Page 15 of Scottish Seducer
I ignored how the world swirled away until it was just the two of us in my world. “Richard and Ann have stolen my flat and replaced my name on the lease agreement. I should have asked myself why they just showed up.”
He drew little circles on the base of my spine as he asked, “Do you want me to have my lawyers investigate?”
If I told my sisters, they’d have their families all help. I couldn’t let that happen, so I swallowed and said, “I…I just want to have a place so when immigration investigates me, they see I’m not sponging and can support myself.”
He whispered his question, “Are you afraid they’ll kick you out?”
Too bad Gretna Green was no longer allowed to have fast weddings since British law changed, because right now, I’d have done something completely out of character and asked this stranger to be mine. The thought made me laugh, but I let him go and said, “It’s why I need my job.”
We headed into the blacksmiths. The anvil was there that once rang when a couple married in the past. No one else was around as Charlie took my hand and said, “I’ll be happy to send movers to get your things delivered so we can go right to my townhome...unless you need me to punch Richard in the nose.”
A fight for my honor was something out of an Austen book. I ignored the thought as I guessed moving in was the closest modern version of an elopement, right? And legally less messy, because soon I’d re-find my center, but I swung our clasped hands as we headed out to the next marriage room and shook my head and replied, “You need your keep your knuckles safe so they’re always ready to reach for your dreams, Charlie.”
His mouth curved into a wicked smile, like he was about to toss me against a wall in the chapel and kiss every thought out of me, but he just said, “And to accompany you to one of your reenactments.”
Damn.My imagination was now officially out of control. We passed a billboard that had the painted image of a Regency wedding and the photo of a modern bride and groom. For a second, I saw Charlie’s face as the groom until I blinked and squinted to be sure as I said, “We’ll go later—if you get yourself a proper Regency-style suit.”
He continued to walk the cobblestoned center of the path and pointed to the museum as he asked, “Can I wear my kilt? I have a fancier one.”
We walked into the room displaying items from the old blacksmith that symbolized marriage as I said, “No, though I’m interested in attending the Highland Games. It’s been on my bucket list, but my London friends haven’t been that interested since we’re all Americans who flew to a Bath reenactment and never wanted to leave.”
“My brother is the host of the Games. You’ll be treated as a VIP when you go.”
That sounded fun. I played with my necklace as I gazed up at him. “I didn’t know that. Seems there’s lots we don’t know about each other.”
He pointed to the flowers on display and said, “Yes, like how you’re a romantic at heart.”
My heart beat more wildly for him as I asked, “I am?”
He kissed my cheek and said, “Most women don’t want to tour an old wedding chapel-slash-blacksmith. Let’s get lunch before we leave.”
When we finished walking around the small museum, I said, “But we ate breakfast not that long ago.”
He gestured toward the door and held it open for me to walk through as he said, “I need to keep my strength up near you, it seems, and I need you to open up about taking me to one of your events.”
The blacksmith restaurant had sweet music playing out on the sidewalk. I supposed I could drink more tea. “Okay, since you’re so interested, there’s a museum hosting a Jane Austen night this weekend, but you need proper Regency era clothing.”
We were led to a table and the maître d’ handed us menus as Charlie said, “I’ll get us both new outfits.”
I chuckled. Charlie, with his long hair, would be more likely to resemble the ne’er-do-well Mr. Churchill, though he certainly had the funds to be a Darcy. I sucked in my lips and studied the menu as I said, “I…we’ll see. I need my clothes to be authentic, and I’m pretty fussy about it.”
He reached over the table and took my hand. “Then I’ll need your approval on everything, and I’ll invest in a three-D virtual world so you’ll need to help me pick settings for that, too.”
Who knows? Maybe he’d make a small fortune if he created a living, breathing Jane Austen experience for Austen lovers. Every year, the festival drew about ten thousand diehards in costume. How many more readers dreamed of living in that time but didn’t have the means or time to show up in full regalia? I found my favorite tea on the menu, and some yummy-sounding scones, and ordered them.
He ordered a full breakfast.
Once we were alone, I sighed and said, “Chatsworth House is the must-see for allPride and Prejudicefans. And Bath. Honestly, filming all the places proper Janeites would want to include could be expensive.”
The waiter brought the tea, and I poured for us both while he said, “I have more than enough money, and besides, during the project, I’ll get to know more about you. So it’s a win-win for me.”
And just like that, he saved me from losing everything.
Someday soon, I’d find a way to pay him back, and if that included helping him with some app, then I’d happily comply.
I put my napkin on my lap and said, “You’re seriously impossible, Charlie.”
The food arrived, but he winked at me and said, “I’m sure you can handle me.”
Once we were alone, he pushed one of his sausages onto my plate and I ate it. Honestly, Scottish meats were quite yummy. As we finished our tea, I realized I’d eaten half his plate while he grabbed one of my scones. I sighed and decided not to say anything about my lapse, instead saying, “Let’s go.”
He stood with me and said, “Excellent plan. Let me show you our new home when we get there. I’m sure you’ll approve.’
Then, he held my hand as we left and I ignored how his simple touch ignited a fire of desire inside me.
For all my protests earlier, I had to admit one thing to myself…Charlie Grannd was a better man than I could ever have expected. He was almost the perfect man for all the Bennett sisters. He was intelligent like Darcy, kind like Bingley, handsome like Wickham, and provided a better life, which was what Mrs. Bennett wanted for her girls.
Maybe he was even a little respectable the way Charlotte had wanted, which truly did make him the best, even if he was a Scot.
