“He searched you out. You were seen talking to him ... outside.”
“It is not what it appeared,” Portia said.
“The colonel took his leave from the Assembly right after you left,” Lady Emma said, an accusatory note in her voice.
Portia shrugged. “I have no idea why he chose to depart when he did, but it certainly wasn’t because of me.”
Lady Emma studied her a moment. She hit the palm of her leather-gloved hand softly with her crop. “You may be right.” She smiled. Shedidhave small, sharp teeth. “I, um, well, we are fortunate to finally have a man who has everything I’ve been searching for in a husband pay his respects to us in the valley.”
“And what is everything?” Portia asked, curious, especially in light of her own wonderings.
“Handsome, well connected, wealthy, handsome—”
“You said handsome once,” Portia pointed out.
“It is worth repeating,” Lady Emma answered, and this time her smile was genuine.
Portia felt herself relax. “Well, he is all those things,” she agreed.
“Yes, and perhaps I shouldn’t jump to conclusions,” Lady Emma said. “I mean, you are almost as old as he is. Why would he be flirting with you?”
Portia tried to smile, but was thinking perhaps she preferred the suspicious Lady Emma over the friendly one. “He was being polite,” she said.
“Of course.” There was an awkward silence. “Well, I’d best be going. Father will worry if I am gone too long.”
“I can understand that,” Portia murmured.
Lady Emma turned to signal her groom to bring over her horse—but two riders coming up Camber Hall’s winding drive caught her eye.
Portia stepped forward, once more surprised by visitors. Then again, hadn’t Mr. Tolliver promised to call?
But it wasn’t Oliver Tolliver.
It was General Montheath ... and Colonel Chattan.
Lady Emma slapped her crop against her palm, this time with more force. “It appears you have a caller, Miss Maclean,” Lady Emma said. Her eyes had grown as sharp and pointed as her teeth. “I believe I will accept your invitation for refreshment.”
Chapter Seven
Harry was not impressed with Miss Maclean’s home.
The stone house was a bit shabby. Someone had attempted to bring order to the front shrubberies, but the rest of the grounds were overgrown. The drive itself had more than a few holes that Ajax disdainfully stepped over. There had been some painting done to the house’s sashes but slates were missing on the roof. Harry wasn’t a very skilled workman but even he could tell the roof had to leak, and it made him angry. The landlord should take better care of an abode housing three women alone.
He had convinced Monty that if he truly wanted to woo his ladylove, he must call on her. No more waiting for the fair damsel to come to him. Monty must go to the damsel.
Of course, Monty was scared witless at the prospect, so Harry had thought it wise to accompany him. Harry also found himself eager to spend some time with Miss Portia Maclean again. Their moment of verbal sparring and plain speaking had been the last thing he’d thought about before he’d drifted off to sleep. She was quite possibly the most contrary female of his acquaintance. There was something about her that he could not define, something that drew him to her.
Besides, he told himself, it was a good day for a ride.
And so, here he was, dressed for a casual call and an easy ride, while Monty wore a full dress uniform with his gold braid gleaming in the winter sun. Harry had suggested his friend was a tad overdressed. Monty had shaken his head.
“If I’m going to do this,” he informed Harry, “it’s going to be a full-on attack. I’ve always rigged myself out before going into battle. I am laying siege to Ariana’s heart. I am going to give her my best until she sees we were meant for each other.”
His best had included the intention of bringingallhis dogs with him. The whole pack of them, large and small.
Harry understood that, in Monty’s mind, the dogs were his clan, his trusted troops, but hehad strongly suggested the general leave them behind. Monty had argued and they had compromised and brought one, Jasper, leaving the others penned in horse stalls lest they follow. They had howled their disappointment.
Jasper was not Harry’s favorite dog. He was a long-legged hound with an overeager, rambunctious personality. Harry couldn’t understand why Monty always wanted the dog close at hand. He owned better-behaved dogs—all right, they were just barely better-behaved—but he always made allowances for Jasper.
