Page 46 of A Highland Lass for the English Duke

A middle-aged Englishman stumbled forward, his thinning, dusty hair flailing uncontrollably.

"Andrew!" said Lissie through gritted teeth. It was a pose she would adopt for the rest of the morning as she waited in vain for Will to appear.

* * *

"England rages, and they are dallying!"

It was a throwaway remark by one of the servants, which she was not meant to overhear. But still, it resonated with Lissie. They were speaking of the political situation, which had seen the old king cast into the tower and a new one anointed in his place. However, it could have equally applied to Lissie's heart.

London may have fallen, but Lissie was not yet conquered.

Despite Annice's words, she had not yet given up on Will. Although, she deeply feared that he had given up on her.

Fending off the stultifying boredom, Lissie cast her gaze around the hall. The visiting troubadours were joyful and bright, yet Lissie struggled to maintain interest. Instead, her eye stole to the corner—where Will, Duke of Iverst, was surrounded by his many numerous admirers.

The entourage was alive with laughter and in their element. From their midst, Lady Caroline raised her eyes pointedly.

"Pray, Elisabeth, you must join us." She smirked, but her eyes stabbed her with the truth.

He is back where he belongs, they said. Don't you dare come near him!

Then, they laughed. Lissie tried her hardest to pretend she had not seen them. Instead, she brought her concentration to bear on the troubadours, a traveling group of singers who had been invited to perform by Annice.

But in the event, they were less than entertaining. Instruments broke, notes were off-key, and the principal singer developed a hacking cough mid-performance.

All told, they were dismal.

Every bum note they hit, Lissie found her eyes connecting with the man beside her, a fair thirty-something with a louche smile and sardonic eyes. As the singer missed the top note by a country mile, he smiled.

"Good evening," he said, impeccably bowing before her.

Lissie smiled. It was dark, and the wine cast a warm glow inside of her. Lissie waited as the finely clad gentleman took up his seat beside her.

"My lady, you are as bright as the day's light. Your beauty casts a glow in the dark," declared the man. He smiled a foppish grin that snaked about his slender face.

Despite herself, Lissie grinned. His advances were outlandish but still rather amusing.

"Thank ye kindly, sir," she said archly as she cast an eye over the man.

He was of average height, with mouse-brown hair. The first thing she noticed was his extravagant dress, his doublet tucked around his waist, revealing its shape as well as the expensive embroidery edging.

The gentleman removed his hat, which featured a large plume, and bowed to Lissie.

"Lord Trenton Rothingham, at your service," he said.

Rothingham!

That name punched Lissie in the heart. Stunned, she looked up.

There was no chance this could be a coincidence. Looking closely, he bore more than a passing likeness to Will. With a sinking heart, she realized this must be his brother.

All the same, Lissie smiled at him.

"Guid day, sir," she murmured as he kissed her hand. This instinctively made her giggle. "And what brings ye here tonight?"

Trenton's eyes gleamed. Lissie noted they were green, unlike Will's, but a similar shape. However, that was where the resemblance ended.

Despite Trenton being Will's brother, he was a pale shadow in many ways. His complexion was almost white, with a hairline that was receding at the sides.