“Thompson,” her father said, “Rachel is interested in knowing more of the workings of the company. Could you show her around the plant today?”
“I’ve seen the plant,” Rachel interjected. “Perhaps another time. Father, will you think on Scotland?”
Her father seemed ready to deny her request, but suddenly looked from her to Vincent standing at the door, then back at her. “Actually, Rachel,” he said slowly. “Perhaps ’tis not such a bad idea after all. With both Thompson and I accompanying you, you should be safe from the wilds of Scotland. What say you, Thompson, do you believe you can watch out for Rachel if she were to come on our expedition?”
His eyes lit up as his head swiveled in her direction. “I can watch you just fine, Rachel,” he said, his lips curling at the corners. “In fact, it would be my pleasure. While I’m not sure the Highlands are a place for women such as yourself, I know many a lady who has visited and returned with fabulous tales to entertain her acquaintances for days to come. I don’t see the harm in it, so long as you stay close.”
She smiled tersely, hating his words and yet seeing an opportunity. She turned back to her father. “It is settled then. Thank you, Father, I am looking forward to it.”
“Of course, daughter,” he said, his eyes flashing. “Of course.”
Rachel’s heart beat in anticipation as the train slowly approached them at London’s King’s Cross Station, where they waited to board. She could hardly believe that she had the opportunity to leave her stale life in London for an adventure on the Scottish Highlands. She had heard of the expanse of green bordered by mountains, the blue skies that went on for miles, and the hearty people who made their livelihoods tending the fields and the sheep. She could hardly wait to see it all for herself.
The only unfortunate aspect was the company she would be keeping, she thought with a sigh as she looked over at her father and Vincent Thompson. No matter. There were other men on this trip as well, and a few of them were accompanied by their wives, who would hopefully be pleasant enough. It was not the first time her father had traveled to the Highlands to hunt, and after they boarded the train and settled into the dining car, he seemed willing to tell all who would listen just how much he knew of the land to the north.
“The women?” he laughed in response to a question from a friend, a gentleman slightly younger than himself. “The women are ruddy, fair, and quite willing to entertain gentlemen from the south!”
Rachel cringed. She did not consider anything he was saying to be true. It was, at the very least, greatly exaggerated. “You must be careful of their men, however,” her father continued. “The Highlander is quite the physical specimen. While they do not compare to Englishmen, their strength more than makes up for anything they lack in intellect.”
Rachel, embarrassed by his attitude, desperately tried to sink into the upholstered dining chair as she turned toward the window and forced her thoughts elsewhere, pushing aside her father’s words.
She had not known what to pack for this trip. She and her friend Eloise had hastily gone shopping yesterday afternoon in order for her to buy a couple of new dresses that more practical for walking and riding. She had also bought a pair of boots that she thought would fare far better than the slippers she mainly enjoyed wearing. The store proprietor was quite interested in her upcoming travels, though she did not seem to know entirely how to clothe her for the trip. As a result, Rachel’s traveling bags were stuffed full to the brim of all sorts of clothing she likely wouldn’t need. However, it was good to be prepared, she thought as she gazed out the window at the crush of people milling about, some waving goodbye and others making their way to the next platform.
She groaned aloud when Vincent took a seat beside her as the train slowly began to move. She had hoped he would be preoccupied with her father and their plans for the hunt, but it seemed he did not quite realize her disregard for him.
“Rachel, darling,” he said, encroaching onto her seat, making her feel trapped against the window. “Though I am not sure why a fair, beautiful woman like yourself would want to come along, rest assured, as I told you yesterday, I shall revel in your companionship and will take every opportunity to convince you that we would be the perfect match.”
“Vincent,” she said, turning to him. He had attempted to pursue her before, and she had tried to gently say no, but perhaps a more direct approach was required. “Vincent, you know that you are a very handsome man,” she began, and was not surprised when he nodded at her words. One thing Vincent was, most assuredly, was confident. “You will make a young woman very, very happy one day. Unfortunately, that woman is not to be me. We simply do not suit.”
“Whatever do you mean?” he asked, his eyebrows drawing together as his voice grew an edge. “We are perfect for one another. Why, together we can grow the Trenton Power Company greater than any could have imagined. It’s what your father wants. It’s what I want. The sooner you accept this, the better.”
Rachel gritted her teeth. The man truly was insufferable. His opinion of women was so low it was practically non-existent, and it
