She folded her arms in front of her, and he could almost hear her toe tapping.
“I have no intention of partaking of tea with you, sir. And what explanation do I owe you?”
“How do you know Spanish?” he asked.
A flush transformed her face, rendering it younger.
“Let us just say I have some knowledge of Spanish, Mr. McDonough.”
She moved to close the door, and he inserted his foot between it and the frame.
“Mrs. Williams, I am here on behalf of Mr. Eston, who is my friend. Mr. Eston is married to Lady Sarah, who is responsible for everything at Chavensworth. Do you not think that the two of us have significant interests in common that we could become cordial acquaintances?”
He held up his hand before she could speak, and added, “I’m not saying friends, Mrs. Williams. I am merely saying that it is a very large house, and I have no one with whom to speak. Your Thomas is a very nice young man, but I do not feel that he is as schooled as you in certain matters.”
“Perhaps, Mr. McDonough. I shall think about it.”
He removed his foot from the door, and she immediately closed it in his face.
He really shouldn’t have felt like laughing.
Chapter 21
Aknock on the door made Sarah roll her eyes.
“Can you get that, Florie?” she asked. “There have been more people in this suite in the last hour than I’ve seen in days.”
Florie went to the door. Sarah heard two female voices, then Florie appeared once more.
“Linda Tulloch is here, Lady Sarah, to take you into dinner.”
Who was Linda Tulloch?
Sarah walked into the sitting room to find a woman standing there, attired in a dark blue dress with a full hoop, drawn up at the bottom in two places to reveal an underskirt of white lace. A delicate cameo at her throat was her only ornament. Her hair, a shade between brunette and blond, was parted in the middle and drawn into a severe bun at the nape of her neck.
She was lovely but gave the appearance of either being bored with her looks or uncaring for them. Winged brows arched over deeply brown and thickly lashed eyes. Her cheekbones were high, almost as if she were an exotic creature from the Far East and not Scotland at all. A mouth, perfectly formed, was pulled into a thinner line than nature had designed, however,giving Sarah the impression that Linda Tulloch did not often smile.
“I’m your cousin,” she announced. “My father was your mother’s brother.”
Until this moment, she’d not even known she had an uncle.
“I’m here to take you to dinner, but we must hurry.” Linda turned, and glanced behind her impatiently. “Grandfather does not allow for any tardiness. If you’re late for dinner, you simply won’t be served.”
Sarah nodded to Florie. “Don’t wait up for me,” she said.
As they descended the stairs, Sarah noticed what she hadn’t seen earlier. Shields and claymores, broadswords and dirks were mounted on the walls, above the arches, and sweeping into a large, spacious room where three people stood waiting.
Douglas was there, and beside him the man she recognized from the porte cochere, and her grandfather, Donald Tulloch, who was frowning in her direction.
If he thought to unsettle her, he was doomed to disappointment. Ever since childhood, she’d been forced to stand in front of her father’s desk and wait until he raised his head to acknowledge her, all the while praying that she wouldn’t cry when he spoke. After those childhood experiences, Sarah doubted she was capable of being intimidated.
The two of them approached the others, Donald reaching out to take Linda’s arm, as Sarah went to stand beside Douglas.
“She’s my cousin,” she told him.
“You’ll find that a great many of us are related.” The man to the side of Douglas stepped forward. “RobertTulloch,” he said, introducing himself. “Another cousin. Third or fourth or more, I believe.”
Donald turned, and began what Sarah could only call a procession. Linda and Robert next. Douglas offered Sarah his arm, and they followed.
