With a gasp, she wrenched away from him and scrambled backward, her hands already busily straightening her hair and gown. “Here,” she called back, her gaze sweeping around them. “Just admiring the flowers,” she added, her voice breathless.
Liam did not stop her from trying to cover the truth of what they had done, but when Blackmore appeared and his keen gaze moved from Liam to Cecelia and back to him with a murderous look, Liam simply smiled pleasantly at the man. Liam had staked his claim, and Blackmore knew it. Now it was up to Cecelia to go with her heart and not her mother’s.
Typically, Liam loved to hunt and be outdoors. Yet the day after he shared the kiss with Cecelia, was not one of those days. He found himself in the frustrating position of having to leave for the country for a hunt with Aldridge to which Liam had previously committed. He considered begging off and staying to see Cecelia, but he knew how much it meant to Aila that he and Aldridge become close.
On the first day of the hunt he replayed his kiss with Cecelia a thousand times in his mind. He wished they would have had a chance to speak privately after, but she had immediately claimed she had to return home that day, after Blackmore had found them alone.
By the second day of the hunt, he irritably decided that being such a good brother was a bother. If only he did not love his sister so dearly, he would depart immediately and return to London to see Cecelia.
On the third day of the hunt, he thought of nothing but Cecelia. He was undeniably attracted to her, in both mind and body, but none of that mattered if she chose to follow her mother’s wishes. Hecouldtell Cecelia the truth of his situation, but he wanted her to choose him without knowing of his wealth and status.
By the end of the week, his frustration vibrated through him, and he knew he could not stay away from London one more day. He glanced around the group of three men and noted a fourth man riding up. Liam turned his attention to Aldridge, dismissing their newest addition for the moment and focusing on the objective of today’s hunt. Thus far, Aldridge had chosen said objective every day, and Liam assumed today would be no different. Liam had forced himself to hold back on the entire trip and allowed Aldridge and his friends to pursue the foxes, because if Liam had really employed his hunting skills, he would have tracked and cornered the foxes every day before Aldridge and his friends even managed to crest the first hill toward the woods. It wasn’t that the Englishmen were bad hunters, but they had never had to hunt to survive. Liam had, and that taught a man skills that merely hunting for pleasure could never teach.
But his consideration had come to an end. His patience was depleted, and he wanted to find the prey, corner it, and return to London as quickly as possible. “Aldridge, what’s our mark for today?”
Aldridge offered an easy smile. “Two red foxes.”
Liam nodded. “Once I have them trapped, I’m heading back to London. I’ll see ye there, so no need to concern yerself about me.”
Aldridge chuckled. “You’re awfully certain you will be the one to trap the foxes.”
“Aye,” Liam agreed, not bothering to soften his tone.
“That may have been the case yesterday, as I was not here,” an unfamiliar voice said from behind him.
Liam turned and acknowledged the newcomer. The man was as tall as Liam but not nearly as great in size. His dark eyes reminded Liam of a fox’s—clever and calculating. Liam felt an instant distaste for him. The smug look the man gave him and the man’s next words firmly sealed Liam’s dislike.
“I am the best huntsman in England,” the man said, cocksure.
“Only England?” Liam replied, which elicited chuckles from the small group of men.
The man scowled. “You’re not English.”
“Verra perceptive of ye,” Liam responded. “I’m Liam MacLeod, from the Isle of Skye.”
A look of disdain crossed the stranger’s face. “That explains your boastfulness, but you cannot best me. I’m Viscount Hawkins, and I have been hunting all my life.”
“Careful, Hawkins,” Aldridge said. “Liam here is the laird of the MacLeod clan, and he has been hunting all his life, as well. He is also my betrothed’s brother and my honored guest, so mind the few manners you possess.”
Liam sensed that Aldridge did not care for Hawkins, which in Liam’s mind made Aldridge an even better man for his sister. But why, then, had Hawkins been invited?
Hawkins’s eyes narrowed, but then he seemed to remember himself as a false smile was forced to his lips. “I do apologize, and Aldridge, I appreciate the invitation to hunt.”
“Northington here says you are the best hunter he knows, and that piqued my interest,” Aldridge replied with a nod at Lord Northington. “Now we shall see.”
Aldridge gave Liam a pointed look and understanding dawned. Aldridge wished him to best Hawkins. But how did Aldridge know Liam was capable?
Aldridge stared at Liam as he spoke. “Aila has spoken often of your hunting skills, and even boldly informed me when I met her that you could teach me a thing or two.”
Liam grinned. So Aldridge had suspected Liam had been holding back and wanted to test him? By the smile curling the man’s lips, Liam knew the answer.
Within seconds, all the men had mounted their horses. Hawkins maneuvered his horse in front of Liam’s and then said over his shoulder, “You may wish to stay back, MacLeod. I’d hate for you to get the dust from my horse’s nimble hooves in your eyes.”
Liam simply smiled.
When the master of the hounds sounded his horn for the start of the hunt, the foxes were released, and the wildly barking hounds took off, Liam easily moved past Hawkins. He could have left him a great distance behind immediately, but it gave him wicked pleasure to allow the man to ride in his dust for a spell. But when an errant thought of Cecelia entered his mind, he increased his pace, coming closer to the master of the hunt, the rest of the riders far behind them.
They raced through streams, brush, and growth, and jumped several fallen logs to keep up with the hounds in pursuit of the foxes. When Liam looked over his shoulder, only Aldridge and Hawkins remained in sight, and Liam was so far ahead that they’d never catch up.
