. “Come on, come on. On we go. Let’s get this over with.”

At least I wasn’t the only one nervous for the gala. I realized that maybe none of the people I was attending with tonight looked forward to a gala, but each had their own reasons for attending. Maybe this wouldn’t be such a bad night after all.

Particularly when Finlay held his arm out for me to take.

Even if I wasn’t a real princess, maybe I could just play one for a little while.

“Look,” I said and poked my sparkle trainers with hearts etched on them out from beneath my dress.

Finlay peered down, a wide smile breaking out on his face.

“There she is.”

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Orla

It was worse than I had expected.

The night had begun on a promising note, and I’d been positively cheerful when we’d entered the large ballroom, certain that I was well equipped for the night ahead. I’d done some research on what to expect at a gala and had spent some time memorizing which fork to use at dinner.

What I hadn’t known was the charity the gala was for.

I could have kicked myself.

How could I have spent all this time preparing for a charity gala and yet never asked what the charity was for?

To help end child hunger in Scotland.

Of all things.

Photos in stark black and white were blown up and plastered around the ballroom of children just like I’d been. Hungry. Scared. Angry.

They need you. The signs proclaimed. Yet they had it all wrong. We didn’t need rich people to pity us. We needed a better system in place to support those of us who were forgotten by our families, the government, and our schools. The government cast a wide net, trying to help where they could, but still many slipped through the cracks.

Like me.

“Mother.”

I turned, swallowing my nerves and pressing my lips together as a woman in a dove-gray gown and pearls glided to Finlay’s side. Clutching his arm, she tilted her cheek for a kiss all while her eyes flicked over me from head to toe.

I’d been assessed, quickly, and now the questions would begin. Street instincts told me I was up against a powerful force, and the way Finlay’s entire stance and energy had changed when his mother had drawn close told me a lot about him. I tightened the shawl I’d been given with the dress around my shoulders, a chill dancing across my skin.

“Finlay. Don’t you just look so very handsome? You take after your father you know.” Finlay’s mother beamed up at him, but I noticed the lines around Finlay’s mouth tighten at the mention of his father.

“So you’ve told me. I’m sure he would have loved this event.”

“He did love a good party, didn’t he?” Finlay’s mother sighed and patted a hand to her chest before finally addressing me. “We lost Finlay’s father a few years back and still miss him dearly.”

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