Highlanders (57 page)

Oscar alighted from the carriage and Lord Rushton led them up the three steps to the entrance and through the archway. He pushed open a heavy wooden door and stood aside for everyone to enter.

“You have no butler?” Grace asked as she went first, Eve close behind.

“My father employs a most competent housekeeper. She could run the Royal Navy. I doubt she would tolerate a butler.”

A maid appeared from a corridor and gave a start. “Laird,” she cried.

He smiled. “Hello, Leslie. Is one of the parlors perchance warm enough to settle our guests while we ready chambers for them?”

“Aye. Your father instructed us to have the pink parlor ready, along with rooms for your guests.”

“My father?” he murmured.

“He arrived last night,” the maid replied.

“He must have ridden like the wind.”

Fear lanced through Eve. Had the marquess’ mad ride to Ravenhall anything to do with the duel? Did the marquess bring news of Lord Halifax’s death? Excited female chatter came from the stairwell on the right and, an instant later, two young girls stepped into the foyer.

“Rush!” The youngest flew into his arms. “We have been in pins and needles waiting for you.”

He caught her and swung her around. “Camilla, my love.”

He put her down and she pushed back. “Papa is very cross with you.”

“What would you know of your father’s moods?”

“You have done something very wicked this time. Mamma had to speak kindly in order to calm him.”

“Ah, so our mother is here as well?”

The marchioness? Eve feared she would be sick.

“She arrived this morning,” Camilla went on. “Papa expected you before this. He was getting angrier as the hours passed. I think he was of a mind you were not coming after all, but I am so glad you came.”

“As am I,” he replied. “Now I must say hello to your sister.”

“Juliet is too grown up to be excited,” Camilla said.

“Of course she is.” He looked at the taller girl, who stood quietly. “Juliet. Are you not pleased to see me?”

“Of course I am.”

He took two paces and pulled her into a hug, which she seemed to tolerate as only a sister could. When he drew back, he said, “Did you miss me?”

“We always miss you, but we saw you only two months ago in London.”

“Two months? I would rather see you every day.” Grudging warmth rippled through Eve at the obvious affection in his voice.

“Then you should not have left London,” Juliet replied, and Eve decided she liked the girl—both girls, in fact.

He tweaked a lock of Juliet’s hair. “Leave it to you to be reasonable. You are right, of course, and I shall stay longer just to prove I am not uttering sweet words for their own sake. Now, ladies, let me introduce our guests. This,” he nodded toward Eve, “is Miss Eve Crenshaw.”

“My lady.” Eve curtsied.

“Oh, she is nice,” Camilla said.

“No need for curtsies here,” Lord Rushton said. “And this is her sister, Miss Grace Crenshaw. This gentleman is their friend Oscar and the last is Lord Somerset. As you, my friends, may have guessed, these are my sisters, Camilla and Juliet.”

The girls curtsied.

“You said no curtsies, my lord,” Grace cried.

“Indeed,” Camilla said, “but Mamma would not be pleased if we did not curtsy, no matter what Rush says.”

“And Mamma is always right,” he agreed.

“Indeed she is.”

Eve jumped at the sound of a mature female voice. A tall, lithe, dark-haired woman glided into the foyer from the hallway to the left.

“Mother.”

Mother. Eve’s stomach knotted.

Lord Rushton met his mother halfway across the foyer and folded her into an embrace. When they separated, he said, “You are looking well, madam.” The formality of his words was undone by the tenderness in his voice and the hint of a smile.

She lifted a brow and Eve recognized the same look she’d see on the earl’s face. “Better than you, my son. Your father commands you go to him straight away.”

“I will visit my father presently,” Lord Rushton said.

“You will visit him once you have introduced me to your guests,” the marchioness said. “He awaits you in his study.”

The earl’s brows rose as hers had, but he said in a casual tone, “As you wish,” and first introduced Grace, who dropped into a proper curtsey.

“My lady.”

“You are the younger Crenshaw sister, if I am not mistaken,” her ladyship said.

Grace rose. “I am.”

Eve detected no censure in the marchioness’ demeanor and wondered how much she’d heard of the story that brought them to Ravenhall. A tremor rocked Eve’s stomach. Did the lady know she’d shot her son?

Lord Rushton turned to Eve and said, “Miss Eve Crenshaw, my mother, the Marchioness of Rushton.”

Eve also curtsied. “A pleasure to meet you, my lady.”

The marchioness inclined her head in acknowledgement, but said nothing. Eve’s heart beat faster. Was the lady’s lack of response an indication she knew—and was angry?

“This is Oscar—” Lord Rushton abruptly stopped. “Oscar, I should be whipped. I don’t know your surname.”

“Kent,” Oscar replied.

“Oscar Kent,” the earl went on. “He is the ladies’ escort.”

Oscar affected a proper bow and Lady Rushton lifted her eyes to his face. “I see why you were chosen as guardian. I wager no one dares compromise a lady in your care.”

Eve was certain the marchioness referred to Lord Rushton compromising them. The tremor in her stomach traveled into her legs, making them feel like pudding.

“Lastly, may I present Lord Somerset,” Lord Rushton said.

Lady Rushton extended her hand and Lord Somerset bent over her fingers.

“My lady.” He stepped away from her and she faced her son.

“Go to your father, Erroll. I will see everyone to their rooms.” Without argument, Lord Rushton left and she said, “Come with me and we will see that everyone has a hot bath before dinner.”

Eve wondered if she could request the evening meal in her room.

*****

Erroll gave a perfunctory knock to his father’s study door, then entered. The marquess sat behind his desk, a ledger open before him.

