Page 63 of The Highlander’s Unexpected Wife

A blush crept up his cheeks. “Aye, well, my lady, I will try.”

He stepped aside and waved them in. Alison smiled thanks as he closed the door. He hurried down the hallway, then ducked up the servants’ stairs. Moments later, he reappeared, a young maid with him.

Alison recognized the girl and smiled. “Leslie, how nice to see you.”

The girl curtsied. “Jamie says you wish to talk to me.”

“Yes, but do not worry.” Alison read the anxiety in the girl’s eyes and smiled. “You need not worry, Leslie. I was supposed to see my cousin tonight, but she must have forgotten. Do you know which ball she attended?”

“Aye, ma’am. She and Mister Lennox went to Mister Napier’s ball.”

“Mister Napier’s?” Alison blurted, then gentled her expression. “Ah, I remember now. She told me she had been invited. I must have mixed up the dates. Thank you.” She turned to Mrs. Cummings. “I suppose we should be going.”

They returned to the carriage.

Mrs. Cummings folded her hands in her lap, and said, “You plan to go to that ball, I suspect.”

Alison nodded. “My cousin has no idea what danger awaits her.” Uneasiness churned in her belly. If her uncle was attending Mister Napier’s party, did that confirm he was a party to the man’s crimes?

An hour later, dressed in blue silk for the ball, Alison arrived at Mister Napier’s mansion, glad for the footman’s steady hand as she descended from the carriage. Had anyone asked if she would ever again visit this accursed place, she would have said never. Yet, here she was, attending a party, two days after having been kidnapped from this estate.

She ascended the half dozen stairs to the porch, where a footman opened the door and allowed her to enter. Music from the orchestra wafted into the foyer, where another footman bowed and bade her follow him. He escorted her up to the next level and stepped aside at the ballroom door.

Alison entered the large ballroom and sighed. At least two hundred people filled the room. Ladies lingered on the edges of the dance floor in beautiful dresses with perfectly coiffed hair. Men drank, and their deep, robust laughter competed with the pitch of the music. How was she to find Erin without being seen by Cameron? It was possible that if she had a terrible time finding her cousin, then Cameron might not see her.

“Lady Weston,” a female voice said behind her.

Alison turned to see Mrs. Jameson approach with her daughter in tow.

“What a wonderful surprise,” Mrs. Jameson said. “We seldom see you at parties. Felicitations on your marriage to Lord Weston. We hadn’t heard you were, well…” Her brows pinched. “I recall you were previously engaged.” She waved a hand. “I suppose that is now a moot point. And with your marriage to Lord Weston, I expect we will see you more often. You remember my daughter Bethany?”

The girl curtsied. “A pleasure to see you, ma’am.”

“How lovely to see you,” Alison said.

“Where is your husband?” Mrs. Jameson said. “We would love to give him our congratulations.”

Alison shrugged. “He is here somewhere. You know how it is in these large parties. I may not see him until tomorrow morning. By the way, have you seen my cousin Erin?”

“Oh, indeed. She was in the refreshments room earlier. Is your dance card full? I know my Lucas would consider it an honor to dance with you.”

Alison smiled. “I am certain I can find time for him. I will seek him out a little later.” She smiled, then turned and scanned the room for a hallway that might lead to the refreshments room.

Alison caught sight of two hallways to the left and weaved through the crowd toward the nearest, aware of stares as she passed. She hadn’t attended a ball in at least six months. She prayed word didn’t reach Cameron that she was here. Alison reached the hallway and slowed. She passed several closed doors before the hallway turned to the right. She then whirled and headed back the way she’d come. Once in the ballroom, she turned left toward the second hallway and managed to reach it without being stopped. The first door on the left was open and turned out to be the refreshments room.

Alison breathed a sigh of relief when she spotted Erin seated in a corner of the room in conversation with a young lady, a glass of punch in hand. At Alison’s approach, Erin looked up. Surprise flashed across her features. She set the punch glass on the table to her left and rose when Alison reached them.

“Alison, what a surprise to see you.” She kissed Alison’s cheek. “I did not know you planned to attend.” Erin indicated her friend. “You remember Lady Linda?”

Alison smiled at the girl. “Of course. So nice to see you again. Would you excuse us for a moment? I need to speak with my cousin.”

The young woman smiled. “Of course.”

Alison linked her arm through Erin’s and strolled from the room. When they reached the hallway, Alison pulled her farther from the door. “You look well. Are you well? Was your father very angry when he took you home?”

Erin glanced back toward the ballroom, and said in a hushed voice, “Oh, he was beastly furious. But whatever Lord Weston said to him must have helped, for he did nothing other than rail about how I had lost the only eligible man as husband.”

“What? He cared nothing for the fact you left without his permission?”