“I’ve already explained what we were doing in St. Giles,” she said, “although obviously my brother doesna approve of charity.”
“’Tis nae charity I disapprove of,” he growled. “’Tis the two of ye risking your lives.”
“We did not expect to be accosted,” Lorelei said mildly.
Gavin gave her a rather incredulous look. “Whatdidyou expect? St. Giles is not exactly Hyde Park.”
“Aye, my sentiments exactly!” Alasdair exclaimed.
“At least they agree on something,” Fiona said cryptically. “Imagine a Campbell and a MacGregor doing that.”
“Perhaps it would be best if we just let Lorelei tell us what happened,” Lady Bute intervened.
Lorelei nodded and described what had taken place after Fiona had escaped, including how Emma had followed her captors and how Abby had staged a diversion to lure the abductor outside while she escaped. “That’s what happened,” she finished, “but I do not know how you all knew to find me.”
“That was Emma and Abby, too,” Fiona said. “When Abby saw me, she led Gavin and me to where ye’d been taken, but of course, ye were already gone.”
“Was the man I hit with the table leg still there?”
Alasdair frowned. “Ye did what?”
Lorelei could have bitten her tongue. Now he was probably going to be upset about that, too. “The table leg was loose. The man started to come back inside before I could crawl through the window so I bashed him in the face.”
“Ye bashed him—”
“Good work, I would say,” Gavin said.
Alasdair slanted a sideways look at him and started to sputter. “I didna say otherwise.”
“There they go again,” Fiona said. “Canna agree once more.”
Alasdair scowled at his sister. “Doona think I am through with your part in this.”
Fiona ignored him. “I doona ken where the man went, but ye didna kill him—”
“Pity,” Alasdair and Gavin said in unison.
Fiona gave them both an appraising look before she continued. “Well, anyway, Emma came running back to the Dials with the news that Alasdair had…er…found ye, so we came out.”
Lorelei felt her face warm. So Emma must have mentioned their kissing. Of course, it would have been hardnotto, given they were standing practically in the middle of a street. The heat increased as she wondered how long Emma had waited before going back. Lorelei certainly hadn’t noticed. She didn’t dare look at Alasdair right now because she might spontaneously combust from embarrassment.
“The important thing is you are safe and home, both of you,” Lady Bute said.
“And ye are nae to go back to the Dials,” Alasdair said. “Either of ye.”
Lorelei exchanged looks with Fiona as they both bristled.
Gavin laughed. “MacGregor, you do have a way with words.”
Alasdair frowned. “I doona care what ye think, Campbell.” He looked back at Lorelei and Fiona. “Ye both could have been killed.”
“I believe Mr. MacGregor is right,” Lady Bute said before either of them could retort. “I am responsible to your guardians, so I must insist that you both promise not to venture to any place dangerous again.”
Fiona opened her mouth and closed it as Lorelei did the same. They probably looked like two floundering fish out of water. She shifted uncomfortably. Unfortunately, Louisa’s mother was right. She had agreed to sponsor them for the Season and they hadn’t given much thought that she’d be held responsible if something befell them. They’d been too centered on finding adventure. And today had been truly frightening. She looked at Fiona, who gave her a slight nod.
“It was unforgivably rude of us to take advantage of your hospitality,” Lorelei said. “We are sorry.”
“We willna take such chances again,” Fiona added.
