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The cool air hit Orla and made her skin tingle. The temperature dropped quite rapidly at night, and while her clothes were beautiful and elegant, they did not protect her from the elements as well as her usual Highland outfits would. She tried her best to not show any sign of a chill, though, because she wanted to make a good impression on Collin. The gardens of the house were vast, stretching into the dark distance. Sporadic lanterns had been placed around the gardens, but there were still swathes of darkness that looked like small pockets of an abyss. Like in the front garden, there were ornaments and statues standing around, as well as displays of flowers, the vibrancy of which was muted at this time of the evening. The sounds of the ball receded, until it was just a whisper behind them. It was almost as though they had left that world behind and stepped into another.

“So how long are you staying in London for? Is this a permanent trip, or just a visit?” he asked, his voice as soft as the evening breeze.

“Just a visit. I plan tae stay for a month or sae, and I hope tae make every day count.”

“I’m sure you will have no problem doing so. There is plenty to do and see in London. I don’t think I have managed it all, and I have lived here my entire life, although I suppose living here is different. When you see the same things every day, they do end up becoming rather mundane.”

“That’s the way I feel about home. The Highlands are beautiful, but I feel as though I hae seen everything they hae tae offer. I want something new,” she professed. In the back of her mind she could practically hear Hamish grunting and trying to argue in favor of the Highlands. He was infuriating! First he had invaded her entire trip to London and now he had found a way to worm into her mind and irk her, even when he was not present. She had no idea how he managed to do it. It was quite a unique talent.

“Orla?” Collin interrupted her thoughts. She had been so distracted thinking about Hamish, that she had missed what Collin had said entirely, and now felt awful.

“My apologies, I still find myself a wee bit overwhelmed now and then,” she conceded, hoping that would be enough to excuse her behavior. Collin did not seem to mind.

“I do love the way you talk. It is so different to what I am used to. You’re not like other girls down here at all.”

“Oh, and what are other girls like?” she asked, wondering how much experience he had with them. He pursed his lips and cast his attention to the stars in the sky.

“Well, I don’t wish to speak ill of them, and I hope you do not find it a stain upon my character to be critical, but frankly, many of them seem to lack a certain spark. It is hard to define really, I suppose one could characterize it as a lust for life. Many of them sit there and wait to dance, but they do not offer anything of interest. The only thing they’re interested in is finding a husband.”

“Is marriage nae something ye are interested in?”

“Of course I am, but the last thing I want is to spend my life staring at someone I have no idea how to have a conversation with. I want someone who can keep my life interesting, someone different. It does take a great deal for someone to catch my attention after attending so many of these balls, but when I heard about you I just had to meet you.”

Orla was practically glowing at his charming words. “I hope I hae nae disappointed.”

“Not at all, and I’m quite sure that there is plenty more to learn.” He led her to a bench and gestured for her to sit down. He sank beside her, so close that she could feel the heat of his body seeping into the air. Her chest rose and fell with shallow breaths and her heart beat rapidly, somehow knowing that something magical might happen. His words were a spell that captured her attention, while the rest of the world melted away, and there was only him left behind. In a way she thought she could see her future in his eyes.

“So are you going to answer my question now?” he asked.

“What question?”

He chuckled. “The one I asked you before.”

It must have been when she was thinking about Hamish. Damn him.

“I think ye might hae tae ask me again.”

“Very well. Have you been promised to anyone yet?”

“Nae. My Da wants me tae marry someone in the Highlands, while I was hoping that I might follow in the footsteps of my sisters. They both found happiness with Englishmen. One lives down here, while the other lives in the Highlands. What about ye? Are ye betrothed?”

Collin laughed and leaned back. It was such a casual laugh, and indeed there was plenty that was casual about him. He seemed to be in control of everything, as though this was his world and he knew exactly what was going to happen next.

“Not yet, although that’s not for the lack of my father trying. I can’t tell you how many women I have met. But I have always been firm with my father, and I’ve told him that I am not going to marry anyone unless they can capture my attention fully, and so far, none of them have been able to do that. Well, none aside from you.”

Orla could hardly believe that he was saying these things to her. To think that she was outshining all the beautiful women in London. It made her feel special and snug, and all her wildest dreams of what might happen in London were coming true. She had danced with a few men already that night, and London was thriving with more, but she had a sense of something special about Collin.

“Thank ye,” she said, grateful that Collin seemed to take great joy in the fact that she was from the Highlands, rather than seeing her as an outsider, or some kind of barbarian.

“I was wondering if you would mind if I called on you sometime during your stay, would you like that?” he asked.

Orla smiled and nodded. First came the dance, then came the calling card, and not long after that was a marriage proposal. It could all happen in a month, and she was certain that if her father saw how happy she was, he would not deny her the chance to marry an Englishman as well. However, before she could say anything in reply to him, a shadow loomed over them and Collin’s gaze was taken from her as he looked up to the giant standing over them.

“Is this what polite society teaches ye, tae corner a young lass like this, who dinnae hae any supervision?” Hamish asked, his voice a low growl. Orla shot a look towards him that could have killed. Why was he interfering with this moment? Why did he have to ruin everything?

Collin looked Hamish up and down and didn’t show much respect. He rose to a standing position and looked up at him, as he was a few inches shorter than Hamish. His eyes flickered, and his voice wavered as he spoke. However, he still lifted his head as high as it would go.