Page 37 of Taming the Scot
“Well then, ye can be the audience,” Raine suggested. “We love an audience.” She nodded at her sisters for confirmation.
Bronwen gave a soft, knowing laugh, and Euan grinned, loving the sound of her happiness. How quickly she’d come to understand his family. He’d not realized until now how much that pleased him. She fit right in.
“It would be my honor,” Bronwen said.
The rest of his sisters leapt from the table and rushed from the room. Maggie was a little slower than the others. He suspected she was taking her time after nearly having caught Euan with Bronwen in his lap the day before. But she did, in the end, leave them both behind.
“Ye’re no’ verra eager to get to the parlor,” Euan pointed out as Bronwen slowly placed her napkin on the table.
“Neither are ye.” She raised a quizzical brow.
He flashed her what he hoped was a dazzling smile. “I’m waiting for ye to stand, as a gentleman should. Unless ye wish for me to pull out your chair.”
“Oh. I’m sorry,” she rushed, pushing away from the table in such haste she nearly knocked her chair over. “That is no’ necessary.”
They walked side by side out of the dining room into the grand foyer. It was now or never if he was going to tell her what he needed to. Because in a second, they were going to be inundated with charades and the company of his six sisters. If he was going to explain, to offer his apology, and hope she understood, then he needed to take her aside before they entered the parlor.
“Miss Holmes, if ye would oblige me.” Euan touched her elbow and gently guided her into the alcove beneath the stairs, out of sight.
“What are ye doing?” she whispered, peering out. “If someone sees…”
“They will no’ say a word, and no one will see,” Euan soothed. It was darker in the alcove, but he could still make out the features of her face and the tiny wrinkle marring her brow as she frowned at him.
“All right, but be quick with it.” Bronwen crossed her arms over her chest, making it clear without words she wasn’t going to be falling into his embrace.
That made him smile. He truly enjoyed her spirit. “I need to apologize for what happened in the garden. I am a cad, and I’ve been beating myself up ever since. Will ye forgive me, Bronwen—I mean, Miss Holmes?”
She was shaking her head at him, but he couldn’t stop. He needed to tell her everything. The words poured from his throat without thought or conscience or the ability to stop them.
“It’s just that since ye arrived, I’ve felt this pull. A connection. And I—”
But before he could say another word, her gloveless finger came out to press to his lips, silencing him. The feel of her bare skin on his lip was enough to make anything else he was going to say stall in his throat.
Where had she put her gloves? He thought back to the dining room and realized that she must have forgotten them in her haste to leave without him pulling out her chair.
“Where could they have got to?” Lillie was saying, and suddenly Euan knew why Bronwen had silenced him. “Ye do no’ think it’s an assignation, do ye?” He could practically hear the excitement of knowing such a secret in his sister’s voice.
“Oh, Lillie, ye are entirely too embroiled in Lady Edinburgh. Do give it a rest. I’m certain they will be in the parlor shortly.” The latter of this was said by Amabel and done so quite loudly, perhaps so Euan and Bronwen might hear her and stay hidden.
Euan grinned beneath Bronwen’s fingers, their gazes locking as they listened.
She pressed her lips together to keep from smiling or laughing, obviously having figured out Amabel’s assistance as well. Thank goodness Martin had taken Owen for his dinner and evening walk, else the hound would have given away their hiding place. In his mind’s eye he could see the large animal now, sitting outside the alcove, barking and wagging his tail.
“Perhaps Miss Holmes needed some air,” Amabel said in an elevated octave.
“Why are ye talking so loudly? I’m right beside ye,” Lillie complained.
“Apologies,” Amabel continued in the same tone. “My ears are a bit clogged today, I think.” A quick and clever recovery.
Bronwen bit her lip, and Euan was very close to losing his battle not to laugh.
“Well, let’s no’ wait. They’ll turn up shortly, and it gives us more time to practice,” Lillie said at last.
“Aye, indeed,” Amabel said, keeping her voice several ranges above normal. “Let’s go back to the parlor.”
Their footsteps drifted away, and the doors to the parlor closed.
“That was close,” Euan said, beneath her finger, wanting to flick his tongue out and tease the skin.
