Kimberly was feeling pleasantly tired as she slowly made her way down the many hallways back to her room. She still hadn’t caught up on her sleep yet, but hopefully she would make up for that tonight. And her cold, miraculously, seemed to be gone completely, thanks to Lucinda’s wonderful, foul-tasting concoction.
All in all, she’d actually enjoyed herself this evening. She’d been looking at all these upcoming social gatherings with something more like dread than anticipation. But Megan St. James had been such a charming and amusing hostess tonight that Kimberly had actually forgotten her reason for being at Sherring Cross.
Amazingly, she’d also been so distracted by her hostess that she’d managed to forget, for brief periods anyway, the presence of the man who so fascinated her. It had helped that he sat at the far end of the table from her, far enough that she couldn’t even hear his voice in whatever conversations he joined in.
It was only when she had the strangest feeling of having MacGregor’s eyes on her that she recalled him at all. Not that she looked even once to confirm if he was staring at her or not. And it was more likely just her imagination giving her that feeling, because he’d have no reason to pay attention to her when the lovely Megan was present.
Kimberly knew exactly where his interest lay. After all, she had overheard everything he’d said to the duchess when he arrived. And not for a moment did she think that their banter had been the kind of harmless flirtation that men and women engaged in. He’d been serious. He meant to pursue a married woman. And that married woman had been obviously annoyed and exasperated with him because of it, not in the least bit receptive to the idea. But that wouldn’t stop him. His behavior tonight proved that.
Kimberly heard the footsteps behind her just as she turned into the hallway where her room was located. The sound caused her heart to skip. It could be a servant, though she doubted it, with such a heavy tread. It was more likely the Highlander, and yet she had left the gathering early, to avoid just such a possibility.
After dinner they had moved from the dining hall to the music room, where Cynthia had entertained them with her skill on the harpsichord. Because it was such a small gathering, by St. James standards, the men had brought their brandies along rather than remain behind to finish them, and those who wished to smoke did so in the back of the room.
When Kimberly left, MacGregor had still been swirling a good portion of brandy in his glass, as well as being deep in conversation with Lady Hester, so by all counts, he shouldnotbe coming up the hall behind her. And she knew for a fact that he kept late hours. But her senses were telling her otherwise, were leaping with alarm or excitement—she really wished she could distinguish the two.
Wisely, Kimberly chose not to have another confrontation with him, if it was him, however brief or even if it were no more than a nod in passing. She was positive she’d never get to sleep tonight if she did. So she hurried her step, was actually running the last few, only to realize as she turned the latch on her door that she’d locked it.
Now, why had she done a foolish thing like that? He hadn’t been serious about stealing anything from her, he wouldn’t dare. For her peace of mind, she really only needed to lock the door when she was behind it, not when she wasn’t. Yet it was locked tight, those footsteps were growing louder, and when she finally located the hidden pocket tucked under the folds of her skirt and yanked the key out, she was so anxious she dropped the damn thing. Worse, after snatching it up again, she couldn’t find the keyhole.
And then a large hand spread wide against the door, level with her face, and a Scots brogue was breathing down her neck. “So you dinna think I’m a giant?”
After her haste and anxiety, it was strange to have a calmness come over her now, but that’s what happened. Possibly she’d had one too many glasses of the sweet wine with the meal tonight, or possibly it was no more than resignation. But she was definitely calm now, and when she turned around to face him, she wasn’ttoodisconcerted to find him practically looming over her, he was so close.
So he’d heard her remark to Cynthia? Amazing that she wasn’t embarrassed by that.
Kimberly raised her eyes to meet his, not too far a distance, really it wasn’t, and answered in a somewhat dry tone, “Hardly.”
That response seemed to amuse him, though he pointed out, “You did enough gawking at me the first time you saw me, as I recall.”
“Possibly because you’re an exceptionally handsome man?” she said.
Putting it in the form of a question had him blushing, though that was likely to have happened either way. He also dropped his arm and stepped back slightly, so that he didn’t seem quite so threatening.
“Then perhaps I’m owing you an apology for my abruptness yesterday when I arrived.”
She could have been gracious, accepted his apology, and let it go at that, which would undoubtedly have hurried him along to his own room, and gotten her into hers without any further ado. She didn’t do that.
Instead she said, “You’re making a habit of owing me apologies, aren’t you?”
It was a provoking question. She realized that as soon as she spoke. Yet she didn’t try to retract her comment or lessen the subtle challenge it issued.
His reaction, however, was to laugh and say, “D’you think so, darlin’? And here I was thinking what a good lad I’ve been—all things considered.”
Kimberly ignored his attempt to put the blame for his behavior on her, and said instead, “I’ve asked you not to call me that.”
The smile he offered now was somewhat on the wicked side, or perhaps her imagination was running rampant again. “Asking willna always get what you want from me, unless ’tis what I’m wanting tae hear.”
She should have known she couldn’t have a conversation with this man without getting annoyed with him. “And what would that be?”
“From you, maybe—please?”
She quirked a brow. “Humble myself because you haven’t sense enough to see that I am not nor will I ever be your darling? I think not.”
It was another challenge. His hand came back to the door behind her head, bracing him against it. That definitely crowded her and forced her to tilt her head back even farther if she wanted to keep eye contact. Perhaps she should reconsider about his being a giant…
“Never deny what’s possible, and anything’s possible, given fate’s intervention, as well as the quirks of nature and one’s own determination.”
“Then would it bepossiblefor you to take yourself off and let me retire in peace?”
