Although it was not a direct insult, Louisa’s face turned slightly pink, convincing Alasdair she was aware why Taylor was really leaving. He doubted very much any new crew would be arriving tonight. Instead, the man was leaving Louisa as the odd person out for the rest of the evening…and the evening was still young. However, her voice was calm as she lifted her chin and smiled.
“I would not want to keep you.”
Alasdair blinked as Taylor nodded and left, wondering if he had heard just a bare trace of sarcasm in Louisa’s words. He almost laughed at the quite distinct possibility that she had just put the man down. Of course she didn’t want tokeephim. More than likely, she didn’t want to have anything to do with him.Touche.
Now if only his sister felt the same way.
…
Settling himself at his desk the next morning, Alasdair stared at yet another set of documents that he’d unearthed, but not really seeing them. Last night had been pretty much a disaster. He hadn’t gotten much information on Taylor—other than the man was a real cad—and Louisa had decided to go home early. Lorelei had noticed and taken her leave as well, so he hadn’t gotten a chance to talk to her. And Westwood—ever the gentleman—had escorted both of them. All in all, he’d accomplished nothing.
He sighed and started sorting the paperwork when he looked up to see Gavin Campbell standing in the doorway of Mount Stuart’s office. For once, he was almost glad to see the man. After the whist party, Fiona had been tight-lipped about how her evening as Campbell’s partner had gone. Maybe now he could find out. He set the papers aside.
“Come in. Is this a social call?”
“Not exactly.” Gavin glanced at Mount Stuart’s empty desk. “Are you expecting him back any minute?”
“Nae. Lord North summoned some of the MPs to Chambers to discuss the Colonies.”
“The news is not good, from what I hear,” Gavin answered. “There are rumors that a revolution is all but certain.”
“Aye. Mount Stuart said as much.” Alasdair gestured to a quill and paper on the other desk. “Ye can leave him a message if ye want.”
“Actually, it is you I came to see.”
“Oh?”
“To alert you to the rumors.”
Alasdair felt the hair at his nape prickle. “What rumors?”
“That you have all but proposed marriage to Lady Melissa.”
“What?”His hair practically stood on end. “Where did ye hear that gossip?”
“Gossip, is it?” Gavin grinned. “I heard it from your sister.”
“From Fiona?”
Gavin raised one brow. “Do you have another?”
Damn it. The man knew he didn’t. But why would Fiona say something like that? And why, in all that was holy, wouldn’t she have toldhimfirst?
“Just tell me what she said.”
“Well…” Gavin pulled up a chair and sat down. “It was more what Lady Melissa said.”
Alasdair tried to keep the vexation out of his voice. “And that was?”
“She’s let it be known that you are always attentive—she could not repeat intimacies—”
“What intimacies?” Alasdair frowned. “I have nae done any such thing.”
Gavin shrugged. “I am only repeating what your sister told me.”
His frown deepened. “And when did this happen?”
“At Burlington House a few days ago. Evidently, that lady from the Bluestocking Society invited a select number of girls to view private art there.”
