“Miss Katie?” he asked in a deep, gravelly voice.
Katie held her breath. Perhaps she had been hasty in her declaration. One more dance might be acceptable, after all…
“Great,” Aiden grumbled under his breath, watching as a lady and her young daughter started toward him.
They thought better of it as he stared back at them, his arms folded across his chest, impatient to be done with all of the pleasantries.
He stood near the edge of the grand ballroom, feeling the familiar sense of entrapment that always accompanied such events. He hated ceilidhs and balls alike; the etiquette and suffocating formality made his skin crawl. If it weren’t for his business associate, Lord Illingham, hosting the ball, he would never have set foot in the lavish affair.
The room was a spectacle of opulence, with crystal chandeliers casting a warm glow over elegantly dressed couples twirling to the rhythm of a classical string quartet.
Aiden’s dark hair and brooding expression stood in stark contrast to his glittering surroundings. He tugged at the stiff collar of his formal attire, longing for the freedom of the open sea or the rugged Scottish Highlands.
With his business secured and pleasantries exchanged, Aiden was ready to make his exit. He began to edge toward the door when a sudden movement caught his eye. Standing somewhat apart from the lively crowd was a very tall lady, her posture elegant yet noticeably tense. She had raven hair styled in an intricate updo, her curvy figure draped in a gown of deep burgundy that highlighted her striking beauty.
Aiden’s curiosity was piqued. This must be Miss Katie, the friend his ally’s wife had mentioned. Leah had given him a letter to deliver, insisting he meet the recipient personally. She had forgotten to mention just how beautiful the woman was. However, Miss Katie appeared quite shy and distressed, and her eyes darted around the room as if seeking an escape.
He watched her for a moment, noting how out of place she seemed amidst the merriment, much like he felt. There was a vulnerability in her expression that stirred something within him—a desire to offer solace and a way out of her discomfort.
Summoning his resolve, Aiden crossed the room toward her. As he approached, he couldn’t help but notice the delicate blush on her cheeks and the way her eyes widened slightly at his approach. Despite her obvious distress, she held herself with a grace that intrigued him.
“Miss Katie?”
CHAPTER 2
Aiden watched as the tall,raven-haired lady gathered herself to speak. Her lips parted slightly, but before she could say a word, the older woman beside her interjected with a voice sharp and loud enough to slice through the surrounding chatter.
“Oh, Katie, I didn’t think you had it in you!” she exclaimed, her tone a mix of disbelief and triumph. “To marry such a handsome young man!”
The words hung in the air like a bombshell, and Aiden felt his stomach drop. The room, previously alive with music and conversation, seemed to freeze as heads turned to stare at the trio. The color drained from Katie’s face, her eyes widening in horror as she turned to her mother.
“Marry?” Katie and Aiden echoed in unison, their shock evident in their voices.
Katie looked as though she might cry, her earlier composure crumbling under the weight of her mother’s public proclamation. Aiden’s instincts told him to step in, but he hesitated, unsure of how to navigate this sudden and bewildering turn of events.
“Mother, please,” Katie began, her voice trembling. “You’ve misunderstood. I?—”
“Misunderstood? Nonsense!” her mother cut her off, her voice ringing out with the certainty of someone who believed they were orchestrating a momentous occasion. “The last of my daughters finally made her match! I’m already thinking of throwing a ball much larger than this one to celebrate.”
Katie’s eyes shimmered with unshed tears, her distress palpable. She reached out as if to stop her mother from saying anything more, but her mother was too caught up in her own excitement to notice her mortification.
“Please, Mother,” Katie whispered, her voice breaking as she struggled to keep her composure. “This isn’t what you think it is. Please, just be quiet.”
“Quiet? Why should I be quiet?” The old woman’s voice took on a sharper edge, her eyes narrowing as she misinterpreted her daughter’s desperate plea. “This is a moment to be celebrated, not hidden away. Do you have any idea how long I’ve waited for this day?”
Aiden felt a surge of protectiveness rise within him. This scene was spiraling out of control, and it was clear that Katie was on the verge of a breakdown. He couldn’t bear to witness her despair any longer. With a quick glance around, he noted how the guests had shifted their attention to them, their whispers already spreading like wildfire.
He stepped closer to Katie, his presence commanding enough to draw her mother’s attention away from her for a moment. The older woman looked at him with a mix of pride and curiosity, clearly assuming that he was the prospective groom Katie had so loudly spoken about.
Aiden’s gaze locked onto Katie’s, his expression softening as he saw the tears brimming in her eyes. Without thinking, he reached out, his hand closing gently but firmly around her upper arm.
“Ye and I need to talk. Now,” he whispered, his voice low and resonant, carrying an undeniable authority. His Scottish accent had thickened with the tension of the moment, making his words sound both urgent and intimate.
Katie looked up at him, her eyes wide with a mix of fear, confusion, and something else—relief, perhaps. She gave a tiny, almost imperceptible nod, her breath hitching as she tried to compose herself. Aiden felt her tremble slightly under his grip, and it only fueled his resolve to get her out of this disastrous situation.
“Come,” he said softly but firmly, guiding her away from her mother and the prying eyes of the onlookers.
Theodosia seemed to hesitate, momentarily thrown off balance by the sudden shift in control. Before she could object, Aiden had already steered Katie toward the nearest exit, his mind racing with how best to handle the situation.
