Page 57 of A Dash of Scot
“Oh, they made Papa sneeze something fierce. Anytime he went around them, it would start a fit. He couldn’t even enjoy a good hunt, and his sneezing scared off all the prey, so he was hardly invited out.”
“That is unfortunate. But ye and your sister didna inherit the sneezing affliction?”
“Oh, I sneeze plenty,” she laughed, followed by a tiny sneeze. “But not as bad as my Papa, and I’m also not going to ruin a hunt. And more to the point, I don’t care. I’d sneeze all day just to play or cuddle.”
Anise laughed at something the colonel said, drawing both of their attention toward the couple.
“I do hope your sister is…feeling better,” Dougal said.
“She is,” Poppy assured him. “And I think the attention the colonel pays her is a balm to her heart. Rather than think about what Sir John had done, she was more concerned with herself, that maybe it had been her that pushed Sir John away. Mama didn’t want to tell her the part about his disease just yet. Thought it might be too delicate. I think she’ll realize the truth eventually, but seeing that another man is interested in her is good. I only worry that she might be too fickle for your colonel friend.”
“Och, Austen can take care of himself. I’m just glad she’s out and about rather than hiding.” Dougal winced as soon as he said it, recalling that hiding had been exactly what Poppy had done a few days before.
“Everyone needs time to adjust.” She shrugged.
“I didna mean to offend.”
She smiled at him. “You did nothing of the sort. I thought you were referring to your yearlong escape.”
Dougal laughed. “Touché. Your hiding for one day this week hardly compares.”
“Exactly.” Her eyes danced with merriment. “I am glad we’ve both decided to face each other and whatever there might be between us.”
“I am too.”
This time, Dougal picked up the stick. He tossed it over the colonel’s head, sending Sentry barreling down the water’s edge and splashing Austen and Anise. Anise squealed, her arms flailing, and the colonel swooped in, lifting her in his arms and carrying her away from the splashing dog.
“Did you do that on purpose?” Poppy asked.
“Maybe.” Dougal smirked.
“Rogue,” she teased.
Dougal grinned. “They might have needed a push. Look at them now.”
Anise had her arms around the colonel’s shoulders and was gazing at him as he cradled her to his frame in a way that was both inspiring and endearing.
“What a matchmaker you are,” Poppy said with a light laugh. “Though to be fair, my friend Lady Ava, daughter of Earl of Heatherfield, is by far the best matchmaker in this country.”
“Oh, is that so?”
“Only one or two of her attempts have ended in disaster. The rest give stellar reviews.” The tinkle of Poppy’s laugh was infectious.
Dougal chuckled. “I actually think I’ve heard of her. But she’s no’ yet wed herself.”
“No. Been out a few seasons. She’s a year older than me and has yet to find a man she is willing to devote the rest of her life to. Though to be honest, I think she’s focusing on finding love matches for other people so she can avoid her own happiness.”
“I know something of avoiding happiness.”
Poppy stared up at him, her eyes searching his. “But no longer?”
“I refuse to avoid it. I am facing happiness head-on. Right now. Forever.”
Her lips curled up, a teasing glint in her eyes. “Shall I change my name to happiness then?”
Dougal wanted to reach out and stroke her cheek, but feared doing so in front of the others, then thought, what the hell? He did it anyway, mesmerized by the smoothness of her skin, cooled only slightly by the Highland air. “Nay, Poppy suits ye perfectly.”
She leaned into his caress. “Since when did you become so dashing?”
