“I do understand, Lady Lucy. And by putting me in my place, I ken ye are well and truly Cassandra’s kinswoman.” The Scotsman bowed his head but couldn’t manage to look abashed. “What I also understand is that you’ve come to Scotland for a holiday and haven’t had much of one yet.”
“There’s still time.” Lucy glanced again at James. An outing was one of the things she wished to discuss with him this morning—the idea that theymight fit in some sightseeing before Aunt Cassandra’s arrival.
“Have you explored the city?”
“No, but I’d like to. It’s on my list.”
“Edinburgh is a grand notion for a day trip.”
James started to speak, cast her an odd look, and then fell silent. But she wanted to hear from him much more than make small talk with Mr. Blackwood.
Lucy arched a brow, urging him to say something, and he stepped toward her but still seemed tongue-tied or reticent to speak in front of anyone else.
She turned her politest smile toward Angus Blackwood. “May I have a word with his lordship?”
“Of course, my lady.”
Blackwood was kind enough to draw the door almost closed behind him, leaving only a respectable hairbreadth gap.
“I was planning a quick trip into the city on business,” James told her when they were alone.
Thatcaused the blush that she should have felt earlier. Because the prospect of a trip alone with him was precisely what she’d imagined from the moment she opened her eyes.
“Will you take me with you? If we’re not long, we should be back in time for Aunt Cassandra’s arrival, don’t you think?”
“Either that, or your aunt will return before we do and think I’ve fled with you.”
He reached for her hands, and she rested herpalms against his. All the excitement of spending a day with him still buzzed inside of her. She wanted to depart as soon as they could.
But he wasn’t feeling the same. Even on short acquaintance, she was learning to read his true feelings through his usual charm.
“I need to visit my solicitor in the city.”
“Would you rather go into Edinburgh alone?”
“No.” He slid his thumb across the backs of her fingers. “And I’d rather you didn’t go alone either, but I also don’t want business matters to ruin the first outing of your holiday.”
“I am capable of compromise. If anything, I’ve compromised too often.”
“Which is why you shouldn’t have to now.”
“I propose we enjoy the city a bit first, then I can find myself a cup of tea while you attend your meeting.”
“Lucy, I can’t say how long it may take.”
“I can be patient.”
He laughed at that, a full beaming smile that made that fizzing start again in her middle.
Lucy rolled her eyes when he struggled to stop laughing. “All right, all right. You’ve seen little evidence of that, which is even more reason for me to prove it to you.”
“We should leave soon.”
“I can be ready in half an hour.”
He arched one black brow skeptically.
Before Lucy could offer up some tart retort, Blackwood stepped into the room again.
