“About what?” Lorelei asked.
“There is a…” Belton hesitated. “…a situation in the parlor.”
“A situation?” Lorelei turned to look, but the door was closed and she heard no sounds. “Is there an animal trapped in the room?”
He cleared his throat. “Ah…no. Mr. MacGregor is in there.”
“I guess ye could call my brother an animal sometimes.”
The butler’s face pinkened. “Pardon me. I did not mean an insult.”
“Ye didna insult me.” Fiona grinned. “All my brothers have acted like animals.”
“We did not know Mr. MacGregor was going to call,” Louisa said.
Fiona nodded. “He canna be angry because we were nae here.”
“That is not the problem,” Belton answered. “The other gentleman—”
“Other gentleman?” Lorelei knew it was rude to interrupt, but the words were out before she could stop them.
“Yes. Lord Gavin Campbell—”
“A Mhuire Maithar!” Fiona exclaimed and rushed to the closed door, tossing her cape on the floor as she went. “I hope they have nae broken anything yet!”
Louisa gave Lorelei a puzzled look.
“They do not like each other. It is a story for another time.” Lorelei didn’t bother taking her cape off as she hurried after Fiona, half expecting shattered bric-a-brac and broken furniture. Since it was quiet, had one of them rendered the other unconscious?
To her relief, when Fiona opened the door, they were both sitting in upright chairs, albeit at distant ends of the sofa and more or less ignoring each other as they both rose. At least nothing seemed to have been damaged.
Alasdair trained his eyes on her, studying her. For a moment, her cheeks warmed. Surely he couldn’t know that she and Fiona had been at Covent Garden. The thought was ridiculous. She lifted her head slightly, thrusting her chin out. Alasdair lifted one brow slightly, and walked toward her.
“It really isna chilly in here. May I help ye with your cape?”
Before she could answer, his fingers were deftly untying the cord beneath her chin, his hand brushing her collarbone as he slipped the garment down. Although he hadn’t touched her breasts, she felt her nipples peak and a strange, achy need filled her.
“Gentlemen.” Louisa moved into the role of playing hostess and brought Lorelei back to the present. “I am sorry neither my mother nor I were available when you called. Let me ring for some hot tea.”
“That will nae be necessary.”
Alasdair said the words at the same time Gavin said it would be wonderful. They narrowed their eyes at each other and Lorelei wondered if it might come to fisticuffs after all. Once again, Louisa smoothed things over.
“It is no trouble at all. Besides, shopping made us ladies quite hungry, so if you will indulge us?”
“Of course.”
This was said in unison by both men and they squinted at each other once more. Lorelei had a hard time to keep from laughing, and she didn’t dare look at Fiona. Louisa suggested everyone have a seat, which was probably a safe thing to do. Once settled, she smiled at everyone graciously.
“To what do we owe the pleasure of your company, gentlemen?”
“I came to check up on my sister and Lorelei,” Alasdair said, giving his sister only a cursory look before turning his attention on her. “Where have ye been?”
Good lord.Didhe know? He couldn’t. Could he? Had they been seen? Lorelei frowned at him. Maybehehad been in Covent Garden earlier?
“Check up on us?” Fiona glowered at him.
It was probably good her friend had interrupted her train of thought. Thinking of Alasdair visiting one of those houses wasn’t what she needed to be doing. Or what he might have been doing… She glared at him, too.
