“Aye, or I was just getting ready to do so until ye interrupted us.” Alexander tried to keep his voice even so as not to pique Nicholas’s suspicions while he bent down and scooped the book from the floor.
Clarissa stood and smoothed her skirts. “I must finish preparing for tonight. I was just taking a wee respite to relax.” She stood on her tiptoes and kissed Nicholas on the cheek.
Alexander fought the surge of jealousy that flooded him.
“Ye do ken how much I enjoy reading, Brother.”
Nicholas raised a brow at his sister’s deflection but didn’t say anything further. Hell’s bells. The lass had only been here a day and Alexander could barely contain his yearning for her. It would take all of his strength to keep his temper tamped down at the ball tonight when every available man would be vying for her arm.
“Clarissa?” Alexander called.
She paused, just inside the door, and turned, “Aye?”
“May ye please be so kind as to allow me to have the first dance?”
Her eyes darted to Nicholas’s and then to his. After a moment’s pause and just when he didn’t think she would answer him, she did.
“I would verra much enjoy that.”
And then she was gone, and Alexander was left alone with Nicholas and his scrutinizing gaze.
