Burke thanked him for his time, and not wanting to leave Storm on her own too long, he took his leave. He sucked in a giant breath of fresh chilled air as soon as he left the pub, and headed for the seamstress shop.
He was a bit disappointed, since he didn’t feel that he’d learned anything new. The man had simply verified what he already knew about the Earl of Balford—that the man was a bastard.
He’d dealt with bastards before, men who wanted more than their fair share, men who thought they were entitled and that the law didn’t apply to them. Burke knew too that in order to deal with such men, you had to step outside the law, and as he had mentioned to Storm once, he had done so when necessary and he’d do it again.
He entered the shop ready to wait for Storm if she wasn’t finished, since he wanted her to enjoy this day of freedom and fun, and came face to face with Lady Alaina.
She stood perfectly still staring at him.
She was an indescribable beauty. Whereas Storm’s beauty was tangible, hers was ethereal, not like any he’d ever seen before or expected to see again.
Burke decided that fate had thrown them together, and he intended to take advantage of the situation. He approached her. “Pardon me, but do we know each other?”
She lowered her eyes. “Forgive me, I thought for a moment, but lately—” She shook her head. “You remind me of someone.”
“Perhaps I know him.”
“That’s not possible. You’re an American, he’s a Scotsman.”
“There’s a Scotsman that looks like me? Poor fellow.”
Lady Alaina laughed. “That is where you are different since he fancies himself a handsome man.”
“Then he’s a wise one too.”
“You have his humor.”
No, he and Cullen had their father’s humor. He was anxious to know if they spoke of the same man so he asked, “What is this charming fellow’s name?”
She whispered it so softly that he didn’t hear it.
“What was that you said?”
“Lady Alaina, I am almost ready for you. Oh good, Mr. Longton, you’ve returned. Your wife is just about finished,” the seamstress said after stepping from behind the curtain. “Excuse me a moment, Lady Alaina, while I finish with Mrs. Longton.”
Lady Alaina drifted off to sit in a silk-draped chair near the window and Burke almost swore aloud. One second more and he would have had a name. He’d be damned if he was going to leave the shop without a name. If she knew Cullen, then she would know if the prisoner they followed was his brother.
Storm stepped from behind the curtain fastening the last clasp on her jacket and averted her eyes when she caught sight of Lady Alaina.
“Sweetheart,” he said, walking over to Storm. “You’ll never guess. I have a double here in Scotland and this lovely woman knows him.”
He walked over to Lady Alaina, Storm on his arm. “May I introduce myself? Burke Longton from the Dakota Territory in America and my wife, Mary, who I’m sorry to say has lost her voice temporarily from an illness suffered during our voyage here.”
“Lady Alaina of Glencurry, the Earl of Balford’s daughter,” she offered in return.
“A pleasure,” Burke said, and noticed how Alaina stared oddly at Storm.
“How rude of me for staring, but you also look familiar.”
Storm’s smile was congenial.
“Perhaps our ancestors roamed this area,” Burke suggested, though he wondered if there could be a reason for Lady Alaina to recognize Storm. If so, they couldn’t remain in her presence for long. “This fellow you mentioned that I resembled, perhaps if I spoke with him—”
“He’s no longer in the area,” Lady Alaina said, clearly upset.
“I’m ready for you, Lady Alaina,” the seamstress said, walking over to her.
Burke noticed she looked relieved, as if the tiny woman had rescued her.
