Alasdair couldn’t help but notice the auburn-haired female approaching him like a ship under full sail with good wind. Which really wasn’t a bad analogy, he mused, since people fell back as quickly as a bow wake from a prow sluicing through water.
Not that the lady was built like a ship, although that might not be a bad analogy, either. She was all sleek lines and graceful movement. Her teal gown reflected both blue and green as she moved, very much like the sea itself. Its bodice was cut low enough to reveal pale white orbs like half-moons shimmering below the surface of some sort of silver netting that encased her shoulders.
That she had an invisible compass trained on him was not in dispute. She hadn’t glanced right or left, her dark brown gaze never leaving his face. Under normal circumstances, he would have allowed himself to preen just a little. What man could resist a beautiful woman with her sights set on him?
But these were not normal circumstances. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see his sister with Lorelei and Louisa across the ballroom, all of them staring at him. The latter looked amused, his sister wide-eyed, and Lorelei… He couldn’t tell what she was thinking. He’d not had the chance to talk with her privately since he’d arrived, even though he’d tried half a dozen ways. Lorelei was proving to be quite adept at holding him at bay. His brothers would laugh at him…aMacGregornot able to get a lass alone? He hoped he’d have a chance to sign her dance card, but tonight, another mission needed to be addressed.
Fiona had spent hours trying to persuade—practicallycommand—that he pay court to the daughter of some duke in order to win favor in case the land disputes with Argyll came to a vote in Parliament. He’d finally agreed, after much bickering, that there was value in making the acquaintance, although he was not going to do anything that would get him caught in a parson’s noose. He had no intention of declaring for the girl when his aim was to win Lorelei. He had to admit their little game of cat and mouse only increased his desire for her. Not that he was about to confess that to his sister. She’d tell Lorelei and—as little as men understood anything about how a woman’s mind worked—he knew instinctively that information would turn the game around, with him being the mouse.
His attention returned to the lady who was now only a few meters away. Her lips curled slightly, revealing small white teeth, and she dropped her gaze for a second in the merest hint of flirtation before she looked up and offered her hand for him to bow over. It was a brazen move, especially since they hadn’t been introduced and he knew that the English set great stock upon such things. For a moment, he wondered if she were a skilled courtesan, given her boldness. Then he dismissed the thought, since every young woman attending Almack’s needed an invitation.
He dutifully took her gloved hand and bent slightly. It wouldn’t hurt if the daughter of the duke who he was supposed to meet was watching, although he had no idea what she looked like. Fiona had said she’d point the girl out. He’d been told only her name.
“Highlander,” the woman in front of him said, her seductive half smile flashing again. “You intrigue me. I wish to claim the first dance.”
Around him, he heard people gasp, and he couldn’t help but smile. Whoever this lady was, she obviously knew her own mind. He couldn’t fault her for that. He bowed once more.
“My pleasure, Lady…?”
“Melissa Talbot,” she replied, “and I am sure the pleasure will be mine.”
This was the female his sister had told him about? For the first time in his life, Alasdair was speechless.
…
Lorelei had positioned herself near the punch bowl so she would look occupied while at the same time being able to watch Alasdair and Melissa take part in the first set. At least the opening dance was a march, which kept the partners moving at a brisk pace as they made their way down a column of ladies and gentlemen on either side and then separated again at the end.
Unfortunately, as the other couples performed the same maneuver, each of the ladies passing him gave him appreciative looks. Lorelei suspected they’dallbe asking him to sign their cards.
As the dance ended she quickly turned her attention to an assortment of delicacies laid out, and Alasdair looked around the room. It wouldn’t do for him to think she’d beenwatching.
“May I have the next dance?”
His deep voice from behind startled her and she nearly choked on the bite of petit four she’d just taken. Alasdair had sought her out! She managed to swallow and turned.
“Ye are supposed to ask to sign her dance card first,” Fiona said from beside her.
At that moment, Lorelei wished she could place a sharp elbow in her friend’s ribs.
Alasdair arched a brow at his sister. “Seems like a waste of time, since I am standing here, nae?”
“Yes, it is,” Lorelei said before Fiona could answer. “Especially since this dance is open.”
‘Well then.” Alasdair offered his arm. “The music is starting.”
She laid her hand on his arm, aware of the solid feel of muscle beneath his coat. For a moment, she wondered what his naked arm would feel like under her ungloved fingers. Of course that would necessitate him not wearing a coat and having his shirt sleeves rolled up most indecently. Then her mind flashed to him not wearing a shirt at all and being completely bare-chested. Her face warmed.Where did that scandalous thought come from?Maybe because he was wearing a kilt that exposed extremely well-muscled calves? Her face heated even more as she resisted an urge to look down at his legs.
Dear Lord. If she kept up this train of thought, she wouldn’t remember the steps to the cotillion that was beginning.
Alasdair’s eyes darkened as he took his place to her left and looked into her face. The barest quirk of a smile lifted one corner of his mouth, as though he could read her thoughts.
That was ridiculous. He couldn’t, of course. Her face suddenly flamed.
Could he?
Chapter Four
They had been more successful in their matchmaking than they’d planned, Lorelei thought as she and Fiona parted ways with Louisa on Friday morning for a special meeting of the Bluestocking Society. She waited until Louisa had walked off with Mary and Garth in tow before she brought up the subject. Again. She and Fiona had talked about nothing else since Wednesday night.
