Page 69 of Hit Me With Your Best Scot
“I reckon we should sit with Eloise and her beau,” he suggested. “I’d like to get a sandwich or two in me before the battle begins.”
“If I might suggest,” she commented, “you’ve said yourself that you have a reputation as a fighter. They’ll expect that from you, then.”
“Are ye suggesting I bring Francesca posies?”
She sent him a sideways look. “I happen to know you are more than a brawler.”
“Aye, but I didnae think I’d be facing Angus in addition to Francesca.” As he thought about his last few conversations with members of his family, it seemed likely that Eloise had definitely known they’d sent word to the earl. Niall, as well, though as much as he’d have liked to bellow at them for not warning him, neither of them had any reason to think Angus would actually make an appearance in London. After all, their father had sworn on multiple occasions never to set foot there again.
“I very nearly hit him with my reticule when he satdown in front of me,” she said, lowering her voice still further. “And then when you charged at him, I thought—”
“He’s an imposing man on a good day.” Coll glanced over his shoulder as the other guests appeared in the garden, along with the bride and groom. “Give me one moment, will ye?”
“Of course.”
Sending Eloise a pointed glance, he left her and walked over to Aden. “I didnae mean to disrupt things for ye,” he said.
Aden shook his head. “I’m married to my lass. Ye didnae disrupt anything as far as I’m concerned. I did nearly fall down dead when I caught sight of Da, though.”
“Ye and me both.”
“Do ye love the lass?” his brother asked, his gray eyes growing serious. “Or is this ye putting yer great foot in the middle of Francesca’s pretty plans?”
The fact that Aden had asked the question about love said a great deal about how much the middle MacTaggert brother had changed over the past few weeks, as did the way he grasped the hand of the dark-haired lass beside him. “I didnae set out to,” Coll returned, “but aye. I love her.”
“And dunnae hit me, but ye’re certain she’s nae after blunt and a title?”
“That’s one thing I’m damned certain of,” he said emphatically. She might have had a duke’s ring on her finger and an inheritance of fifty thousand pounds, but she’d turned her back on both for a bit of freedom to shape her own life. “If I could figure out a way to marry her and nae hurt the civilized part of the family, I’d nae be here for the argument.”
Miranda put a hand on his arm. “If I could give you one piece of advice today, it would be to follow your heart.” She smiled, her eyes brimming with unshed tears. “I amalso not thinking very logically because I’m practically giddy with happiness.”
Smiling, Coll bent down and kissed her on the cheek. “I’ve nae seen Aden so content,” he murmured. “Seeing ye and him, and Niall and Amy, makes me glad we all came down to London.”
Aden snorted. “I’m going to write that down. I nae thought I’d hear any such thing coming out of yer mouth.”
“Just wait. I’d wager ye’ll have a handful of things to write about before the day is finished.”
While his brother contemplated that, Coll returned to find Temperance sitting with Eloise and Matthew. Good. Eloise had caught his meaning, then. He took the seat between the two lasses. “Matthew,” he said, eyeing Eloise’s fiancé. “How’s yer beak?”
The younger man reached up to touch his nose carefully. “Painful. And an effective reminder of my errors in judgment.”
“I’m glad ye added that last bit. Have ye met Mrs. Jones? Persephone, Mr. Matthew Harris and my sister, Lady Eloise MacTaggert.”
Temperance nodded, putting a charming smile on her face. “I’m pleased to meet you. And I hear good wishes are in order.”
Eloise beamed. “Thank you. You are… My goodness, you’re even prettier up close. Your Rosalind made me wish to stand up and cheer at the end ofAs You Like It. Oh, to be such a brave heroine!”
“Thank you, my lady. That’s very kind of you to say.”
“Oh, pish.” Eloise reached over to put her hand on Temperance’s. “You are marvelous! I read the review from Adams; he said that at some point the viewer realizes that Mrs. Jones has ceased acting, and has quite simplybecomeRosalind. That’s not an exact quote, but I so agree!”
“And yet here she is,” Coll interrupted, before Eloisecould begin picking garden roses to toss at Temperance, “nae Rosalind at all.”
Temperance furrowed her brow. “I will never have a complaint about someone complimenting my craft, Coll. I think most young ladies wish they could be as daring as Rosalind. I know I did.”
Eloise stuck her tongue out at Coll. “Which role are you playing next?”
“We’re rehearsing for the Scottish play now. We open in two days.”
