“Nae, that’d leave ye compromised, aye? And yer da would point a weapon at me and force me to wed ye. We cannae have that.”
His tone was so dry that she had no idea whether he was jesting or not. She had every reason to believe he cared for her, enjoyed her company, but then he’d also suggested she spend more time being improper, at least in private. Well, he’d certainly been a splendid instructor. If there was more to it than that… This was more than likely not the time for her to be considering forever afters. Not when the man trying to force a forever after on her would be dining tonight with her and her family.
“Why would you bring fresh strawberries for a table where my family will be dining with… that man?” she asked, as the lunacy of that idea belatedly occurred to her.
“They’re nae for him. He just happens to be dining here tonight.”
They were for her? She did adore strawberries, but gifting them now, today, seemed ill timed. Vale would be impressed by the opulence, and even less likely—if that were possible—to give her up. In fact, even if her family owned orchards or fields or whatever they were of strawberries, or even if they didn’t, Vale’s plans wouldn’t alter.
“They’re for the servants,” she said aloud. “You want them on your side.”
At that, his mouth curved in a faint grin. “Ye’re learning to be sly, lass.”
“Yes, I think your lessons to me are going much more swimmingly than mine to you on proper behavior.”
“Well, I’m a Highlands barbarian, so ye’ve quite a task before ye.”
She grinned back at him. “You want my mother to gush over the lovely strawberries you brought us, andhave her urge Vale to try one because Aden MacTaggert is so generous.” She poked him in the chest. “I may not be naturally sly, but I have navigated the drawing rooms of Mayfair for the past five years. I know just how cutting even a compliment can be, when it’s delivered at the right time.”
Aden flicked a finger down her cheek. “Ye’ve nae idea how much I want ye lass, here and now.”
A swift look down at the front of his kilt backed up that statement quite nicely. “Put that away, Aden, before someone walks in on us,” she said beneath her breath, reaching out to smooth down the front of his tartan.
He took a quick step backward, batting at her hand. “Dunnae touch it, woman. Ye’d be setting it loose, and all sorts of mayhem could result.”
That made her laugh, and he slid his arms around her waist, pulling her closer. Miranda lifted up on her toes and kissed him again. Whatever lay between them, whatever word she’d been avoiding whenever it danced through her thoughts over the past few days because it was horribly ill timed and inconvenient and would make things even more difficult under the likely circumstance that their resistance was unsuccessful, she did enjoy him. Immensely. Enjoyment was much easier, and much safer, to acknowledge than that other pesky, danger-fraught word.
Aden kissed her throat, with that soft, slow touch that made her inner thighs want to melt. Her body certainly remembered the pleasures of two nights ago.Goodness gracious.“Aden…”
With a sigh he lifted his head again, wavy dark hair framing his face and brushing his shoulders. “I know. We cannae. I need to see to a few things tonight, anyway. If ye need a word with me, though, send a note to Eloise. I’ll see that it comes to me.”
She nodded, unable to keep from plucking at his lapels. “My one fear is that he’ll produce a special license tonight and announce to my parents that we’re to marry.”
“He’ll nae do that, Miranda. He wants a grand Society wedding with all the trimmings. A special license stinks like bad gossip. That’s according to Eloise, anyway.” He took her hand, twining her fingers with his. “My worry is that he’ll propose to ye tonight, in front of yer parents.”
Her heart shivered. “That’s almost worse. I can’t precisely turn him down, Aden.”
“Dunnae allow it, then. When he first comes in, if ye get the chance to introduce him, ye call him Matthew’s friend. Ye call him a retired boat captain, and nae a ship’s captain.”
“Damn him with faint praise, you mean. So if he were to propose, it would sound like he’s too eager, or that he’s infatuated while I’m not.”
It might be enough to stop him this once, but it wouldn’t work twice. Vale would make certain she knew not to insult him in public again. But she did have a little leverage: He wanted a certain appearance of propriety, and she knew it. It would be a delicate balance between pushing too hard and not doing enough, but luckily she was a practiced and skilled dancer.
“What ‘things’ will you be seeing to tonight, then?” She pursued.
“He might ask ye where I am, so I’ll be earning a bit of blunt, hopefully. But only from those who can afford it,boireannach gaisgeil, I swear. And if ye need a distraction, mention that my older brother, Coll, took himself down to Cornwall to have a look about, likely for property or someaught, even though he’s supposed to be in London finding himself a bride.”
Miranda put a hand over her mouth. “You sent him to look for Vale’s family.”
“I asked him to go, and he agreed. I doubt there’s a thing for him to find, but the fact of him looking might shake Vale’s spine a wee bit.”
The door bumped open behind her. In the same heartbeat Aden took a long step sideways, turned away from her, and lifted a book off one of the shelves he’d perused… goodness, how long ago had it been? A week? Two weeks? It seemed like both yesterday and ages ago, all at the same time.
“Miss Miranda,” Millie said, eyeing the two of them suspiciously, “Mrs. Harris inquires what color you mean to wear tonight, so she won’t clash.”
“I dunnae, lass,” Aden drawled, the book held loosely half across the front of his kilt, “but if ye say Samuel Johnson’s got a good eye for more than dictionary words, I’ll believe ye.”
Of course he’d already figured out which book would be appropriate. He likely remembered the title of every book on that shelf. And she’d once thought Highlanders thickheaded and dull. On at least one count, and with at least one man, she’d been very wrong. And under any other circumstances, that would have made her exceedingly happy.
