“Not if this stays between us.”
“Elspeth, for the love of God…” Hamish sounded ready to explode, but after a moment, his shoulders lowered.
Brody drew a relieved breath. Hamish was still furious, but that sharp brain had taken charge of his turbulent emotions. Brody didn’t want to brawl with his friend in front of Elspeth and Marina. Not to mention that a bout of fisticuffs was the surest way to bring the rest of the guests down upon them.
Her brother’s rage didn’t make Elspeth falter. Brody admired her courage. “Hamish, it’s Christmas, we’re all family and friends here, and I’m not a child anymore. A few harmless kisses with an old acquaintance aren’t an unforgivable sin. You’re a hypocrite if you say they are. Don’t forget, you’ve told me plenty about what you get up to in Edinburgh and London.”
Hamish had the grace to look abashed for a moment, before his temper flared again. “It’s different for men. For pity’s sake, Elspeth, you’re my sister.”
“And Brody’s your friend.”
Before Hamish could disavow that relationship, Brody spoke. “Hamish, leave it.”
“Leave what?” Elspeth’s formidable mother sailed into the room, her striking face alight with curiosity and disapproval. “What on earth is all this noise about? Explain yourself, Hamish.”
“There’s nothing to explain,” Marina said quickly, but not quickly enough.
Hamish turned on Lady Glen Lyon. “I caught Brody seducing Elspeth.”
“You liar! You did not!” Elspeth protested, before facing her mother. “Mamma, he’s making a mountain out of a molehill.”
“Non è niente. Just overflowing Christmas cheer,” Marina said, although she must know by now that a scene was unavoidable. “Hamish, you’re overreacting.”
“I’m bloody well not.” Hamish was back to looking like he was set to ignite. “I saw them both when I came in.”
“When we were standing several feet apart and fully dressed,” Elspeth pointed out. Brody commended her persistence.
“I wouldn’t say that,” Hamish retorted.
“You have my word that I did nothing to injure your sister’s reputation,” Brody said in an emphatic tone, knowing that it wasn’t true and would have been even less true ten minutes later.
“What’s all the commotion?” Fergus appeared in the corridor behind Lady Glen Lyon.
“Will ye shut the damned door?” Brody grated out. “Every bugger between here and Glasgow doesnae need to know our business.”
Elspeth’s mother bustled over to her daughter. “Elspeth, are you all right?”
Brody appreciated hearing some expression of concern for Elspeth, although his wee wren seemed capable of standing up for herself. As if to prove that spirit, she shook her mother’s hand off her arm.
“Of course I’m all right, Mamma. As Brody said, nothing happened. There’s no need for theatrics. Let’s all go back to the great hall and get on with celebrating Christmas.”
“Hear, hear,” Marina said, moving to shut the door at last. But it was too late. A crowd filled the room, shouting questions over each other. Through the chaos, Brody returned a blistering glare from Diarmid and decided this fracas had gone on long enough.
“Stop it, all of you,” he said, with an authority he’d never managed to achieve before, even at Invermackie where he still felt like an inadequate substitute for his father.
He turned to Elspeth and caught her hand. Despite her defiant stance, she was shaking. He knew that this public exposure was a horrible ordeal for her. Only a blockhead would imagine it could be anything else. At heart, she remained shy, despite new clothes and blossoming confidence.
“Elspeth, my bonny lassie, I grant that the circumstances are no’ ideal.” He gentled his tone. “I’m sorry I have to do this in front of a rabble, but I’d consider it the greatest honor if ye would agree to become my wife.”
Astonishment widened her big brown eyes, and the color leached from her face, leaving her as pale as new paper. His fingers tightened on hers as for one awful moment, he feared she might faint.
“Th-thank you for your proposal, Brody,” she stammered, after a pause that threatened to shatter his heart. Her unblinking attention didn’t waver from him. He wished he knew to Hades what she was thinking.
Brody summoned an encouraging smile and spoke in the low, soothing voice he used on a skittish horse. “We’ll have the banns called on Boxing Day, and we can marry in a couple of weeks. I promise I’ll be a good husband. You’ll never regret saying yes.”
“Oh, that’s lovely,” Prudence said, clasping her hands over her bosom and sending Elspeth a misty smile. Diarmid looked ready to erupt with fury. Everyone else showed various degrees of surprise and curiosity.
To Brody’s consternation, Elspeth didn’t look anywhere near as delighted with his proposal as her sister did.