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Orla rubbed her forehead, trying to ease the band of tension that had appeared there. She returned to Nova and Edward, who had wide smiles upon their faces.

“I am sae glad tae see ye getting on well with Collin. It seems as though ye two were haeing a grand time!” Nova exclaimed.

“Aye,” Orla replied.

Before either of them could say anything else, Hamish approached them. He strode forward on his powerful legs and the crowd parted before him, as though he possessed some innate power to control them. Strands of hair brushed against his cheek, and he had not shaved since the last ball, so a layer of stubble dusted his jaw. Orla decided she preferred him with the stubble. His eyes penetrated the air between them, but when Orla looked at him, she saw none of the intensity that had been present when he kissed her. It was all hidden away inside him, if it even still existed. The more time passed, the more the kiss seemed like a dream. He stood with his back straight and his shoulders wide. She thought about what would have happened if Hamish had heard what Collin had said about the Highlands. She had not really compared them physically before, but Collin was lean and less of a man than Hamish, his arms wiry, his hands soft. Hamish would probably have picked up the Duke’s son and thrown him through the air, teaching him a little about using natural resources.

A smile flickered on Orla’s face, tugging at the corners of her mouth. She forced it away.

“Ah, Hamish, are you having fun?” Edward asked.

“It’s been a pleasure tae attend the event,” Hamish replied. He then turned to Orla and inclined his head. There was no emotion there at all, just a cold politeness. Orla detested it. All she wanted to do was grab him by the lapels and scream at him, ask him why he had kissed her and then ignored her. What kind of torment was he trying to plague her with? Why was he spending all his time with Ethel and not her?

She said none of these things, though. What she really wanted was to return home, although at this time she was not sure whether she meant Edward’s townhouse or the Highlands themselves.

“Good,” Edward said. “I’m glad to see you are making headway with London society. I told you that it would not be as difficult as you expected. Everyone here wants to do business, and even if they don’t have a fond opinion of the Highlands, they can’t deny it when the numbers are there as plain as day, telling them how much money they can make. Anyway,” he then turned to Orla, “I have some good news Orla, and I don’t believe it can wait. I managed to steal the Duke away for a quiet word, and we have come to an agreement for your marriage. I’m a little surprised that his son has not proposed to you already. I cannot think of a better birthday present for the Duke than to know that his son is getting married. I thought you shouldn’t mind since Collin is the one you showed a preference for, at least I hope that’s the case. Sometimes a woman’s mind is hard to know,” he chuckled.

Orla felt tension knot in her chest and for a couple of moments, it was difficult to breathe. Her face turned pale. This was all she had wanted when she had initially come to England, but now that it was happening, she wasn’t sure about it at all. Beads of sweat appeared on her temples, and her skin became flushed. She glanced towards Hamish, but he was not looking at her at all. Instead, he was addressing Edward.

“I’m afraid I have some bad news tae share along with this good news,” he said, his voice catching on his words. “I have decided tae return tae the Highlands presently. I am incredibly thankful for the opportunity ye hae given me, and for the hospitality tae allow me tae stay in ye home. Since I hae made such good inroads with people here, I believe it would be best for me tae return home and share the news with my father, as well as arrange the finer details of the business deals, sae that we can start tae see results more swiftly. I hope ye dinnae take offence at this, but I merely feel as though I have achieved what I have set out tae dae here.”

“Of course! I shall be sorry to see you go, we all will, but I’m glad that you’re taking the initiative. I’m sure that your father will be proud. Yes, by all means, return to the Highlands. Take one of my carriages. I shall see you when we return,” Edward offered. Hamish bowed his head to each of them in turn, including Orla. This time, when there eyes met, she did see a flicker of something, perhaps she was just seeing her own hope reflected though. Knowing that Hamish was leaving did not bring her any joy. It felt as though there was always going to be some unfinished business between them, something that would always remain unspoken. There was the kiss that should never have been given, and then the thoughts of what might have been afterwards.

Hamish then walked away, slipping back into the waters of the party. He was replaced by Collin, who had marched up to them and the difference between the men was made more apparent as he stood in the place where Hamish had just been.

