Page 44 of Seduction in a Kilt

“Well, how d’ye dae, Mr. MacTavish, the pleasure is all mine, I assure ye,” the beauty replied flirtatiously. She looked at him as if she wanted to eat him. Which nay doubt she would, Ivy thought jealously, and judging by the way he’s looking at her, the feelin’s mutual!

“Please, Lady Helen, dinnae stand on ceremony. Call me by me first name,” Liam told her.

Ye Gods, he’s flirting with her!

“Och, if ye insist, Liam, then I will.”

To Ivy’s surprise, Lady Helen turned her attention to her. “And is this yer wife, Liam?” she asked with a studied politeness that bordered on rude.

“Nay, I have nay wife,” Liam answered.

Ivy decided to interrupt. “I’m Lady Ivy MacAlister, Lady Helen. I’m pleased tae make yer acquaintance.”

Lady Helen nodded. “Likewise, I’m sure,” she said, and then turned immediately back to Liam. She flicked him a coquettish glance and put her hand on his arm. “So, ye’re nae married, ye say, Liam? Does that mean I’m in with a chance then?” She burst out into trilling laughter, clearly pleased with her own boldness.

Liam and Knox laughed along with her, much to Ivy’s annoyance. She struggled to keep her smile in place. She found herself fighting down a strange impulse to smack the smug smile off Lady Helen’s face and see how she laughed then.

“Now, tell me, Liam,” the woman said silkily, leaning into Liam so that he got a bird’s eye view down the front of her considerable cleavage—Ivy saw him looking and Knox grinning—“how is it that such a braw lookin’ man as yersel’ hasnae been snapped up yet by some lucky lady?”

It was too much for Ivy. She feared if she stayed a moment longer, she would indeed strike the woman, even though she knew well she had no right to be so jealous and annoyed.

Ye have nay claim on Liam at all, she berated herself silently. He’s free tae dally with any woman he wishes. ’Tis really none of me business if he chooses tae spend the night with Lady Helena. However, the picture that conjured up in her mind was akin to being stabbed with needles.

But I’ll be damned if I let either of them see it!

“Please excuse me,” she piped up. “I’m rather thirsty, and I’d like tae rest me feet awhile. I’m goin’ tae get a drink if ye dinnae mind. Good evenin’ tae ye, Lady Helen.” Without waiting for a reply from any of them, she walked away in as stately a fashion as she could manage, for she would rather have picked up her skirts and run.