Read Online Kilgannon by Kathleen Givens - Free Book Online Page B

the cat that was rubbing around his legs. He petted her absently.
    "No, it's verra much the same. A farmer from Kent doesna dress like a sailor from Portsmouth. Each wears the badge of his territory and rank. It's the same in Scotland."
    "Were you comfortable wearing English clothes?" I watched his hand stroke the cat. He frowned thoughtfully.
    "Was I comfortable? Do ye mean did I feel strange, like I was wearing a costume?" I nodded. "No, lass, I wear English clothes often when I travel. I'm just more comfortable in my own clothes, and sometimes I dinna think it makes any difference what I wear. The very look of me marks me as a stranger."
    "You look like a Scot."
    "I look like a Gael," he corrected me. "Like a Highlander. Lowlanders are not so tall as a rule."
    "Are all Highlanders tall?"
    "No, but many are. More so than Lowlanders, who are descended from the Picts and Britons and Normans. We're taller. It's our Celtic and Norse bloodlines. That's where we get the fair coloring as well." The cat stretched to his touch. "Is this yer cat?"
    "No, it's one of Louisa's. My cat is in Warwickshire."
    "Oh, aye, Warwickshire." He nodded at me. "That's where Kenilworth and Warwick are? Yer home is called Mountgarden?"
    "Yes. My home is not far from Kenilworth." "Norman country, but verra bonnie. And verra flat."
    "Not really," I said, ready to defend my home. 'There are many hills. Mountgarden is on a hill." "Hmmm. When ye come to Scotland ye'11 see mountains. England doesna have any that I've seen." He looked at the cat.
    "Alex," I said after a moment. "Did you come today to discuss kilts and cats and mountains?" He held the cat with one hand and brushed back the strands of hair that had fallen around his face with the other. I could hear the cat purring as he stroked her.
    "I came to see ye, Mary. I'll talk about whatever ye wish."
    I felt my face redden. "You're very direct, sir," I said, trying to keep my tone light.
    "Aye," he said slowly, almost smiling. "As ye were. I told ye, lass. It saves time." He put the cat on the sofa and brushed his hands on his thighs. "Mary, I dinna have any chance to talk with ye alone last night, so I thought I'd like to see ye today. Am I interrupting something ye have planned?"
    "I had nothing planned."
    "Good. And I thought if I came today I'd have a fair chance of beating yer Robert Campbell to yer door."
    "He's not my Robert Campbell, Alex."
    "Oh, aye, lass, he is. I dinna ken why the man hesitates, but it's fine with me. Now, what do ye want to talk about, if not kilts and cats and mountains?" I moved to the sofa and sat down. Alex joined me, and the cat jumped on his lap at once.
    "You've made a conquest," I said, petting the cat on his lap.
    "Again? First the Duchess and now ye? Or d'ye mean the cat?"
    "The cat. I suspect you make a lot of conquests."
    He nodded. "Aye. Cats like me. Dogs too."
    "That's not what I meant."
    He grinned. "Duchesses are mad about me."
    "Yes, and she told me why. You saved the Duke's life. You were very brave to help him, very heroic. Tell me what happened?"
    He shrugged. "It was years ago, lass, and it doesna merit the telling. I came upon three men attacking one and I lent a hand. It was no'an act of heroism. It was an act of courtesy."
    "I think you're wonderful. And so do the Duke and Duchess."
    He laughed. "I am. But, Mary, what I did was the only thing a decent man could do. Who would walk away from an outnumbered man?"
    "Lots of men would."
    "Then I dinna want them walking by when I need helping. Remind me of that, will ye, at the appropriate time?"
    "I will. I'm sure the Duchess will continue to adore you." "Aye, but I don't pay attention to other men's wives."
    "Not even the ones like Rowena? She is very beautiful."
    "Aye." He grinned and suddenly I felt hideously ugly, thinking of the lovely Rowena looking up into his eyes. I tried to smile. His grin faded and he watched me for a moment, then leaned toward me, one arm stretched along the back of the