Selina took umbrage at that. “The term is ‘old man’s darling’, and that was only because she had no choice. If he had decided to help her and her brother financially, without strings attached, then everything would have been all right. But no, he had to be selfish. So many men are.”
Angus thought that was probably true and wondered if it was aimed at him. He decided to ignore it. “That still doesna change things, Selina.”
She wanted to argue, he could see that, but she didn’t. She just looked downhearted. “No,” she said, and looked up at Angus, her blue eyes moist with unshed tears. “I just want her to be happy. More than anyone else I know, she deserves it.”
His heart ached for her as he said gently, “I know ye do. I just don’t know how it can be brought about.”
Selina thought a moment. They had been wandering through the Tower and were now standing in the room where the crown jewels were kept. For all her talk of them earlier, she did not seem to notice. “Does Callum never stand up to his father? Could he choose Penelope and say to hell with the world?”
Angus chuckled. “The duke is not a tyrant. But he feels he must do all he can to raise the family up, because it was his marriage to the old duke’s daughter that caused them to be looked down upon. He was a gamekeeper, and that is what people remember. He wants his son to have a wife who can win them over.”
“But that is exactly what Penelope can do!” Selina cried.
Several people looked in their direction, and she shrank into Angus’s side.
“Aye, I see that,” he said quietly, smiling down at her, “but it is not up to us. Callum and your mistress must find their own way out of this maze.”
He could tell she wasn’t happy with that, but Angus refused to be further drawn into the tangle.
“Now show me your favorite jewel,” he said.
To her credit, Selina shook off her anxiety and was soon chattering away again. He listened, smiling and looking awed at the right times. He felt for her, and for Callum and Penelope, but what was to be done? The duke would not be happy if his son brought home a woman who did not fit in with his future plans, although Angus had to wonder if Maxwell was not being rather hypocritical.
Over the years, Angus had learned that interfering in the lives of others, even if it was well meant, did not end well.
“Will you take some supper with me after this?” he said abruptly. “It is your day off, isn’t it? You do not have to go back by dark?”
Selina smiled with delight. “Yes, I would love to take supper with you.”
“I have been looking forward to your company and I don’t want it to end,” he said, the words a little stilted because his heart was pounding. “You say that Penelope deserves to be happy, but Selina, so do you.”
She was gazing at him as if he was everything she could wish for, which embarrassed him even more. Angus was well aware of his faults, and he had never imagined he would find a woman he cared about like this. One thing he knew for sure: He would be willing to do almost anything to see Selina Halliday smile.
Chapter Eighteen
Penelope took asip from her Worcester blue-and-white teacup—she had told Callum that the set had been her mother’s and was one of the few things she had left of her. Unfortunately, almost all the cups and saucers had been broken in her move to Jasmyne Street. Callum had decided that if he had his way, he would buy her several tea sets, one for each day of the week.
They were in her sitting room, and Penelope had been instructing him on the length of time one should spend when calling upon a lady.
Callum had pretended to be listening.
“I thought for our next lesson we should ride out of the city. A picnic in the country is always a popular outing during the warmer months. Many a romance has had its beginnings at a picnic in the country.”
Callum was more than happy to oblige. He wondered if she was aware what that picnic would lead to? What their every moment together lately seemed to lead to?
To Penelope’s apparent surprise, their affair had not cooled down. “I thought we would be past this by now,” she had gasped earlier when he had pressed her against the wall and lifted her until she could hook her legs around his hips. They had then spent several very pleasurable moments locked together.
Callum had not expected his ardor to cool. He was already heating up again. After they had both groaned out their pleasure,she had stroked her fingers through his hair, her eyes closed, like she had forgotten that she was meant to be teaching him the society rules she thought him sadly lacking.
Those words had been on the tip of his tongue again, the ones he already knew would put a stop to these passionate interludes. He wanted to declare his undying love for her and beg her to marry him, but how could he when he knew she would put an end to things?
Callum didn’t want that. He couldn’t bear it.
His teacup rattled as he set it down on the saucer, and she narrowed her eyes, clearly worried he would damage the precious thing.
Callum cleared his throat. “Will I be expected to take part in many picnics?”
“Some. Everyone enjoys the outdoors when it is fine. Don’t worry, apart from dressing nicely and making polite conversation, there will be no great effort required on your part. There are servants to help serve the food and pack it away again.”
