“The bruises are fadingnicely,” Fiona said lightly, looking at Aylesbury’s battered face with a grimace, noting the fading bruises here and there that he had gained for what had essentially been her choice when all was said and done.Still, her brothers had acted as if he were the only perpetrator.“You are almost handsome again.I hope they didn’t hurt you too badly.”
“Are you worried for me now?”Aylesbury teased since it was not the first time she asked.He covered her hand where it rested on his arm, his thumb brushing over her knuckles affectionately.“If you had been, you never would have left me as you did to face them on my own.”
“I know...I couldn’t,” she stammered with a blush.“I was just too humiliated at the thought of them knowing.”
“Do you regret it?”
“No.”Her firm response pleased him.“But since you so respectfully paid your dues like a man to each and every one of them for our indiscretion, they—one and all—consider us as good as engaged.”
“Do you?”
“It’s hard to say.”
A week had passed.Fiona hadn’t said yes or no yet and continued wearing his ring on her right hand.However, her brothers were indeed acting as if her engagement were a given thing, considering the circumstances.Aylesbury hadn’t mentioned it again, keeping his vow not to press or ask again.But she was thinking about it, he knew.He could see the consideration shadowing her eyes, though he had no idea whether she was swayed one way or the other.
Love wasn’t the issue.Aylesbury had no doubts Fiona loved him.Perhaps had even forgiven him for the thoughtless bastard he had been.He believed it was her trust in him, that he wouldn’t hurt her again, that was in question.He didn’t know what else he could say or do to prove himself in that regard, however.If she decided against him, Aylesbury had no doubt Glenrothes would let her have her way despite what had happened between them.
Of course, Glenrothes had made sure that it wouldn’t happen again.
Whenever Aylesbury saw her, which was every day, they were always chaperoned.It had nothing to do with Ramsay any longer.They had hunted him down and turned him over to the police—after a fair beating, of course.Charges were being filed, and warrants were issued for Ramsay’s lackeys.Bodyguards had been hired to protect her, and at least two brothers followed Fiona wherever she went.
The extra constraints had Fiona chomping at the bit, he knew.She was anxious to have the matter over and done with.To have time for herself or for them.Understandably, she chafed as much as he did against that particular condition.With the horse already escaped from the barn, so to speak, she’d been first amused and then annoyed by her brothers’ protectiveness.She wasn’t the only MacKintosh who seemed to have trouble trusting Aylesbury these days.
If her brothers only knew how untrustworthy he was when it came to keeping his hands off their sister, no doubt he’d have to take them all on again—though they probably wouldn’t be so kind as to queue up one at a time if they knew he snuck into her room each night with Hobbes’ assistance.It would be worth it.
“If I keep sleeping in your bed rather than my own, you might find yourself married, willing or not.”
She flushed again.“Harry, stop!”
“Oh, that reminds me.”
“I daresay I should be rather afraid of what that reminded you of, that you would dare mention on a public street,” she said dryly.
“Pembrooke gave me some hairpins this morning,” Aylesbury teased.“Said one of the maids found them under the sofa cushions in the parlor.”
Her cheeks blossomed like a rose.“I will never be able to face them again.”
“Nonsense,” he assured her, tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear with a light caress to her jawline.“They will love you because I love you so completely.”
“God help you,” she whispered, watching the sunlight set the diamond in her alive.
“Yes,” he chuckled, lifting her hand to his lips.“God help me, my dear.”
Their eyes met, and Aylesbury wished they were somewhere more private so that he could kiss her properly.Despite their secluded nights, privacy had been a rare commodity of late.
With her brothers’ constant watch upon them, he’d taken—outwardly at least—to courting her properly: taking her to dine at the Ritz, to the Empire again so they might see Acre’s entire film without interruption.They even went to see Mr.Sousa’s band play one night.All of it under the watchful eye of brother and bodyguard.All of it to ensure that her answer to his unspoken question would beyes...eventually.
Today he’d invited Fiona to play a round of golf with him at the Aylesbury Parkland Golf Club near his ancestral estate, Dinton Grange.The course had recently opened a newly designed eighteen-hole long course to pair with the original nine-hole short course.His father had been a founding member of the private club, though he had used the clubhouse more than the course itself.Aylesbury had used his influence to gain a special exception for Fiona to play there since the club did not usually allow female golfers.
Her brothers, Connor and Colin, had come along as their requisite chaperones.They’d played the eighteen together before Aylesbury suggested a break for tea at the clubhouse.Fiona had accepted, but her brothers had opted to play a round on the short course before they all retired to Aylesbury for dinner and then returned to London.
The club’s manager had other thoughts on the matter.Although the golf club might have allowed a woman onto its greens, it had stood firm in its resolve to bar a female skirt from its hallowed clubhouse.
Tea would have to be taken elsewhere.
Rather than troubling his estate staff by arriving before they were expected, he’d had his coachman drop them in Aylesbury proper to take tea at one of the charming teahouses in town.He’d been happy enough to leave their shadows back on the fairways, sending his carriage back to the golf club to wait on the brothers and leaving him with an afternoon alone with Fiona...and a bodyguard who was warned to keep his distance under pain of death.
This was Aylesbury.His town, his people.Far removed from London.He intended to enjoy the day fully.He pressed another kiss to Fiona’s hand as they wandered the streets of Aylesbury township.
