He glanced around as if suddenly aware of his surroundings. Then he changed the subject by turning his attention to the cakes. ‘What flavour should I buy for my father? Lemon? Strawberry?’
‘Vanilla custard,’ she said. ‘It’s my favourite.’
He ordered two of them and directed the clerk to wrap one of the cakes for him. Then he told her to wrap the second one and send it to her residence.
‘You didn’t need to do that,’ she said softly. ‘But thank you.’
He nodded and accepted the wrapped cake from the clerk. As they started back to the table, Regina admitted, ‘I didn’t realise you were being serious about a gift for your father. I thought you were merely trying to rescue me from gossiping women.’
‘Of course. God forbid I should return home from Lady Hardwicke’s without something for my father. He and my mother used to spend time together here when they were young. It’s a fond memory for him.’
It surprised her that he would be so considerate. Her smile deepened, and she remarked, ‘You are a kind and loyal son.’
There was a faint response that shadowed his face before he masked it. ‘I am indeed. And one who will be travelling soon enough. I’m returning to the estate in Scotland.’ He lowered his voice and affected a Scottish brogue. ‘’Twill be grand to be returnin’ to the Highlands, lass. They’ve been missing me so dearly at Cairnross.’
‘You are not a Highlander in the way Locharr is,’ she corrected, still unable to stop her smile. When he was behaving with such mischief, it was hard to take him in all seriousness.
‘Nay, but I’ve lived in Scotland since I was a wee laddie. I may be half-Scots, but the important bits are all Highlander,’ he boasted, glancing downwards.
She flushed with shock at his innuendo. Though she knew he had meant it only in teasing, the sensual tilt to his smile made her nervous. It took an effort, but she managed to ignore the remark.
‘I haven’t been to Cairnross in a long time,’ she said. But she didn’t elaborate, for he knew why she had been there on the day of his brother’s burial.
‘I visit often,’ he said. ‘It feels more like home than London.’ Then his hand reached towards his waistcoat where the note was hidden. He tapped it lightly and added, ‘I will try to have answers for you about this matter before I leave for Scotland.’
She thanked him and then asked, ‘Lord Camford, am I wrong to keep this matter from Locharr? Should I talk to him about this?’ Her instinct was not to mention it while they were getting reacquainted. The laird was still a stranger to her, and it would feel quite awkward to solicit his help. ‘I know that my dowry was a matter of concern for him, and this...complicates matters.’
‘I wouldn’t,’ the viscount answered frankly. ‘It’s too soon for that.’
Regina agreed with him. And yet, she worried about the note demanding money. Until now, she had never imagined that there was a financial threat to her father. But now, she was beginning to wonder. A cold spiral threaded through her nerves.
‘Find out anything you can,’ she said, ‘and let me know if you learn who sent the note.’ It was likely impossible to discover the truth, but she had faith in Camford.
He inclined his head. Then he paused a moment and said, ‘You don’t have to wed Locharr, you know—even if your father wants you to. We’re past the era when a woman could not refuse.’
‘I know it.’ But even so, it was her father’s greatest wish to see her married to his best friend’s son. It had never been about money or social standing. Ned wanted their families to be joined, and he wanted her to live in Scotland, far away from the terror of her past. It would be a new beginning, and she was willing to give the laird a chance.
Camford studied her intently for a moment, his green eyes growing shadowed. There was an unspoken emotion beneath them, and she suddenly realised that she had never once considered his feelings in all this. He had always been a friend to her, and it was unkind to ask favours of him—selfish, really.
Against her better judgement, she asked, ‘What of you? Are you all right, Lord Camford?’
He regarded her for a long moment, before the corner of his mouth tilted upward. ‘Aye, lass. I’m well enough.’
As he escorted her back to the table, it made her realise that Lord Camford had always been there when she’d needed him. The burden of guilt pressed down, for she shouldn’t have asked this of him, despite their friendship.
But as she looked into his eyes, she somehow wondered if there was more he hadn’t shared.
Chapter Four
Getting drunk sounded like a fine idea that night. Dalton sorted through his cards, though he hardly cared whether he won anything. His mind was fixed upon Regina, and he sat across from his enemy.
No, not his enemy. His friend Lachlan MacKinloch, the Laird of Locharr, who intended to ask Regina for her hand. And it was quite likely that she would say yes.
The very thought made him want to shatter the glass of brandy in his hand. Instead, he attempted a conversation with Locharr. ‘So this...marriage was arranged when you were children, is that it?’
He already knew all about it, but he was trying to gauge whether Locharr had any real desire to wed Regina.
The laird nodded. ‘Our fathers were friends for years, you ken? Regina’s father told mine that he wanted us to wed, but she had to agree to the marriage. In return, her dowry will help my clan.’
So Locharr had agreed to the match, in order to