“I was hoping I could have a word with you and Orla in private,” Collin told Edward. Edward smiled, while Nova glanced happily towards Orla. Orla wished she could feel the same, but it was as though the darkness was closing in on her. This was the moment, the moment when he was going to propose, and it was understood that she was going to accept. Refusing would be a great affront to both Collin and the Duke, especially on the Duke’s birthday. But Orla was not ready yet. Before Edward could reply, Orla jumped in.

“I would love tae, but unfortunately I hae come over a wee bit faint. I hope ye understand. I think I need some rest. These events can be overwhelming for a Highland lass like me,” she said, placing extra emphasis on her words to add to the pretense that she was ill.

“Oh, of course,” Collin agreed, clearly disappointed, but not making a show of it. “Perhaps some other time.”

Orla nodded and then turned, walking away slowly with Edward and Nova behind her.

“Are you sure you can’t stay for a little while longer? I believe he was going to ask you to marry him,” Edward asked.

“I’m just nae feeling well,” Orla aswered, and that was all she was willing to say on the matter. She pressed her lips tightly shut and headed straight towards the door, for she was not ready to promise her future to anyone just yet. The only time she looked back was when she turned to see Hamish still in the company of Ethel. There was a pain that stabbed in her heart and all she wanted was to be alone. She walked out of the estate into the cool air and immediately felt refreshed. Edward and Nova seemed concerned, but they did not question her decision. Orla, on the other hand, was questioning everything.

* * *

“Oh Hamish, you are a riot. Where have you been all my life?” Ethel said, her high-pitched voice trembling with laughter, her eyes swimming with desire, her breath heavy with wine. She placed her hand on his chest to steady herself, something that she had been doing many times throughout the evening.

“The Highlands,” he said dryly, which inspired more laughter to flow out of her mouth again.

“I have never been there myself. I think I might have to arrange a visit. Perhaps you could accommodate me? I have heard that the Highlands are a wild place, filled with danger.”

“Aye, they can be.”

“Well, I shall have to make sure that I have a strong man to protect me,” Ethel said, arching an eyebrow suggestively as she spoke. They had been together for much of the evening. Ethel had cornered Hamish as soon as she had seen him and had barely let him out of her sight. A few people stared at them and whispered as they passed.

“Why dae they keep daeing that?” Hamish asked when it happened again. Ethel’s expression changed instantly, becoming waspish.

“They’re just ignorant, that’s all. Pay them no mind, my handsome Highland warrior. So tell me, what is the social life like up in the Highlands?” she asked.

Hamish continued with the inane conversation. Ethel did not interest him at all, but he did not wish to say this, as he did not want to cause a scene. It was clear that there were many rituals around society in London that he did not understand, and he did not wish his actions to reflect poorly on his host. Besides, it served as a good distraction from Orla. He had seen her across the room, spending time with that pasty Duke’s son she seemed to think the world of, the man she intended to choose to be her husband. Hamish had been sickened to hear that a proposal was imminent. He hated lying to Edward, but he had seen no choice in the matter. His business had not really been concluded in London, but he could not stay here any longer to endure the planning of a wedding between Orla and Collin. He had spent most of the week skulking in taverns, and he did not wish this to become his life.

He would never understand how Orla could kiss him so passionately and then simply ignore him in favor of another man. Perhaps she truly did belong in England, because he could not imagine that behavior being honored in the Highlands. He just hoped that once he put distance between them, he could shut her out of his mind and return to life as it had been before, strict and routine, with none of this chaos whirling through his mind. He doubted his father would have any words of wisdom for him though, only to focus on business.

Perhaps he would have to do just that. It wasn’t the kind of thing Hamish had always wanted from life. There had always been more to him than wealth. He had wanted to fill the chambers of his heart with love and family and romance, and when he kissed Orla, it felt as though that was all he had been waiting for.

Clearly, he had been mistaken, though. There may well be a fine Highland maid waiting for him back home, but he feared they would all pale in comparison to her. What a wretch he was because of her, and what a fool he was to allow her to have such power over his heart. He would be gone soon, and this would be nothing but a bad memory to leave behind.

“… love to know what you are thinking, but don’t tell me. I like a man with secrets,” Ethel murmured. Hamish ignored her words and just waited for time to tick on, so that the night would be over. London had lost what little appeal it had possessed, and the Highlands were calling once again, calling for his yearning heart.