Page 36 of Highlander’s Forbidden Fruit

She took a sip of her wine, addressing mostly her father and the rest of the table that were listening to her. Aleck she ignored.

“The people are much the same. They are laid back, resigned to inevitable floods and calamities. Living constantly on the precipice of disaster can either make you a coward or unconditionally brave. Venetians are brave.”

“What of Paris?” Lady Blair asked. “Are the women as fashionable as they say?”

“Aye.” Evanna nodded, smiling. “And their proud of it too. Some of the things they get up to are outlandish, if I do say so myself. But they do wonders with cloth no one else seems to manage.”

“I must say,” said Lady Gordon, sipping on her wine. “Yer manners are much improved. Congratulations, Laird MacLeod. Yer decision to send her to London was a good one.”

Evanna exchanged a sly glance with her father who squirmed in his chair.

“Aye, ‘twas the best for the lass.” He nodded and raised a glass. “To the Ashbys. May the sun never set on their blessed heads!”

“The Ashbys!” the hall cried as everyone drank to their good health and future.

“How is Clara?” Aleck asked once the hall had settled into its regular hubbub. Now that Evanna’s grooming had been verified and vouched for, the guests at their table went back to their conversations.

“Grand. She’ll be visiting in the spring.”

“And Ashton Winchester?”

A smile spread across her lips. It was involuntary, but she couldn’t help it. Ashton had gone from being an annoyance to one of her true friends.

“He’s still on the Continent. There was something in Barcelona that completely enamored him.” She took a bite of the roasted lamb. It was heavenly. She had missed Cook’s meals. They were the perfect blend of hearty and homey. The food on the Continent had been much too rich for her tastes.

“Something or someone?”

Evanna laughed. “Ye catch on quick. But I suppose ye’d know all about being ensnared by the fairer sex.” Her gaze cooled. She stared at him frankly, and he looked away, a muted flush creeping into his cheeks.

“And what of John Winchester?” Aleck asked instead of answering Evanna’s veiled question.

It was Evanna’s turn to look away. “What about him?”

“Was he part of the expedition to the Continent?”

“Aye.”

“And? How did he find it?”

“He’ll be coming here soon. You can ask him yerself.”

Aleck looked taken aback by this information. He took a moment to recover then leaned closer. Glancing at Laird MacLeod, he whispered so only Evanna could hear.

“I thought ye told him ye hadnae found a suitor.”

“Word travels fast, I see.”

“Answer the question.”

Evanna scanned his face. Why was he so concerned about her suitors? Of course, his concern was Laird MacLeod and the dishonor she might pose. It could hardly be anything else. Evanna expected anything from Aleck except love and adoration.

Then a thought occurred to her. Maybe Aleck could be the answer to her dilemma. She had been chewing over this little problem for days now with nary a solution to show for it. Aleck was well liked by Laird MacLeod; some would even say he viewed him as a son. If Aleck were on her side, it would be easier to convince the Laird of her English suitor.

She’d have to convince Aleck first.

Putting on her sweetest smile she extended her hand to him. “Will ye dance with me?”

He looked surprised, but he took her hand and led her to the middle of the room where space had been cleared for just that purpose. The bagpipes began, and they danced, their bodies gliding seamlessly together.