Page 73 of Hard-Hearted Highlander
“There is no need for apology,” she said. “It’s not as if I’ve found any rapport with him, after all.”
Bernadette sniffed. She slowly pushed herself to her feet. She looked much older and...and ill when she wept. “I’ll gather my things.”
“Why?” Avaline asked, confused again.
Bernadette frowned again. “Avaline—you must dismiss me. You must send me home to Highfield.”
“I beg your pardon! I won’t hear of it!” Avaline exclaimed. She didn’t intend to live in the Highlands by herself, for God’s sake.
“But...”
Avaline shook her head, and slid off her bed. “You won’t leave me, Bernadette,” she said as she made her way to the dressing table. It occurred to her that she ought to admonish Bernadette in some way, and glanced back, pointed at her and said, “But never do that again. All right, then, we’ve had our talk. I’d like to be alone now.”
Bernadette stared at Avaline. Clearly, she was astounded by how forgiving Avaline was to her. And she ought to be, for kissing Mackenzie was badly done,verybadly done. In any other circumstance, Avaline would have been quite cross and would have gone to her father to tell him of the betrayal. But she was astonishingly grateful for Bernadette’s wretched behavior. She just had to think of how to best use it to her advantage.
Bernadette was walking to the door, still sniffling.
“Bernadette? You’ll be at supper this evening with the Mackenzies, won’t you?” Avaline asked.
“The Mackenzies are cominghere?”
“Yes, all of them. You’ll dine with us this evening,” she said. It was not a question.
“Do you think that wise, given what I just told you?” Bernadette asked.
Avaline sighed and turned around to Bernadette. “I want you to be there. I might need you.”
Bernadette grimaced. “If you like.”
Avaline smiled. “Don’t look so despondent, dearest. It should be a very interesting evening. Very well, that’s all.”
Bernadette went out.
Avaline smiled at her reflection. She didn’t know how she was going to manage it, but Bernadette kissing Mr. Mackenzie was the opening she needed to wed Aulay.
Avaline couldn’t wait for tonight.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
BERNADETTEHARDLYHADa moment to understand what had happened in that extraordinary meeting with Avaline this morning, much less do anything about it, because Lord Kent wouldn’t allow it. He was in a very foul mood and kept bellowing at them all to do this and bring that.
They were all gathered round him now in the dining room, sitting or standing nervously as he had his luncheon. Bernadette had tried to avoid this meeting, but he’d commanded her to come, and frankly, she feared what Avaline would say if anyone questioned about her absence.I don’t rightly know. Perhaps she has gone off to kiss my fiancé again, although she promised she would not.
Bernadette stood at the sideboard next to Charles, who had the unpleasant task of serving his lordship.
“I, for one, will be quite relieved when this interminable wedding is over and we might leave this godforsaken place and return to Bothing!” Lord Kent snapped through a mouthful of potatoes in response to Avaline’s question as to whether the wedding breakfast should include fish or beef.
“I don’t like to think of you leaving,” Avaline said with a bit of a girlish mewl in her voice. Bernadette didn’t know why she said it—it was a sentiment she knew not to be true, and moreover, it earned Avaline a tongue-lashing.
“Donotinduce me to fury, Avaline! If there is one thing which I cannot abide, it is your constant complaint!”
“My constant—”
“Not a word!” he bellowed, pointing a menacing fork at her. “It will not do to attend your wedding with a fat lip!”
Naturally, Avaline fled the room in tears. Lord Kent dabbed at his perspiring forehead with his napkin. His wife didn’t move as much as a finger, and neither did Bernadette. That didn’t stop his lordship from curling his lip and saying nastily to his wife, “You have succeeded, madam, in rearing a bloody dandelion for a daughter! I don’t know why I ever dared to expect more from you—look at you, sitting there like a lump of clay.
“Andyou,” he said, turning his head to level a look at Bernadette. “I have taken you into my home to do what she failed to do,” he said, pointing at his wife. “And what have you done? Nothing! You’re as useless as the others! For God’s sake, do something about Avaline’s face before our guests arrive. I won’t have it swollen from her bloody tears.” He suddenly pushed back from the table and threw his napkin to the ground. “I’ve had all I can abide.” He stalked out of the room, shouting at the heavens to tell him what he’d ever done to deserve being saddled with the most useless women in all of England.
