“Oh, goodness,” she said, as laughter spilled from her lips. “How mortifying. How positively humiliating.”
She continued to laugh.
“I’m glad you find this amusing.”
“I can’t help it. I always laugh when everything goes completely and utterly wrong,” she said. An edge of fear entered her voice. “How could I have done this?”
“It wasn’t all you,” he said. “I had a hand in it.”
“No, I know that. I just …” She bit her lip. “I should know better. The entire reason we came to Scotland was because of a scandal just like this. At the time, I couldn’t imagine how it had happened, and yet here I am. Even after we were nearly caught at Elk Manor.” Another nervous laugh escaped her lips. “Am I so completely careless?”
Guilt pushed its way into his thoughts.
“It isn’t your fault, Hope. I shouldn’t have taken advantage of you. I just,” he said, shaking his head. “I couldn’t help it. I’m sorry.”
It wasn’t much of an excuse, and Graham was surprised to see Hope smiling at his words.
“That’s the second time you’ve apologized for kissing me,” she said softly. “I might begin to think you don’t like it.” He opened his mouth to say something, but she held up her hand. “Besides. It’s hardly fair of me to blame you when I was more than willing to participate.”
Graham stared at her.
“You don’t seem upset.”
“I suppose I should be, shouldn’t I?” A blush spread across her cheeks. It made him want to touch her cheek. “Given that I barely know you. But then…”
“What?”
“I don’t know. It seems as though we’ve been pushed together, almost. As if it were fated or something.”
Graham wasn’t sure why, but her words chilled him. He needed to tell her the truth now before they went any further. He opened his mouth to do so, just as the booming voice of Laird McTavish echoed from beyond the fire.
“Hope, there’s something I should—”
“Graham MacKinnon! Show yourself!”
They both looked toward the bonfire as a cheer erupted from the crowd. Graham cursed silently to himself.
“I think Jared must have told my uncle the news,” he said. “He’s always one for big shows.”
“Oh dear.”
“Yes,” he said with a sigh. “But I want to tell you—”
“MacKinnon! Where are ya, lad?”
The cheers from the crowd grew louder, and Hope began to look nervous. Deciding now wasn’t the best time to explain everything, Graham shook his head.
“Come. Let’s go before they send a search party.”
He helped her button up as they made their way out from behind the tents and carts holding hands. Hope and Graham received several knowing glances that made Graham cautious. He led her through the center of the crowd where his uncle stood. After an exchange of words in his uncle’s ear, the old Laird stood back with a smile, eyes wide with delight.
“What fine news indeed!” Laird McTavish said, gazing between his nephew and Hope. “She works fast, doesn’t she?” He winked at them both. “Fergus! Get the good wine. We have a celebration on our hands!”
“Who works fast?” Hope asked, as the old man took her hand and Graham’s, wedging himself between them.
“Lady Luck, of course,” the laird said. “Attention!” he bellowed across the crowd. “Quiet! My nephew, Graham MacKinnon, has just proposed to Miss Hope Sharpe, and she accepted!” The crowd broke into a series of cheers and whistled as the laird lifted their hands. “Let’s have some proper music!”
“Uncle—” Graham protested.
