Chapter Eight
Outside, the sunshone bright in the sky, but the air still held a chill. Willamina was glad that she had opted to cover her shoulders with her cloak before leaving Buckwood Manor. She looked back to see Gil far behind them, talking to a man she recognized, but could not remember the name of. He had been to visit her cousin previously.
Her hand was settled in the crook of Finlay’s elbow, and she could not help but caress her fingers over the sleeve of his wool coat.
“Lord Primrose, I do believe that we have society properly fooled,” she said, dipping her head and smiling at a couple that walked past them.
“I must agree. I had no’ thought myself for an actor, but mayhap I should change professions.”
She giggled. “I would verra much like to see ye on stage. I would be front row of the theater for every show.”
He looked down at her, his eyes crinkled as she jested. “Would ye now?” He shook his head as they walked on. “Nay, I dinna think I could.”
“Why no’?” she asked.
His eyes took on a faraway look as he thought on something, but as she waited, he did not expand on his thoughts. She really would be there to watch every show he acted in. It would be a marvelous performance, she was sure.
“I just think my talents would be better suited elsewhere,” he said breaking into her thoughts. “I do have something I think we should discuss,” he whispered conspiratorially.
She looked over her shoulder, ensuring Gil was still occupied with other things. Satisfied that he was, she focused her attention back on Lord Primrose. “Go on,” she urged.
He patted her hand resting on his arm. “Since we are to be married—”
“On paper only,” she cut in.
“Of course. But in any case, I feel it only proper that ye address me as Finlay. It doesna make sense to continue to call me Lord Primrose. Or I to call ye Lady Watson. Surely, that is no’ how our conversations will go.”
She nodded in agreement. He made a good point. They very well could not continue to be so proper if they were to be married.
“So ye should call me Willamina and I shall call ye Finlay?” She could feel the heat rush to her face from the suggestion. Really. She was acting as if she were a lass experiencing her first introduction into society.
“Aye, or a nickname. I would quite like to call ye Mina. It has a nice ring to it. ’Tis just one more way to show that we are in, in, in… Well, ye ken what I am trying to say.”
Could he not say the word ‘love’? She ducked her head and hid her smile. She found his reluctance endearing and his choice of a nickname for her even more so.
“Well, Finlay,” she said the name slowly. It felt odd, as if she were doing something forbidden. But, as he said, with them to be married, calling each other by their formal names would only raise suspicion. And neither of them wanted that. Mayhap she could call him Fin. Mayhap in the future. She wasn’t sure she was ready for that yet. “It seems the city is abuzz with ourupcoming wedding. I read about us in the society papers this morning,” she said, focusing on the task at hand.
“I am no’ certain I dare ask, but what are people saying?”
“That we are the match of the Edinburgh season. Which I find verra odd.”
“How so? Because we are lying?”
“Nay. I believe we are both verra convincing deceivers.” She found that funny. She’d never been one able to lie, barring the front she’d put on with Gerard. That was different, she was playing the part of wife and doing it convincingly. Was this the same? She was once again playing the part of wife, but this time it felt natural. Mayhap it was because she needed this to happen. Or mayhap it was because feelings were forming that she wasn’t ready to acknowledge.
She thought back to the conversation at hand and chuckled. “With me being a widow remarrying. ’Tis no’ my first time on the marriage market and I really should be old news that no one has any interest in. But it seems the opposite, and I find that quite odd.”
Finlay shrugged. “Mayhap they realize what a lovely women ye are and canna help but talk about ye.”
She shook her head. “Nay, I dinna think that is it at all. I believe, mayhap, that ’tis more sowhoI am marrying.” She nudged him with her shoulder. “I have managed to catch the eye of one of society’s most eligible bachelors. One that many a mother was clamoring to get their daughter in front of in hopes of catching the earl’s eye.”
“Ye flatter me, Mina. I think mayhap the gossip mongers are having a few slow days and just need to write about something to sell their papers. Tomorrow, someone will come along, or something will happen, and we will be forgotten.”
They had made four loops around the square. Seen a number of men and women, couples, families. Some smiled, while others glared.
The women were the worst. The looks they hurled at Willamina she could easily ignore, but if she were younger and this was her first courtship, she would likely have a tougher time brushing off their attitudes.
“We should start thinking about dates. I ken we mentioned two weeks’ time, but we need to settle on the exact date.”
