Page 67 of The Highlander Is All That

She frowned. “Surely you’re not breaking his faith? Did he tell you specifically not to court one of us?”

“Well . . . of course no’.”

“There you go then. If he is as munificent a lord as you’ve said, he won’t mind.”

His expression was dubious. “Regardless, I must see the season through.”

She sighed and buried her face against his chest. “I know. We will just have to work harder to get them all engaged quickly.”

He grinned. “We shall. And then, off to Scotland.”

“Aye.” She reached up and kissed him. “Victoria seems interested in Peter Ross.”

“Catherine’s brother?”

“Mmm-hmm. And Mary has her eye on Jamison.”

His brow wrinkled. “Lord Jamison? I don’t remember him.”

She grinned. “Jamison. The footman.”

Hamish gaped at her. “The footman? That willna do.”

“Why not?”

“Are you daft? He’s a footman.”

Elizabeth shook her head and tsked. “Double standards do not become you.”

“Well, hell,” he said, snuggling closer. “You have me there. But I’m no’ the one telling Bower.”

“Will you tell Bower about us?”

He stroked her cheek. “I have to. He willna like it.”

“It doesn’t signify what he likes. You and I like it, and that is all that matters. No one else’s opinion matters in the least.”

His expression blanked and then was replaced with a look of horror unlike anything she’d ever seen.

She sat up and stared at him. “What?” What was it? What horrendous thought had occurred to him? Pray God he had not suddenly remembered a forgotten wife.

Hamish flopped back and flung his arm over his eyes. “Your aunt. She is going to flay me alive.”

Oh dear. “I’d completely forgotten about her.”

He peeped at Elizabeth from beneath his arm. “Have you met her?”

“Perhaps I can soften her up. Let me talk to her tomorrow.”

“I shall hide in my rooms until you do.”

He was joking.

Probably.

Elizabeth patted Hamish on the chest. “She’s a sensible woman. She will see that this is for the best. I could never have married Twiggenberry anyway. He smells.”

“Does he?” Hamish chuckled, then sobered. “But then they all do, don’t they? Why is it, do you think, that the men of London like to wear perfume?”