"That's quite fine," Anna replied, her grin illuminating her entire face. "I'll be glad to guide you."
Despite the promenade being Anna's idea, she was still nervous when they began their walk. Eyes were on them almost immediately. Whenever Anna offered a polite nod, it wasreturned, but then the person she'd greeted would quickly look away and mumble to their companion.
"I daenae see the point in this," Hugh said as they rounded a corner. "Seems as though we're just here to be looked upon."
"Well, I suppose we are in a way," she admitted. "Though I expected people to react… differently."
"Aye?" he mumbled, stiffly nodding at a pair that wouldn't take their eyes off of him. "And how were you expectin' they react?"
She thought for a moment before saying, "Well, I didn't expect that there would still be whispers."
"Still?"
Anna shifted uncomfortably, her arm tugging against where it was nestled in the crook of Hugh's elbow. Softly, she said, "Well, I've already told you. I'm not exactly excelling socially. People are… not exactly polite about my figure."
"They're dobbers," he said almost immediately with a fierceness that surprised her.
"No, it's…" she mumbled, looking at the ground. "It's to be expected. Women… they're supposed to be petite things."
"Says who?" he challenged. "The tiny things that look as though they're starvin'?"
Despite herself, Anna giggled. She was unused to being around someone who was willing to speak their mind. So often, things were skirted around, spoken of in vague terms, and hinted at. It was as though people here were afraid of anyone knowing what they truly thought.
"Your frankness is… refreshing," she murmured.
"Ach, I'm just tellin' ye what I see."
Before Anna was able to respond, she saw Charlotte and her two friends approaching them. Anna held herself straighter, her arm tightening on Hugh's. She felt him stiffen in turn, his own gaze locking on the women who were quickly approaching.
"Anna," Charlotte said, her eyes sweeping up and down the length of Hugh's form. "I did not expect to see you out today."
"It was getting a bit stuffy in the manor," Anna replied, a knot of nerves twisting in her stomach. "We thought we might stretch our legs."
"We?" Charlotte repeated, eyebrow raised. "Are you going to introduce us to your chaperone? I don't believe I've seen him around."
Anna nodded, giving a smile as she said, "This is Laird McDonald, Hugh. My betrothed."
"Is that right?" Charlotte said, all that interest from when she first read the forged letter morphing into something venomous. "Is this the first time he's seen you, then?"
"I… Well…" Anna began, stuttering. Her face burned, the old embarrassment sinking in.
"Nay, we've met before," Hugh said easily, building on the lie Anna had already told unintentionally. "But she gets bonnier each time I see her."
The answer clearly shook Charlotte. She glanced between her two friends before leveling her gaze back at Anna. It was almost as if she had never believed the story in the first place.
Perhaps it's jealousy. I know that she's eager to be wed as well. I'm sure that it must sting her to see me betrothed, considering how poorly she thinks of me and my looks.
"I'm sure," Charlotte said icily. "Tell me again, how did the two of you meet? I can't remember what Anna told me."
"I was on a trip to England and had a chance encounter with her," Hugh said, gruff and to the point. "Would've married her then and there if I had the time."
"Ah, that's right," Charlotte said. "But perhaps you'd like to stay around for a bit. I don't know when your wedding is, but surely there's a better match for you here. Someone who looks better upon your arm."
The entire park went silent at her words. Anna's face burned hotter than a hearth fire. She wanted nothing more than to shrink away, to disappear from the public eye. Hugh wouldn't let her, though. He stood tall, supporting her with a firm arm.
"Ach, ye daenae seem to understand," he said, voice level and dangerous. "I've already got the most beautiful and intelligent lady in all of England on me arm. Ye do nothin' for me. Lookin' elsewhere would be a waste of me time."
It seemed as though everyone in the surrounding area was holding their breath, waiting for Charlotte's response. After several seconds, it became obvious that she didn't have one. She hadn't been expecting Hugh to defend Anna so fiercely, nor to be so sure of his convictions.
