My Fair Lily(72)

Ewan clamped a hand on her elbow. “Lily, slow down.”

She gazed at him, uncertain what he intended, for he now had a worried look in his eyes. His grandfather was in attendance. So were the MacCorkindales.

“Lass,” he said in a husky voice, suddenly casting her a hot, tender smile that melted her heart. “You were brilliant in there.” He paused a moment, as though struggling to find the right words. “You went beyond merely accepting Evie’s apology. You forgave her, offered her your friendship, and made her feel valued.”

She’d been referred to as brilliant before, but usually with disdain. Women weren’t supposed to be brilliant. They were supposed to smile and simper, and look as though they needed help to manage the easiest chores. But Ewan wasn’t like others. He admired her for who she was, a bluestocking who frightened away most men and understood very little about social etiquette, but did understand the importance of love and family.

She returned his smile with a warm one of her own. “Will you help me find Dillie?”

He laughed. “Ah, the spectacles switch.” He craned his neck and scanned the room, his height a decided advantage. “There she is, in the corner speaking to the Duke of Edgeware.”

Him again?

“Him again,” Ewan said, frowning as he echoed her thought. “I wonder if he thinks he’s speaking to you? I noticed him seated beside you at the Simmingtons’ musicale.”

Holy crumpets! Was he jealous? He couldn’t be. But a subtle change had come over him, a slight tension in his stance, and he’d puffed out his chest as a baboon would have done when preparing to challenge an interloper.

Fascinating!

He still held her possessively by the elbow, a sure sign he was marking his territory. “I’ll walk you over there.”

Dominant males within the animal kingdom would establish the boundaries of their territory by lifting their leg and emitting a spray at each corner. It not only warned away interlopers but also attracted females willing to mate.

No wonder she found him so appealing. He had all the characteristics of the dominant male. Good looks, arrogance, and a fiercely protective nature. He was a rugged Highlander who refused to be civilized, who looked dangerous even when wearing fashionable clothes, and who refused to bend to his grandfather’s wishes.

His gaze shot to hers as they made their way through the elegant crowd. “Lily, why are you looking at me that way?”

She blushed. “No reason.”

“I’m not one of your male baboons.” He arched an eyebrow, as though waiting for her to agree, and then chuckled when she didn’t. “Come on, let’s get you to your sister.”

Lily approached her twin carefully, even though she sensed that Edgeware had not been fooled by the spectacles. Not wishing to give away their ruse, she decided to take her cues from Dillie on the chance that she had guessed wrong.

“We’re safe. He knows and won’t tell,” Dillie said, making quick introductions. She took off the spectacles and handed them to Lily. “Thank goodness, I can see again. Do I look cross-eyed?”

“No, you look perfect,” she and Edgeware answered at the same moment.

Lily stared at him. Edgeware stared at Ewan. Ewan once again arched an eyebrow as he stared back. In the animal kingdom, two males staring each other down was extremely aggressive behavior. Would they spray their territories next? Apparently, it was not necessary. Edgeware realized that Ewan had no amorous intentions toward Dillie. At the same time, Ewan was satisfied that Edgeware had no such intentions toward her.

Crumpets! This was most interesting.

Edgeware and Dillie? Though not nearly old enough to be considered a confirmed bachelor, the duke had made no secret of his intention never to marry.

And what of Ewan? Despite Pruitt’s assessment, Lily doubted that Ewan had marriage in mind. He had to settle his family matters before considering a bride. Hopefully, he’d dismiss Callie as a prospect. She knew he would if his head were clear, but at the moment it was crammed with deathbed promises and a general dislike for all things English. He was proud and stubborn and on terrible terms with his grandfather, and his grandfather was just as proud and stubborn. She hoped he would not goad Ewan into making a stupid decision, but she knew the old duke was just the sort to goad and poke at festering family wounds.

How would Ewan respond? By poking back at his grandfather and marrying Callie MacCorkindale to spite him?

Ewan tipped a finger under her chin and forced her gaze to his. “Lass, I’m not one of your baboons.”

“What?”

“Your head’s in the clouds again. Have you heard a word we’ve said?”