“Just that his is such a ready smile. I haven’t shared more than two words with him, but he strikes me as being altogether too
“He is very handsome, of course,” Fiona observed.
“Well,
Fiona grinned. “You’re just saying that because you have fallen in love with the duke.”
“I haven’t!” Catriona insisted.
Fiona replied with an arch look, then said, “You may thank me later for securing you time alone in the drawing room.”
Lady Cecily pressed her lips together—presumably so as not to laugh—then said, “I
“Really?” Fiona asked with great interest, saving Catriona the trouble of pretending that she wasn’t dying for more information.
“Oh yes. Not that I would pretend any great friendship, but our fathers were at Cambridge together. The duke generally pencils his name on my dance card whenever our paths cross at a ball.”
Catriona wondered what it would be like to dance in John’s arms, to feel his hand pressing gently at the small of her back. He would hold her close, maybe even a little too close for propriety, and she would feel the heat of him rippling through the air until it landed on her like a kiss.
She felt herself growing warm, which was ludicrous. It was the dead of winter, barely a week before Christmas, and she was trapped in Taran Ferguson’s underheated, crumbledown castle. She should be freezing. But apparently, the mere thought of the Duke of Bretton sent her into an overheated tizzy.
“Would you like some tea?” Fiona asked.
“
“It only just arrived before you got here,” Fiona told her, “but it wasn’t hot even then.”
“It’s quite all right,” Catriona said quickly, thinking she could almost do with an iced lemonade right now, she felt so flushed. She set to work preparing her cup, moving slowly and methodically, needing the time to compose herself.
“Do either of you know what our plans for supper are?” Lady Cecily asked.
“Mrs. McVittie’s already laid the table,” Catriona said. She’d seen it after she’d left the duke—
Catriona had switched with Lady Cecily, certain no one (except possibly Taran) would be the wiser.
“Please tell me I’m not seated next to Taran,” Fiona said.
“Marilla has that honor,” Catriona replied. She gave a sympathetic look to Lady Cecily (but not so sympathetic that she regretted having switched their spots). “And you, I’m afraid.”
“That’s all right, I suppose.” Lady Cecily took a sip of her tea. “Did you by any chance see who was on my other side?”
“I think it was Lord Oakley, but I’m not entirely positive,” Catriona fibbed. There was no need for anyone to know she’d memorized the seating arrangements.
“Oh.” Lady Cecily brought her cup to her lips again. “How perfectly pleasant.”
The conversation stalled at that, and then, after Fiona had put her attention back to her needlework, Lady Cecily blurted, “Are either of you chilled? I’m chilled.”
“The tea isn’t very hot,” Catriona said, since the sudden statement seemed to call for some sort of reply.
“And the fire’s gone quite low,” Lady Cecily added. “Perhaps I should find someone to tend to it.”
“Well, I can do that,” Catriona said, coming to her feet. It didn’t matter how gently bred a woman was. In the Highlands, everyone needed to know how to tend a fire.
“But I think I need a blanket,” Lady Cecily said. “This . . . I mean, it’s not even really a shawl . . .” She fussed with the piece of fabric draped over her shoulders and made for the door. “Perhaps if I lie down.”
“That was very odd,” Fiona said, once Lady Cecily had hurried out the door.
Not so odd, Catriona thought fifteen minutes later. It just so happened she had to walk through the dining room to get back to her own bedchamber. When she inspected the place settings, she saw that someone had been busy with the name cards. Lady Cecily and Marilla had exchanged positions.
Catriona shrugged. As long as she remained next to the duke, she didn’t care where anyone else was sitting.
