Belton admitted Alasdair Sunday morning without so much as a change of expression, even though the hour was considered ungodly early for most of theton, but his sister was an early riser and he didn’t want to risk her and Lorelei already being gone…or receiving other callers. He was here to find out exactly how many callers they might be expecting and who they were.
“Miss Fiona is in the library with the other ladies,” Belton said.
“Thank ye,” he replied. “I ken the way.”
The butler nodded and Alasdair proceeded around the open staircase and down a hall to where the library was located. As he approached, he heard his sister and Lorelei laughing and paused just before he got to the door.
“I gather you both are pleased with the turn of events?” That was from Louisa.
“Well, aye. I found Erik Taylor to be quite interesting. I’m looking forward to the next ball.”
His sister found this Erik person interesting? Alasdair made a mental note to check the man out.
Louisa spoke again. “And Lord Westwood seemed very attentive to you, Lorelei.”
Alasdair frowned. The damn marquess had been way too attentive. He obviously wasn’t as affected by Lady Melissa as the gossips thought.
“He is a good conversationalist,” Lorelei answered. “He actually asked for my opinion on several things.”
“Well, that is unusual,” Louisa said.
It was? Fiona had always given her opinion on everything without beingasked. Alasdair thought Lorelei did, too. Did the lass actually want to beasked? He was about to make his presence known when he heard Fiona speak.
“What is really important is that my brother will nae be bothering us.”
Alasdair put down the foot he’d just lifted. What in hell was she talking about?
Louisa laughed. “Melissa is certainly playing her part well in keeping him occupied.”
He drew his brows together. Playing a part?
Lorelei put his thought to words. “Is she? Playing a part?”
“Of course she is,” Louisa replied. “I do not mean that she does not find Mr. MacGregor attractive. Heavens, half the girls at the ball practically swooned when he showed up in that kilt.”
Alasdair grinned, in spite of himself.
“But,” Louisa continued, “she wants to make sure that everyone in thetonknows she is not bothered by being available again.”
“Why should she be? She was the one who rejected Lord Westwood, was she not?” Lorelei asked.
“That is the storysheput out, but one really does not know,” Louisa replied. “The marquess is a gentleman and would not spread gossip about her, of course, but he is much more quiet and dignified in his countenance than she.”
Louisa had the right of it, Alasdair thought. Although yesterday’s outing had gone reasonably well with the aunt acting as chaperone, there was always the undercurrent of an innuendo in Lady Melissa’s words and glances, although he suspected the lady would not allow any liberties.
“So you think Melissa is using Alasdair to save face?”
Using him?Alasdair frowned again.
“I suspect that might be partially true,” Louisa said. “The marquess is quite likable and has a number of single male friends. None of them is going to cross a line by pursuing Melissa.”
“It doesna matter really,” Fiona said. “As long as she keeps my brother intrigued so he willna interfere with Lorelei and me enjoying the Season.”
“I have no doubt she will hang on to him.” Louisa sounded droll. “Melissa cannot abide being a wallflower, even if she had a hand in becoming one.”
“Then we’ll throw my brother at her every chance we get,” Fiona said. “Do ye both nae agree?”
There was a slight pause and Alasdair heard murmurs of assent. Carefully, he backed away from the door and quietly made his way back to the foyer.
