He stalked over to Kitt and Ross, his mind set on his mission. He’d been to war for Christ’s sake. He could handle one American.
“Ross, Kitt,” Alexander greeted the men. “I would like to speak to ye again, if ye dinna mind, Kitt.”
The man sighed as if he were bored and then looked up at Alexander. Because he did have to look up. The man was nearly a foot shorter than Alexander. “I believe I have already told you I am not interested in whatever offer you have to offer.”
Alexander gritted his teeth. Frustration mounting. “I will make it worth your while.”
The man’s brows shot up in interest. Ross cocked his head to the side, his eyes narrowed. “Will you?”
The bastard’s eyes lazily swept the room until they landed on Clarissa, and he leered at her, licking his lips.
Fists clenched, he closed the space between them. Ross shook his head in warning to back off, and jaw clenched, Alexander kenned he was right. Willing himself to relax, he addressed the vile man that didn’t deserve his time or money, and he sure as hell didn’t deserve Clarissa.
“Let us retreat to the gardens so that we can speak with some semblance of privacy,” Alexander suggested. He just really wanted to get Clarissa out of Kitt’s line of sight.
They left the ballroom, walking under the ivy arch that had been crafted to lead the party-goers to the gardens.
It was much quieter out here. The light from the lanterns lit up the grounds and Alexander surveyed the area. Tall hedges trimmed in geometrical shapes adorned one corner of the garden. A huge water fountain sat in the center and was adornedwith depictions of sea animals that swam in masonry and shot water out of their mouths.
The cool air was a welcome relief. With a majority of the guests inside and dancing, the room had grown quite warm.
Only a few couples wandered about, far out of earshot and more interested in themselves than anything Alexander and Kitt would be discussing.
“Well, you’ve got me out here,” Kitt said, his American twang sounding foreign to Alexander’s ears.
Alexander decided he didn’t much care for the accent. Almost as much as he despised the man himself.
“You said you’d make it worth my while. Go on and get to it.”
The man was positively uncouth. Alexander wanted to punch the smirk off his face. Instead, he drew in a deep breath and let it out slowly. “We’ve discussed my flock earlier. I do hope ye are caring for them as needed?” he implored.
“They’re sheep. What is needed other than fields for them to roam about on? I’ve got plenty of pasture. They seem fine.”
“Are they fenced in?”
Kitt shook his head. “No. There are no fences in place, but I don’t think any have wandered off.”
Alexander sent up a small prayer. “Have ye sheared them?”
Kitt barked out a laugh and slapped his knee. “You are a riot, Campbell. Do I look like a shepherd to you? I have no idea how to do such a thing. So no, they’ve not been sheared. They still have all their hair.”
Alexander pinched the bridge of his nose, his eyes squeezed tight. The man was an imbecile. “I am willing to up my previous offer to buy my sheep back.”
