“I'm not married.”
“Nor will you be with that attitude,” she countered, much to the glee and giggles of the others who had overheard. Everyone except Rose.
“I've never known such intelligent Englishwomen,” Jeanne said, smiling widely. Her green eyes sparkled with delight. “Tell me, were you all this entertaining in London?”
Though none of the Sharpes moved, Hope knew each of her sisters had the same false smile plastered on their faces.
“London was a dreadful bore compared to this,” Faith said. “But we did not receive dance cards. How do we know when a gentleman wishes to dance?”
“Like this,” said the redhead Jamie, who dragged a protesting Faith onto the dance floor.
Grace squealed as Michael seized her hand, and before she knew it, Hope was being tapped on the shoulder by a smiling Jared.
“May I have this dance? So that you might teach me more of your radical ways that I might find a proper lass?”
Hope laughed and took his hand. “Absolutely.”
CHAPTER NINE
Belle stood along the side of the dance floor, appearing both worried and annoyed. Graham approached her quickly and dipped his voice.
“Yes?”
“Your uncle has informed me of some news,” she said softly, looking around to make sure no one overheard. “One of your cousins has asked to court Hope.”
“Court her?” he repeated. The fine hairs on the back of his neck stood up in warning. “She’s barely met anyone. Who in their right mind is trying to court her already?”
“Now, as I am the only guardian she has, I must tell you I am considering giving my consent—”
“You bloody well will not,” he said.
“Well, she won’t be available forever, MacKinnon,” Belle said. “And Jared McTavish would make a fine husband.”
“Jared?” Graham said loudly, causing several people to stare in their direction.
“He’s your uncle’s heir and in a better position than any other man here. Besides, he’s stated he’s quite taken with her—”
“He’s met her once.”
“That was enough to be charmed by her.”
For heavens sakes, had everyone lost their bloody minds? The woman had hardly been here two weeks. Was he the only person who thought it was an insufficient amount of time to get to know someone? And what was Jared playing at? He had never expressed interest in marriage before. Now all of a sudden he was keen on the idea?
Something suspicious was afoot, but Graham wasn’t sure what. All he knew was that the idea of Hope being tied to his cousin didn’t sit right with him.
“Over my dead body,” he said as he searched the crowd.
“MacKinnon, you will not interfere in Hope’s personal business. If you don’t want her, she will certainly have to marry someone else.”
“Och, so now you don’t want me to marry her?”
“I don’t care much what you do anymore if you don’t want her.”
“I don’t know why you’re so damned set on this plot of yours. I’ll not be bullied and threatened by you or anyone about my future,” he said through gritted teeth.
“No one is making you do anything. I’m simply pointing out that if you won’t have her, Jared will.”
He gazed across the sea of people and Graham saw Jared, dancing with a smiling Hope.