“Reports from Angus?” Erroll asked as he crossed to the chair opposite the desk and sat down.

“Yes.” He closed the book. “I came here directly from Gretna Green.”

His father had a way of knowing exactly where to be at exactly the right time. “How is Halifax?”

“The doctor believes the chances are good he would live. His hip will never be the same, however. He will walk with a cane.”

“What a shame my aim is so bad. I was aiming for his heart.”

“He might have been luckier if you had killed him,” his father said. “Graham MacEwen gave sworn testimony that you were justified in challenging the earl, which satisfied the magistrate.” Anger flashed in his father’s eyes. “You, however, were damned lucky. If Halifax had died, you would be facing a rope.”

“Should I have let him get away with kidnapping my fiancé?”

“You should have had him arrested.”

“You know as well as I that the matter would never have gone to court.”

“You are in Scotland. I do hold some sway here.”

That was true. “I suppose my passions got the better of me,” Erroll said in honesty.

“Those days are past,” his father said. “You will stay at Ravenhall until you are married and this story is forgotten.”

Erroll frowned. “That could be a good long time. I have business down south.”

“I’ll contact Danvers and tell him to hire a steward to deal with my properties until you return.”

“Danvers is a fine solicitor, but he is no businessman. I do not care to entrust him with our financial affairs.”

“He won’t ruin us in the next few months.”

“Much can happen in a few months,” Erroll said.

His father regarded him. “Such as?”

Erroll hesitated. He’d planned on telling his father about his business venture after he saw some success. “I purchased two threshing machines and I plan to oversee their operation through the first harvest in Norfolk. I wanted to be there to learn a bit about them before the harvest.”

“You said nothing about this.”

“To be honest, I wanted to get the machine operational and see if I could make a go of it first.”

“I wouldn’t mind seeing how the machine works,” his father said.

“I had no idea you were interested in farming,” Erroll said with genuine surprise.

“I am just as surprised to learn you are interested in farming.”

“If you like, come to Norfolk for the harvest.”

“I will.” The marquess leaned back in his chair. “I’m gratified you are taking more interest in your responsibilities.”

“I was under the impression you were always satisfied with my performance,” Erroll said.

“Your work is exemplary, but this is a bold move. What made you decide to try such a venture?”

“Astley began using threshers two years ago and Roberts and Binghamton each purchased one for their farms a year ago. Astley, alone, has increased productivity by twenty percent. If we can see similar success, we might be able to allocate more land for cattle.”

His father nodded. “We could employ more men to tend the cattle, and the sale of the wool will create work for tradesmen and merchants.”

“Exactly,” Erroll said.

“Have you plans as to who you would sell the wool to?”

“I do, but I want to see how much productivity is increased this first harvest before I get anyone’s hopes up. I hired an experienced rancher to oversee our dwindling cattle. If the herds increase then at the end of this season I can feel confident about buying more cattle.”

The marquess studied him. “You’re ambitious.”

Erroll shrugged. “I believe it is a necessity. Our people need work now, but that need will be greater when our men return from the war. However, we face the problem of them coming home to a world that is foreign to them due to these advancements.”

“Time has not passed them by that quickly in the last five years,” his father said.

“No, but Napoleon is far from being finished with us. By the time we cripple him, our laborers will be older and our business owners much more savvy. That spells trouble unless we prepare.”

His father nodded. “I see why you hesitate to be away. But I don’t think we face a great problem. Norfolk is a long way from London where the gossip will be centered. We can proceed as planned and, say, in a week or so, you can return to Norfolk with your bride. Your mother has already begun preparations for your marriage to Grace Crenshaw.”

That caught Erroll off guard. “You said either sister would do.”

“That was before I learned the elder daughter got herself with a bastard child.”

“You are mistaken, sir. She never bore a child.”

“The rumor is enough to ruin her for marriage. I expect you to marry a lady with an untarnished reputation.”

Erroll grunted. “That seems unfair, considering the tarnish on my reputation.”

“Men are forgiven such indiscretions. Though you have outdone yourself on that score. That aside, women are not permitted even a hint of scandal. The elder Miss Crenshaw has run off to Gretna with not one, but two men. Do you honestly want a woman of such low character for wife?”

“She did not run off with Halifax. He kidnapped her.”

“Indeed?” his father said in a soft voice, and Erroll knew the worst was yet to come. “Then she was in good company, as she is herself a kidnapper.”

“Beg pardon?” Erroll said.

“Do not toy with me, Erroll.”

“I can assure you, sir, I am not toying with you.”

“Then explain why she had you kidnapped.”

“Me—kidnapped?” Erroll paused as if in shock. “Good God, is that the latest gossip?”

His father’s gaze bore into him. “You’re saying it isn’t true?”

“That is the most outlandish story I’ve ever heard. How could it possibly be true?”

“I wonder how any of this is possible. Until now, I have not interfered in your life. I attributed your reckless behavior to the fact you lost your brother, and believed you would come to your senses sooner rather than later.”

“I hate to disagree, but I am little different now than I was before Val died.”

“Not true. You are far worse.”

“You may attribute that to age and experience,” Erroll said.

“Age has emboldened you, but you bed one woman after another as if you are on a mission.”

Erroll didn’t think that was strictly true, but said, “They were very beautiful women.”

“I doubt you will find a more beautiful woman than the younger Miss Crenshaw.”

Erroll wasn’t so sure of that. He recalled the determination in Eve’s dark eyes when she pointed her gun at him, her warm arms unexpectedly thrown around him when he said he would hire Oscar, and her breath tickling the hallow of his neck…the pressure of her breasts against his when a towel barely covered her, her beneath him—