Page 22 of Deception and Desire
“Aye, I spoke with MacGregor, and he’ll bring ye to the mill as he did today. But he willna wait tomorrow, so ye’ll have to tell him what time to return.” She pursed her lips, eyes narrowed. “And he’ll be looking out for any randy Scots.”
Merciful heaven!“I beg your pardon?” Fenella froze, fists clenched and nails biting into her palm as she avoided her grandmother’s eyes. She recognized the teasing tone but knew an explanation was expected. She’d only confided in her maid, worried about her grandmother’s reaction to a total stranger kissing her in public. She met Rose’s amused, but startled, dark eyes. Then it must have been the footman, who also served as Aileen’s driver.
A low chuckle brought Fenella’s gaze back to the older woman. “Sit back down, child. Ye’ve no’ told meeverythingabout yer visit to the mill.”
“MacGregor told you?”
Aileen nodded. “But I’d rather hear yer version of the story.” She patted the stool next to her and began rocking again. “Give an old woman a wee diversion, eh?”
“Well, it had begun to rain,” Fenella said, lowering herself onto the stool. “I had my head down and ran into this man. I swear I’d hit a stone wall, he wasthatsolid. Tiny stars danced before my eyes before my legs gave out. I must have fainted for when I woke, I was in the man’s arms.”
She paused, remembering the sensation, and the same warmth flooded her body again. His breath had been hot against her cheek as she stared up at the deepest blue eyes she’d ever seen. And so handsome. Divinely handsome.
“And then?” her grandmother prompted.
“I made some ridiculous sound, and he said ‘aye,’ and he kissed me.”
“Just like that?”
She nodded. “After a bit of staring at one another, yes.”
“Go on, lass!”
“I recovered from my surprise and demanded he put me down. Hedidtry to apologize, but I could tell by his smile that he was far from sincere.” Her jaw tightened, remembering the man’s smug look. “Because after he released me, he said there was nothing he’d enjoy more than to do it again.”
“The rogue!” her grandmother cried with a laugh. “What did he look like?”
With a deep breath, Fenella closed her eyes and remembered the man’s features. “A straight nose, eyes the color of the blue ocean on a sunny day, thick chestnut hair—a little shaggy in my opinion—and a square jaw. His smile…” The thought of those soft lips, turned up to reveal straight white teeth, sent a shiver through her.
“But ye’ve no idea who he is?”
“No, he set me down, and I stormed up the steps. But I have a suspicion that he’s connected to the mill.”
Rose gasped. “You didn’t mention this earlier.”
“I didn’t think of it before. He must have been coming down the steps as I was going up.” She tried to recall the scene just before her collision with the human wall. “I suppose I’ll find out soon enough if he is.”
Another throaty chortle came from her grandmother. “This will be a curious summer, to be sure.” She stood and hugged Fenella. “I’m so happy ye came to stay. Now, off to bed with ye. And no dreaming about handsome men, or ye’ll be tired on yer first day.”
As Rose helped her undress for bed, Fenella’s mind wandered back to the three men she’d met that afternoon. Two of them would be at the mill tomorrow, but her heart told her she had not seen the last of her mysterious rescuer. And against all reason, she hoped her heart was right. Perhaps he ran one of the machines or was an overseer.
“What has you smiling, Miss Fenella?”
“I’m just happy,” she murmured.
For the first time in her life, she was not dreading her future. Rather, Fenella Franklin felt as if destiny had taken her by the hand, and she couldn’t wait to see where it led her.
*
The dawn broke,promising a beautiful day. Fenella lay in bed, her cheek against the soft linen of the pillow, remembering her dream. Her pulse pounded and vibrated all the way through her body. That arrogant, attractive, infuriating, unforgettable man had the nerve to invade her sleep. She closed her eyes, her palms skimming down her nightrail to ease the thumping low in her belly. Instead, the cad’s face grinned at her, and heat flushed her cheeks. Something about the color of his eyes nagged at her. Would she see him today? Tomorrow? She was certain they would meet again.
Climbing from the bed, her toes gripping the cold floor planks, she opened the window and sucked in the crisp morning air. Goose bumps prickled her arms, and she hugged herself.
“Hello to you, brilliant Glasgow.” No reply from the brick homes facing her. The fog was dissipating, sneaking back into dark corners and leaving the cobblestones glistening under the morning sunshine. A coal wagon rumbled up the street, the driver in his homespun clucking and pulling on the horses’ reins. He stopped next door. Their neighbor was a widow who ran a modiste shop downstairs and lived in the two upper floors. A grimy, young boy jumped off the back, lugged a black sack over his shoulder almost as tall as he was, and disappeared around the corner of the adjacent building. A dog followed the lad back, jumping on the boy’s sooty wool breeches, and whined when the wagon lurched forward and lumbered on.
“Hullooo, scroungy little mutt. Looking for a scrap, are you?” The small brown and white dog perked up its ears and looked up at her. Its tail wagged furiously, flinging a light spray of mud in all directions. He answered her greeting with a high-pitched bark, then stopped to scratch behind his ear.
A knock sounded, followed by Rose peeking around the door. “Ah, good, you’re up. Ready to start the day?”
