The Highlander Is All That (Untamed Highlanders #4)(18)

It was a night he never wanted to repeat if he lived to be a hundred.





Chapter Seven


“Why was Hamish so overset?” Victoria mused as the coach lurched forward.

“Was he?” Mary asked.

“He absolutely was.”

Elizabeth had noticed his dark expression and his silence as she’d climbed into the carriage, but she’d assumed he was still upset over her dancing with Twiggenberry, which was perfectly fine with her.

So she was stunned when Aunt Esmeralda said, “He had an . . . altercation with Lady Jersey.”

“An altercation?” Her heart thudded. Something like that could ruin them socially. One bad word, one cut direct, and they were finished. Absolutely finished.

“Apparently Lady Jersey tried to ravage him,” Anne said in a bitter tone.

Elizabeth blinked. “What?”

“It was really quite amusing,” her aunt said with a chuckle. “Seeing him trying to escape from her clutches. Although it is probably a good thing I saw them leave the ballroom. God alone knows what could have happened had I not.”

“I have a good idea,” Anne muttered.

“Oh, do tell,” Mary gushed, her eyes far too bright.

Aunt Esmeralda cleared her throat and took a moment to affect a straitlaced demeanor. “Now, now. This conversation is highly inappropriate for young ears.”

“Young ears are interested,” Victoria chimed in.

“Nonsense. Let’s talk instead about Almack’s. What did you think of your first foray?”

The rest of the ride was consumed with critiques of the famous assembly rooms which ranged from glorious raptures (from Mary) to complaints about the cakes (from Victoria). Anne said little, but it was clear she had had a miserable time.

As for Elizabeth, she was still reeling with the revelation that Lady Jersey—Lady Jersey, for pity’s sake—had tried to seduce Hamish.

On the one hand, she could totally understand why. With his handsome features, dancing eyes, and broad shoulders, there could not be a woman alive who would not want to be in his arms. But on the other hand, she was absolutely furious.

And not furious with Lady Jersey, where the blame could be securely laid, but with Hamish.

He must have encouraged her somehow.

Then again, a mere glimpse at his knees was encouragement enough.

His legs were truly beautiful to behold. She had to believe that Twiggenberry, in his altogether, wouldn’t even come close. In fact, the thought made her snicker. Twiggenberry was rod thin and probably had chicken legs.

“What is so funny?” Anne asked.

“Nothing, really.”

“You were laughing,” Victoria pointed out.

“I’m sorry. I was just imagining Hamish trying to fight off Lady Jersey.”

“Yes, well, it was rather amusing,” Aunt Esmeralda murmured. “A moment later and God alone knows what we would have seen.”

“Again, I have a good idea,” Anne responded in a brittle tone.

Victoria and Mary shared a grin and then crowed in tandem, “Young ears!”

Esmeralda shot them both a daunting glance, but they were not daunted in the slightest. They rarely were.

By the time the coach reached Sinclair House, their escorts were already ensconced in the parlor with a whisky apiece. As their party breezed into the room, Bower was laughing.

“It’s no’ funny,” Hamish bellowed.

“It is, rather,” Aunt Esmeralda quipped.

Both men whirled around. Hamish caught sight of them and his face went red. “Good God. Did you tell everyone?”

“Not everyone.” Her smirk was slightly wicked.

“We all know, of course,” Victoria said, linking her fingers behind her back and strolling toward him. “Was she terribly rapacious?”

Hamish stared down at her with horror and mortification warring on his features. “How do you even know a word like that?”

“I’m quite studious.”

“I’m sure you are,” Bower said, still chuckling.

“Well, no one can say that our debut at Almack’s was dull,” Aunt Esmeralda said with a hint of satisfaction. Or more than a hint. “I cannot wait for tomorrow.”

“God.” Hamish buried his head in his hands.

“Daltry’s masquerade.”

“Perhaps you should wear a domino,” Anne suggested, nibbling on her lip. “So you can hide from Lady Jersey.”

Hamish went pale. “You don’t suppose she will be there?”

“Highly unlikely,” Aunt Esmeralda said. “Daltry is not one of the revered few.”

“But she might come . . . if her beau is there.” It was wicked of Anne to tease.

Bower laughed. “She might at that.”

“I need another drink.”

“Henley!” Esmeralda bellowed. “A tea tray.”

Hamish frowned at her. “It wasna tea I was wanting.”

“I am certain of it, but I won’t have my gels witnessing your drunkenness.”

“Fine,” Hamish said. And without another word, he snatched up the whisky carafe and quit the room.

Elizabeth could hear him stomping all the way up the stairs.

“You see,” Victoria said triumphantly. “I told you he was overset.”