Arabella raised a brow. “Threetimes removed?”
“Ach, yes. Quite removed.” He nodded vigorously. “She lives in India. It may be a good while before I am able tae give it tae her.”
“You took such pains to choose it,” she said, all innocence. “You can see why I am anxious to see what she thinks of it.”
“Ye’ll be the first tae ken,” he assured her, “when I do.”
Grandmother laughed as Gavin regaled her with the story of how he’d rescued Arabella from the river. Arabella protested through the entirety of the tale, correcting his exaggerations and embellishments, while secretly amused.
“Are the two of ye attending dinner at the Wallaces’?” Gavin asked, setting down his knife.
“I told Arabella it is up tae her,” Grandmother replied. “I always enjoy time with my neighbors. But I am equally as content at home, just the two of us.”
“The Wallaces—the vicar’s family?” Arabella took a sip of wine.
“Aye, dear. Ye met Maisie Wallace, their oldest daughter, at kirk.”
“Ye should come,” Mr. McKenzie said. “It should be a good crowd.”
It was tempting. Especially after coming from London’s social whirlwind.
“I shall think on it,” was all she promised.
When the last of the meal had been cleared away, the three of them gathered around the small table in the sitting room. Mr. McKenzie scooted his chair close to Arabella, so close that their knees brushed beneath the table. She couldn’t look him in the eye. She wasn’t ready to face him. Not yet.
“What do ye think, Arabella?” Grandmother asked. “Would Mr. McKenzie enjoyThe Mysteries of Udolpho? We could take turns reading aloud.”
“No,” she said, a little too quickly. “No, I think not.” The last thing in the world Arabella needed was to hear Mr. McKenzie read the romantic passages of that book aloud. She removed a deck of cards from the drawer. “I believe he’d much prefer a game of piquet.”
Grandmother frowned. “Piquet is a game for two.” Then a slow smile stole over her face. “But nae matter. The two of ye can play while I make myself cozy by the fire.”
Arabella panicked. “We can certainly find something—”
“Nae, I insist.” Grandmother stood and gave an exaggerated yawn. “I’m feeling quite tired. I’ll look forward tae hearing who wins.” And with that, she pointedly left the two of them seated together at the small table.
In a bit of a panic, Arabella began dealing the first hand. As soon as she’d finished, she picked up her cards and began examining them. Mr. McKenzie didn’t touch his. He stared at her across the table.
“Yes, Mr. McKenzie?” she said, the muscles in her jaw tense. “Is there something I can get for you?”
“I think ye ken what I want, Miss Hughes.”
There was no mistaking his meaning. She shifted in her seat. Ordered her cards. “You want my answer.”
“I do.” A lock of hair fell across his forehead.
“Very well, then.” She took a breath, needing just a heartbeat longer before she spoke the words out loud. “I’ve decided to accept your challenge.”
He smiled, but this was not the smile she had come to expect. This one was slow, unhurried. Smooth as silk and warm as sunshine. A small dimple appeared in his chin. “I knew ye wouldn’t disappoint me, Miss Hughes.”
Why did those words spread through her middle like melting butter? “Did you? I wasn’t sure myself until a few hours ago.”
One corner of his mouth lifted. “Ah, but from our first meeting, I recognized in ye a woman who always rises tae a challenge.”
She swallowed hard, scooting toward the back of her seat.
He leaned forward. “Which is why I thought it would be appropriate tae come up with a series of challenges for ye tae complete.”
“Challenges? As in plural?” This seemed...dangerous. Even having made up her mind about this summer, she still couldn’t drown out the whispered warnings of her parents.
