She raised an eyebrow. “I already mentioned Lady Isolde’s company.”
“And?” He matched her lifted brow. “No one else?”
“Shamelessly fishing for a compliment, are you?” She mimed casting a fishing line.
“Will it get me one?” Ethan winked at her. “I’m particularly fond of my pretty eyes and ravishing physique. Ye can begin your praise there and work downward.”
She rolled her eyes skyward, likely praying for patience, but a smile tugged at her mouth nonetheless.
“Why did ye stay, lass?” he asked, voice quieter now.
“As I said, Lady Isolde invited me. It seems I am adding another friend to my small collection.”
“I’m right glad of that.” Joy for her swelled the space between his ribs. “Ye need more friends. More people to love ye for the fierce, brilliant lass ye are.”
She blinked at his words, as if they had struck something within her. Was it his compliment, Ethan wondered? Or the wordloveon his lips with regard to herself?
“Thank you,” she said, arms swinging as she crossed to gaze out the window and the carriages amassed there. “Though I feel compelled to tell you that my heart is as distrustful as ever. I intend to studiously consider Charswood’s offer of marriage.”
Ethan refused to be discouraged by her words. If he and she were here together, he would wear her down. Lady Allegra was going to adore him before she left Scotland. And she would admit to it.
He pivoted and waited until she brought her gaze back to his. “Can ye honestly look me in the eye and tell me that Lady Isolde is the only reason ye chose tae stay?”
Shrugging, Allie brushed her hands over her skirts. “Well, a rather reckless person did urge me tocarpe diem,and so I thought I might do that, as well.”
“Seize the day?”
She nodded. “Or, at the very least, be forced to cast compliments at your knees. Which, I must say, are—” Here she paused, tilting her head to inspect said knees peeking out of the bottom of his kilt. “—adequate, I suppose.”
“Adequate?! Andcast?I would have thought fishing puns tae be beneath ye.”
She grinned—wild and mischievous—before her expression turned more serious. “I have thought long about your suggestion, Ethan—to take hold of this small interval of time to revel in the joy of living life to its fullest. But I also need you to acknowledge the reality of my situation. That our time here together—no matter how enjoyable—will be merely a fleeting friendship. It cannot be more than that. Kendall will ensure it.”
The genuine sincerity of Allie’s tone had a sobering effect on Ethan. Here was the Lady Allegra he yearned to know better . . . the earnest woman behind her bravado.
“I ken that, lass,” he said, matching her tone. “Kendall’s vindictiveness is well-known, and Charswood offers ye a large portion of the freedom ye crave. I’ll help ye seize as many days as I can, even if ye choose to give your future days to Charswood.”
Ethan’s heart cracked just saying the words.
“Excellent.” Relief softened her expression. “I consider it a pact between us.”
“A pact it is,” he nodded. “Though be warned, I intend to be the best friend ye have ever had.”
Such a good friend, in fact, that Lady Allegra Gilbert would toss aside this ridiculouspactand insist on staying with him forever, her brother be damned.
But Ethan kept that hope to himself.
“Is that so?” she grinned. “How do you propose to do that?”
He waggled his eyebrows. “Learn all your secrets, of course.”
Her grin turned flirtatious. “There is yet much you don’t know about me, Ethan Penn-Leith.”
He matched her smile with his own. “Baiting the hook for me, are ye?”
“If we are to do this, youmuststop with the fishing puns.”
“Fishing, ye say? That’s a brilliant idea.” He bowed to her. “I would be right pleased if ye joined Malcolm and myself in fishing on the morrow.”
