My Fair Lily(13)
“It must have cost you a tidy sum,” she whispered, heat creeping into her cheeks. She’d learned early on that true ladies did not discuss matters of wealth or one’s lack of it. But it couldn’t be helped. How else was she to keep him out of trouble?
“Och, lass. Dinna worry about the bodles and bawbees.”
“The what?”
“My finances. There’s plenty more where that came from.”
“That’s the problem,” she said, sounding harsher than intended, a mark of her frustration. She rose abruptly, startling Jasper and his owner, both of whom jumped to their feet along with her. “My uncle George intends to speak to you, but he isn’t here now and you are. The problem is… what I mean to say… I just don’t know how to say it politely.”
Mr. Cameron folded his arms across his chest and regarded her with obvious confusion. “It’s best if you just say it.”
She nodded. Goodness, he was big. Handsomely big. “I know you mean well. And I do appreciate the lengths to which you’ve gone in order to make amends for the damage. But imposing upon the Duke of Lotheil, no matter how wealthy he is… well, I don’t wish to see you go to prison.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Just because he may not be aware of what you’ve done… oh, dear. Let’s take this one step at a time. Mr. Cameron, did you pay for the book and spectacles with your own funds?”
“Aye, lass. How else would I acquire them?”
She let out a sigh of relief. “Good. Very good. Now, about using the duke’s stationery to write your letter.”
He frowned. “Oh, that.”
“Yes, that. In future, you must use your own paper. And for pity’s sake, how did you get the duke’s messenger to do your bidding?”
“I asked him.”
“And he obliged? Just like that?”
He finally seemed to understand. “Of course, next time I’ll deliver the package myself. I still owe you a new frock.”
Perhaps he didn’t understand at all. Goodness, the man was dense. “No… no… never mind. Just promise me you’ll not use the duke’s supplies, or messengers, or… his purse, any more.”
He let out a soft, rumbling laugh. “Och, Lily.”
“And you mustn’t call me Lily or lass. It implies an intimacy we do not share. How much of it do you have left?”
“The letter paper? Lots.”
She began to nibble her lower lip. “Oh, that’s not good. Indeed, that’s very bad. We must return it to him, somehow.”
“Him?”
“The Duke of Lotheil, of course. Well, not directly to him. I doubt he’d grant us an audience, but to his man of affairs. I think it best that I return it, let him think it was delivered to me by mistake.”
“He’ll know it was no’ so.”
She shook her head sadly, wondering how this poor man was going to survive in London. He had no sense of etiquette and an impossibly casual regard for property rights. No doubt he was still homeless. “Did Lady Dayne find you a place to stay?”
His lips began to twitch, tugging upward in a smile. “Och, lass. You’ve a good heart, but you’re obviously misguided.”
“Me, misguided? It’s you who needs to be taken firmly in hand.”
His eyes glistened with mirth and he cast her a wickedly attractive grin. “Lass, you ought to lift your pretty nose out of your books on occasion. You know shockingly little about men. And I wouldn’t offer to take a man firmly in hand if I were you. It will get you into a lot of trouble.”
“I haven’t a clue what you’re talking about.”
He sighed. “Didn’t think so. No matter. The point is, you have no need to save me. I happen to be staying at Lotheil Court.”
“Are you visiting a relative who works there? A butler? A groomsman? Perhaps the duke’s man of affairs, which would explain how you got your hands on the duke’s stationery. Mr. Cameron, was the duke’s man the one who introduced you to Lady Dayne?”
“Lily, there’s something you should know.”
She refused to pay attention, her mind too busy concocting a plan to keep him safe, though why she should worry about him or his friendly lump of a beast was beyond her.
“—Duke of Lotheil,” was all she heard as he grabbed her by the shoulders and shook her lightly.
“What?”
“I’m the duke’s grandson.”
“Oh, dear. Mr. Cameron…”
“And the present Laird Carnach.”
“I…” Her voice trailed off. This was worse than she’d thought. Next he’d claim to be Robert the Bruce.