“Alastair killed two of their gang, and the other two are still at large, but first I would like to get my friend’s property back.” She thought for a moment then glanced at the hard-faced woman behind the counter. “This is beautiful,” she said warmly. “May I ask where it was made?”
“Here in Inverness, Milady,” the woman answered. “It is not new though. It came from the estate of a deceased nobleman. It is very valuable, but we have had it for a few months and it has not sold. Most people think the likeness is too personal to the previous owner, and does not suit their needs, so I can give you a good price.” She was lying, and Caitlyn knew it, but she decided to play along for a while. They haggled over the price for a short time, but Caitlyn knew how to negotiate, and she walked out with a bargain.
“But these are ill-gotten gains!” Robert protested.
“But not ill-gotten by me,” Caitlyn answered grimly. “And I will find out how that woman got them and have her arrested for theft. She is as guilty as sin.”
Christmas Eve came and Caitlyn tried to school herself to be calm at the ceilidh they were holding. She would of course be distracted by all her other guests so it would not be too difficult, she told herself, and she had Robert by her side. He was not as tall or as handsome as Alastair but neither was he as rude or as temperamental. She would be fine, she told herself over and over again, trying to make herself believe it.
Robert had gone to get them both a drink when Ava and Alastair came in.
Ava rushed up to her friend and hugged her tightly, while Caitlyn laughed, closing her eyes and trying not to look at Alastair, who was standing behind his sister awaiting his chance to greet her.
“You look wonderful!” Ava gushed as she looked her friend up and down then turned to Alastair. “Does she not, Alastair?”
Caitlyn was wearing a plain white V-necked dress with a silver brooch and a Brodie tartan plaid over her shoulder. It looked fresh, simple, and elegant, in contrast to many of the other ladies in their more elaborate outfits.
Alastair, in his white shirt and Duncan tartan kilt, looked fairly wonderful himself. “Indeed she does,” he agreed, bowing low and kissing her hand. “How are you, Caitlyn?” His heart was beating wildly as he touched her soft skin, and her green eyes were having a hypnotic effect on him. He was finding it very hard to look away.
Caitlyn blushed under his scrutiny. “I am well, and you, Alastair?” How she hated small talk!
“Well, thank you,” he answered politely.
Just then Robert came up with drinks for himself and Caitlyn, and the usual round of greetings began again. If Robert was put out by the sight of the tall handsome stranger, he did not show it. He went to get more drinks, and Caitlyn was left with Ava and Alastair. Despite her best intentions, Caitlyn had been rendered helpless by the sight of him.
She kept up a meaningless flow of chatter with Ava so that she would not have to look in Alastair’s eyes, even though she could feel his gaze burning into her. When Robert came back, she and Ava left the two men together so that she could introduce Ava to some more of her acquaintances.
Alastair was furious. He had wanted to say hello and disappear, and now Caitlyn and his sister had left him with a man he had met only moments before, and to whom he had nothing to say.
“How do you know Caitlyn?” Robert asked, before an awkward silence could develop between them. His voice was friendly, and he was smiling slightly.
“We met, quite literally, by accident,” Alastair replied, laughing softly. He explained the circumstances of the accident and Robert’s smile changed slightly.
“I see,” he said evenly. “I did not realize it was you.”
Alastair raised his eyebrows questioningly.
“I get the impression she dislikes you,” Robert said, and this time there was definitely a hint of malice in his blue eyes. “Very much.”
“May I ask if you are betrothed to her?” Alastair asked dangerously.
“No, but I am trying to be,” Robert answered. “She is a fine woman. And she likes me,” he added smugly. His eyes glinted with the light of malice.
Alastair clasped his hands behind his back in an effort to stop himself from punching Robert. Instead he pushed his face into the other man’s so that their noses were nearly touching, and the shade of his furiously lowered brows made his eyes almost black.
“If Milady dislikes me, that is understandable, for I am a proud man,” he ground out, then tossed back his whisky. “But what I cannot understand is what she sees in the likes of you!” Then, with one venomous look at Robert, he strode away.
18
The Pendant
Caitlyn had watched the altercation out of the corner of her eye and had seen Alastair storming away. She had to speak to him about Ava’s pendant before Christmas, but the look on his face was beyond daunting.
“Alastair!” she called, running to catch up with him. She put out a hand to catch his arm and he spun around to face her, his face blazing with anger.
When he saw who it was, his expression changed to one of resignation. “Not again, Caitlyn. I have just had an argument with your...friend...and I have no stomach for another with you.” His voice was weary.
“I don’t want an argument,” she replied. “I need your help.”
