“It is almost as though Lady Melissaheardus trying to arrange the introduction,” she said for the umpteenth time.
Fiona gave an unladylike snort as they turned down Park Lane to catch a hack. “If I had known how bold she was, I’d have saved my breath in trying to persuade Alasdair to meet her.”
Lorelei didn’t answer. He’d certainly acted willing enough to let the girl lead him to the dance floor, and he’d danced with the duke’s daughterthreetimes. She’d been tempted to tell him, when Alasdair had maneuvered them through a cotillion, that the gossips’ tongues would be wagging over that, but hadn’t that been the purpose? Besides, it had been Lady Melissa who’d soughthimout and had taken his arm each time. Not that Lorelei had beenwatching.
“’Tis good, though, if he’s taken with her,” Fiona continued. “Since he has nae come by, we didna have to make an excuse to leave without him today.”
He hadn’t stopped by yesterday, although since the ball hadn’t ended until the wee hours, no one had stirred before noon. But she’d expected him to call yesterday evening.
But that hadn’t stopped her from dreaming about him. And not just dreaming.
Alasdair took her hand at the end of the dance and tugged her gently toward one of the open French doors that led to the terrace.
“Where are we going?”
He grinned. “Ye will see.”
They’d taken only a few steps outside when he pulled her into the shadows. “I have wanted to do this for a long time.”
Before she could ask what he meant, his lips came down on hers. Warm and firm—just like the first time—sending pleasurable little tingles coursing through her as he cradled her head, adjusting for a better angle that let him explore further. He teased, changing the pressure, letting his tongue slide across her mouth, then nibbling her lower lip. A jolt like lightning shot through her when he slipped his tongue inside…
“Lorelei?”
She refocused, her skin still on fire. Enough dreaming. Enough pondering on Alasdair’s comings and goings. Fiona was looking at her inquiringly as a hack pulled up. “Yes?”
“The driver needs to ken where we are going.”
“Oh.” She gave herself an inward shake as he jumped down to open the door for them. “The Tower, please.”
“Is the Tower nae where the English keep prisoners?” Fiona asked after they were settled on the not-well-padded benches.
“Yes, but we are not going to that part.” Lorelei looked out the window as the driver turned east and urged the horses to a trot. “There is a menagerie of wild animals that I have always wanted to see.”
“Like what?”
“Lions, tigers, eagles… Centuries ago, there was even an elephant and a polar bear. I would have loved to have seen those.”
“Is this our first dangerous adventure then?”
Lorelei smiled. “The animals are not, but the Tower is located on the Lower Thames, which is just on the edge of the more dangerous part of London. I thought it might be a good place for us to start.”
“’Twill be fun getting away like this.” Fiona grinned suddenly. “’Tis good too, that Mary and Garth are Scots.”
“True.” They had been lucky that Louisa’s personal maid and her husband were loyal to her and would keep silent about their meanderings. Perhaps a part of that was because Louisa was teaching both of them to read. Perhaps another reason they asked no questions was because while Louisa was at her bluestocking meeting, their duties shifted to shopping, so there would be packages to take home, the contents of which they could keep. Then too, Fiona had had a conversation with them—in Gaelic—which had ended when she’d tapped her leg, no doubt telling them she carried a weapon.
So for now their “shopping” trips would go undiscovered by Lady Bute. And, it seemed, they might not have to worry about Alasdair, either.
Unfortunately, that idea was short-lived. He was waiting in the parlor when they returned home late that afternoon.
…
Lady Bute looked up from the tea she was pouring for Alasdair as his sister, Lorelei, and Louisa entered the room. He plopped in an extra cube of sugar to make the drink more palatable.
“Did you have a good time shopping?” she asked.
There was a bit of hesitation before Louisa answered. “I saw quite a few things I liked.”
“We did, too,” Fiona said.
