“Ah, ye are from Inverness. That explains why I didna recognize ye.”
“I am. And I miss it dearly.”
Primrose gently took hold of her elbow and maneuvered her around a puddle in the pathway. “If your cousin did not want the responsibility and ye were perfectly happy in Inverness, than why not just assign ye a guardian there? That way, his life here remained uninterrupted.”
The reasoning for that was not something she was ready to get into right now. Though Lord Primrose had set her mind at ease by being so amiable to talk to, she felt like she had revealed enough for this day.
“Mayhap that is a tale for another day, my lord,” she smiled so he would not take affront at her refusal.
He grinned. “That means ye would like me to call upon ye again?”
She looked at him, confused. “Do ye no’ want to go running for the hills?”
He barked out a laugh, the sound echoing in the small stone tunnel they were walking in. “Because ye were formerly married and tragically lost your husband? I hardly see why that should mark ye as if ye have the pox, my dear lady.”
*
Finlay could notbelieve that Lady Watson would think herself disqualified from marrying again just because she had previously been married.
He needed no fair maiden. A virgin was not a requirement for his wife. As a matter of fact a wife with her first experience out of the way and in the past would actually be a welcome thing.
“I am surprised ye are still interested, Lord Primrose. My cousin doesna believe it could be so. Hence the varying ages and traits of the men currently sitting in the parlor awaiting our return.”
“Did ye love your husband?” He cursed quietly, the words spilling forth from his mouth before he could stop them. “If ye dinna mind me asking,” he quickly added.
“Our marriage was complicated. I will no’ speak ill of the dead, but ’twas no’ a love match on both sides. Instead it was part of a long-in-place plan of my parents and him. I did grow to love him, but he did no’ feel the same.”
He could not imagine being forced to marry someone he did not have feelings for. It was a formula for a miserable life. She did not say as much, but he could read between the lines. It was clear as day that she had not been happy.
“And that is why ye dinna want to remarry?”
She nodded, but said naught more.
He was sure there was more to the story, but he had prodded into her history enough for one day.
“’Tis understandable. Bad experiences make us want to avoid any such thing from happening again.”
Biting her lip, she stared straight ahead, avoiding his eyes. “I do suppose that is true. While I dinna want a husband, I would like to regain control of what is mine, without my cousin’s interference.”
A plan began to form in Finlay’s mind. He would have to think on it more, but he was certain in the end, they could both achieve what they desired.
Desired might not be the best word for what he was thinking, for when he thought of desire, the only image in his mind was Willamina Watson. She was undeniably desirable. And whatever her late husband had done to scar her so, he was a bastard for it.
She deserved to be treated like a queen. Put on the highest pedestal and taken care of so she did not have to worry about a thing.
He loosened his cravat, the temperature was beginning to warm up. Mayhap it was time they rejoined the others.
“Shall we return inside?” he asked. “We have been out for some time and I dinna want ye to get overheated.”
She let out a long sigh. “I suppose ye are right. But I do dread going back in there.”
“Too many prospects?”
A most unladylike laugh erupted from her throat and she slapped her hand over her mouth.
He found her positively amusing.
“I do apologize for that. But, nay, there is absolutely no one waiting inside that are even close to being prospects. If I were even considering marriage, of course,” she quickly added. “May I be frank?”
