Page 65 of The Devil Wears Kilts
“I thought he detested London.”
“I told him he was wrong to claim hatred of something he’d never bothered to experience.” That happened to be the truth, at least. The idea of lying to her dear, patient father made her feel ill; there were some things she couldn’t tell him, but as much as possible she intended to be honest.
“And has his opinion altered?”
“He did say several complimentary things, but I believe it’s still too early to tell.”
“I see.” He drummed his fingers on the back of a chair. “Is he courting you?”
Her breath caught. “Really, Papa. I’m English. You know what he thinks of us. And I told him that brawling with people was the basest resort of petty minds.” Abruptly it occurred to her that insulting Ranulf to her father was not the wisest way to endear one to the other—if such a thing was required. But jumping to his defense would make her father suspicious, and rightly so.
“Good.”
That made her frown deepen. “What’s good?”
“That he isn’t courting you.” The earl took a slow breath. “It’s one thing to have his sister lodging here. She’s young and charming and not political. He, on the other hand, has enemies caustic enough to burn down his stable. And there are rumors that his grandfather was a Jacobite. There’s even talk thathe’sa Jacobite, given the way he keeps to the Highlands with an army of fighting men around him.”
She couldn’t disagree with any of it. “I don’t know about his politics,” she said slowly, her heart beginning to ache as though someone had squeezed it, “but I think you know how I feel about anyone with a penchant for mindless violence.”
Walking forward, her father kissed her on the forehead. “That, I do. And though I’m sorry you have a very good reason for your squeamishness, at this moment I’m rather relieved you feel this way. Because if I know one thing, it’s that being in the Marquis of Glengask’s company is dangerous.”
Charlotte wouldn’t say she felt relieved about anything, no matter how safe or perilous her predicament. It was likely a good thing that her father had reminded her of the negative parts of a relationship with Ranulf MacLawry, because on her own she might have decided to overlook what seemed to be a few brawls. But it was much, much worse than that. He was, quite simply, a man at war. And if she fell for him, and he was hurt or… killed, she didn’t think she would be able to stand it. Not again. Not after what she’d discovered in his arms.
It might have been different if he’d wished for a different sort of life, but she’d never seen any evidence that he wanted anything other than what he had. Well, she wanted something else for him. And she wanted him to at least acknowledge that another way existed, for heaven’s sake. Luckily for her, though, she’d learned long ago that wishes were as plentiful as clouds, and as impossible to grasp.
She followed her father out to the foyer, and Winnie grasped her arm as they all headed out to the waiting carriage. “You look so lovely,” the younger girl said with a grin.
“As do you.” Charlotte indicated the emerald-colored silk gown Ranulf’s sister wore. “You didn’t acquire this here, did you? I don’t recall seeing it before.”
“No, this is the gown Ranulf bought me for my birthday. Of course he thought I would be wearing it to my own party, and not to a London grand ball.” She swished the skirt, grinning excitedly. “I’m sure that having both my brothers in attendance tonight will make them more civilized, since they won’t feel so outnumbered. Though practically the only thing that could make Ran fight is a threat to his loved ones.”
“He punched Lord Berling for claiming a place on Charlotte’s dance card,” Jane pointed out as she settled back into the coach.
“No, he punched the earl because Berling shot my brother, Bear. Munro. Then the scoundrel fled to London to pretend to be civilized. I know I was furious about the fight, but I’ve been thinking about it, and I believe that Ran just reminded Berling that actions have consequences.”
“It was still an appalling show of violence, my dear,” Charlotte’s mother said from the opposite seat of the coach. “I know you love your brother, but thank goodness you were well clear of that mess. And I’m also pleased that you told him how ungentlemanly his actions were, Winnie. It wouldn’t have had the same seriousness to it, coming from other than family.”
“My brother’s a good man, my lady,” Winnie said stoutly. “And he learns from his mistakes. You’ll see.”
Charlotte just wished everyone would stop talking about Ranulf, both his faults and his manliness, and give her a blasted minute or two to think. She’d chastised him more strongly than his own sister had. Yes, he’d vanished for a week, but not because he wished to hide. He’d reappeared with a house and a civilized, amusing dinner. It had been charming.Hehad been charming.
According to her father, the fire that had ended the evening had been Ranulf’s fault for having enemies. At the time she’d been more concerned with the disaster than what had caused it, though she supposed now that if he hadn’t hit Berling, the fire might not have happened. But then what came next might not have happened, either.
“What if both your brothers wear kilts tonight?” Jane asked from the other side of Charlotte.
Winnie shrugged. “I don’t think they will. This isn’t a clan gathering, and I do believe Ranulf’s trying to fit in.”
“I certainly hope so,” Lady Hest said under her breath.
For the very briefest of moments, despite what both she and Winnie had told him, Charlotte hoped hewouldwear his kilt. Because she’d never seen a more magnificent sight in her entire life—except, of course, for when she’d seen him naked.
Chapter Twelve
“A man hesitates to accept responsibility for starting a fire and ye think that makes him innocent of it?” Ranulf slammed a fist against the wall of the coach, rocking the entire vehicle.
“I only said he didnae have the look of a man pleased to have acted against an enemy,” Arran returned, pulling at the sleeve of his dark brown coat as if he hoped it would come off at the shoulder.
“Of course he didnae, firstly because ye confronted him about it, and secondly because the man’s a yellow-bellied coward.”
