Page 16 of A Bonny Pretender
The viscount’s breath tickled her ear and sent her pulse racing.As many times as you’d like,she thought, cursing her belly for the flips and somersaults inside. Her lips curved into a brilliant smile, despite her best effort to appear nonchalant. No man had ever affected her like this. It was unbalancing.
“Ye’re too kind, sir,” she murmured. Relief swept over her as these memorized responses were snatched from her brain and funneled to her mouth. Her eyes remained on the floor and the tips of his dress shoes. She could the feel the heat of him through her thin muslin. Perhapsthiswas swooning.
“Glad you could make it, Raines. It’s time to find our box,” announced Charles. He held out an arm to Brigid. She accepted, careful to hide her disappointment. Or so she thought.
“Don’t worry, I’ll sit by my cousin once we enter. My demure little kitten,” he teased.
“Thank ye, Mr. Wilken. Am I so transparent?”
“Only to the trained eye.”
Brigid gaped at the theater’s interior. Gold on green shimmered in the light from dozens of chandeliers. The stage dominated the center of the room, with three stories of boxes arcing around it.Magnificent.The décor was as breathtaking as the Highlands at dawn, in its own way. But God created the latter, and man could destroy the former.
“Oh, Brigid, you don’t mind if I sit in the front, do you?” asked Evie sweetly. “You’re taller than I am, and I won’t be able to see.”
“Of course not.” She and Charles stepped to the side as Lord Raines helped Evie to her seat.
“Thank you, my lord. Would you mind if my cousin sat next to me? We were in the middle of a conversation just before you arrived.” Evie smiled sweetly at Lord Raines.
“I would be happy to,” he acquiesced. When he turned, his gaze met Brigid’s.
Her hand flew to her stomach, squelching the wings. She clutched the reticule in her lap, her fingers wrapped around the stone inside.Och, those eyes.Clear gray that seemed to see right through her. She felt bare, shivered, and pulled her pelisse more tightly around her.
“Miss MacNaughton?” Lord Raines held out his hand, indicating a seat behind Evie. He held the frame and pushed it slightly forward as she sat.
It was a habit she still was not accustomed to, but she accepted his help. He settled next to her, and the scent of leather and something citrus floated past her. He smelled better than one of Grandda’s pipes. She stifled a giggle.
“May I share a secret with you, Miss MacNaughton?” He had leaned toward her, his shoulder brushing hers.
A tingle ran down her arm. She closed her eyes. No,thiswas swooning. “I’m known to be able to keep one.”
“I don’t even know what we’re about to watch. I heard you would be attending, so I invited myself.” His mouth curved up, his tone hopeful. “Does my forwardness shock you?”
She giggled and shook her head. “I’m still learning my way here, so I barely ken what should shock me.”Should I thank him? Tell him I feel the same and that he’s the most handsome man I’ve ever seen?Instead, she bit the inside of her cheek to keep more words from gushing out.
“That’s a relief. I’m a bit rusty myself with Town ways. My estate has taken up much of my time.” He settled back in the chair. “What kind of entertainment do you enjoy? Is your life vastly different from London? I’m used to a much more sedate pace these days.”
She laughed, hoping it was the light tinkle she’d practiced with Evie. “It’s a wee different. We have grand ceilidhs on holidays and anytime we can find an excuse.”
“That’s a dance, like a ball?”
“No’ exactly. Most ceilidhs include dancing, feasting, and everyone is invited. We dinna stand on ceremony in the Highlands when it comes to get-togethers.” Brigid covered her mouth, her eyes wide. She hoped that wasn’t offensive.
“I remember being punished for playing with the village children.” He grinned. “I was careful my fath—that he—didn’t find out after that. In fact, I used to sneak off to the blacksmith’s each week to take boxing lessons. He would have died a younger man from the shock to his heart. Or I would have been sent away to school much younger.”
“Ye dinna agree with the importance of titles?” She knew he wasn’t like the other dandies she’d met. “I thought all English held theirs in high esteem.”
He shook his head. “Not me. Are you concerned with the social circles?”
“Och, no. Circles make me dizzy.”
Lord Raines laughed. “Beautiful and a great wit. I like you, Miss MacNaughton.”
Brigid smiled, heat flushing her face. “Thank ye. I rather like ye too, my lord.”
If anyone were to ask her about her first experience at the theater, she would be able to describe in detail the deep green of Lord Raines’ waistcoat, his wide shoulders that stretched the snug jacket to its limit, his thick blond hair combed back and curling slightly around his collar. Brigid would not recall one detail from the performance. It wasn’t her fault. She was positive it couldn’t have been more interesting than the conversation with the viscount.
“I dinna understand the need to send children away for schooling.” Brigid couldn’t imagine a child not being with parents, let alone being raised by a stranger. “Did ye no’ have a tutor?”
