Page 38 of Hard-Hearted Highlander
He removed his hand from her neck. “Your righteousness comes several moments too late, does it no’?”
Her lush mouth gaped at the implication of what he was saying. Her hazel eyes narrowed. “Yes, it does,” she agreed. “You are...” Now her voice was shaking as she tried to find the correct word. “You arewretched,Rabbie Mackenzie.”
“Ah, wretched.” He couldn’t help but chuckle at that. He’d been called far worse in his thirty some-odd years. He pulled the lace handkerchief from his pocket and handed it to her.
She stared down at it. “Why are you giving this to me?”
“You’ve a wee bit of sand on your face, aye?” he said, gesturing to her cheek. “Keep it. It means far more to you than it ever will to me.” He stepped around her and began to walk up the path, leaving her there.
But he heard her mutter under her breath.
The others were waiting for them as they emerged from the forest. Miss Kent’s gaze swept right past Rabbie and went to her lady’s maid. “We’re invited to dine, Bernadette,” she said brightly.
“Oh, no, I—” Miss Holly glanced around at all of them, standing there, watching her. “We must reach Killeaven before nightfall.”
“But we might stay until—”
Miss Holly grabbed the lass’s hand and squeezed it. “I promised your mother I’d have you home, Avaline,” she said earnestly. “Wemustgo.”
Miss Kent seemed unconvinced, but some unspoken understanding passed between the two women, because she nodded once and mumbled, “Yes, of course, we must.”
Miss Holly linked her arm in Miss Kent’s, and they resumed their walk up the road. Miss Holly’s cheeks were flushed and her hair, he noticed, was a bit mussed on the side of her head where he’d held her.
Rabbie started up, too, but became aware of a pair of eyes on him and turned back. Those eyes belonged to Catriona.
“Aye, what?” he asked, holding his hand out to her, indicating she should come along.
“What are you about?” she asked slyly.
“Naugh’ more than making it through each day and the next,” he answered truthfully.
Catriona clucked his tongue at him. “I donna know what to make of you any more, Rabbie.”’
Aye, he didn’t know what to make of himself. Especially not after that forbidden kiss.
CHAPTER TEN
INHINDSIGHT, AVALINEsupposed the gift of the handkerchief was rather silly of her. Bernadette was right—he didn’t care for the lace, no matter that she had embroidered his initials on it. She’d thought he might think it sweet, might put it in a special place and from time to time in the course of their marriage, he would take it out and admire it, smile softly and remember the innocence of his fiancée before they’d wed.
It was quite clear that man was incapable of reflection or sentiment.
Well, at least she’d tried, as she’d told Bernadette she would, which was more than could be said for him. But really, quite honestly, since God was listening—Avaline assumed He was, as the Reverend Nokum was forever warning them that God Saw All—but if He was listening now, she would confess that the handkerchief had really been an excuse to ride to Balhaire. Even though she really disliked riding. Even though she was fearful of her fiancé. And not for the reasons Bernadette had suggested. Avaline had no intention of crying off. But she’d thought—hoped—her fiancé would appreciate her efforts, and if he did not, well...
There was Captain Mackenzie.
Oh, what agloriousday it had been, even when her fiancé had appeared, which Avaline had at first feared would ruin everything. Bernadette was so kind to occupy him so that Avaline might enjoy the company of Catriona.
What an unexpected friendship she’d found with Catriona! Once Avaline had become accustomed to the way Catriona voiced aloud every thought she was thinking, and was not, as Avaline had first supposed, judging her, she’d seen a sunny side to Catriona that she really very much liked.
But it was Captain Mackenzie who had carried the day for her.
Aulay. His name was Aulay. She had not been invited to call him that, naturally, but she adored his name. It was quite different and it suited him, forhewas different than any man she’d ever known. He was so...divine.Handsome, which was the first thing she’d noticed about him. And so very kind, andattentive. He’d taught her the names of the stars and how to bowl properly, and he’d asked after her family, and about her home in England. He wassomuch more appealing than his brother!
Ah, but to that... Catriona had told her the most distressingly sad story about Mr. Mackenzie that Avaline had ever heard. Now she at least understood why he seemed so very angry. At least she thought she did, based on what Catriona had said...but then again, Catriona had said alot, and Avaline couldn’t be entirely certain she’d caught every detail.
Nevertheless, Catriona had explained that Mr. Mackenzie’s last fiancée—well, she wasn’t certain if she was, indeed, afiancée—had been lost in the aftermath of the rebellion. And Mr. Mackenzie—Rabbie—didn’t know what had happened to her. She had just...disappeared.
Naturally, this distressed the poor man. Naturally, he was resentful of Avaline, for she was not the fiancée he’d chosen.
