‘Who?’ said Tara.
‘Why, Orla Munro, that’s who.’
Tara gazed at the splendid couple who had just made an entrance. The woman was a statuesque blonde, her belly swollen with child, and the man beside was black-haired and striking in a hawkish way. Dunbar Gordon was bowing rather stiffly at them.
‘That is Dunbar’s daughter, and they are not on the best of terms,’ hissed Morag. ‘And her brother Hew is that fine fellow over there – the blonde, handsome one staring at us now.'
Tara gave the man a cursory glance. Indeed he was staring, most insolently, in their direction. And he was handsome, in a groomed kind of way, but she failed to see the resemblance with Orla Munro. She turned back to Fenella. ‘I wonder at her estrangement from her father?’
‘Oh, Orla is horrid, my dear. She turned out very wild, and then she married that villain Wolfric Munro, so there’s no redeeming her now, for Dunbar and Wolfric hate each other. I wonder at them getting an invitation. Perhaps Dunbar wants to build bridges. But honestly, how can any respectable woman come into company when she is so far along? It is not seemly.’
‘I think she looks very well, and her husband is fearfully handsome,’ said Tara with a burst of defiance.
‘Aye, tis true Wolfric is easy on the eye. But he never wanted her, and he rues the day. It is shocking indeed, but Wolfric won her in a horse race. Her father offered her as a prize, no less, just to be rid of her. No one expected Wolfric Munro to win the race and so there was much consternation all round when he did.’
‘As if Orla Gordon could ever be a prize to anyone,’ scoffed Morag.
‘A horrible harridan is Orla Munro, and no lady to be sure,’ hissed Fenella.
‘And her marriage was a terrible patched-up affair,’ said Morag. She cupped a hand to her face and proceeded to spill all the details of a so-called affair between Orla Munro and a redcoat officer.
‘So the redcoats cannot be trusted, even the officers?’ said Tara.
‘Oh, they are the worst,’ said Fenella. ‘Stationed up here with no decent female company, they can be most ardent in their pursuit of the ladies. You had better watch out, Tara, stuck up at Braecaple all alone and at their mercy.’ She giggled. ‘Especially when the handsome Lieutenant Forster comes calling.’
‘I am not alone. My uncle is with me.’
They all giggled again, and Tara willed herself away from them and their spite and foolishness.
Chapter Nine
Tara was staring at Callum’s back, willing him to turn around, when her uncle appeared at her side. The ladies melted away. Accompanying him was a burly young man with an eager expression and blonde hair flopping into his eyes. While he had a pleasing face, it was rather bland and smug.
‘Tara, may I introduce Hew Gordon, son of our esteemed host.’
It was the man who had been staring at them. He gave a courtly bow and a flourish of his hand. ‘Charmed, Miss Hennaut, utterly charmed,’ he gushed, taking her hand and kissing it, his mouth lingering a little too long for decency.
Tara tugged it free. ‘I am pleased to make your acquaintance, Mr Gordon.’
‘Hew has recently returned from London to assist his father with his affairs, and I am sure you will have much in common,’ said Uncle Ralph. ‘Now, if you will excuse me, I have business to discuss.’ He rushed off, leaving her alone with Hew Gordon.
‘How do you find the Highlands, Miss Hennaut?’ said Hew, not at all nonplussed at her uncle’s departure, though Tara’s face burned with embarrassment.
‘Oh, very wild, yet they are beautiful too, in a harsh way.’
‘Aye, it can be brutal in winter, yet spring is almost upon us. I must admit I did enjoy my time in the south with its gentler climes. And you bide at Braecaple?’
‘In a cottage nearby, for the main house is in sore need of repairs.’ Hew Gordon nodded, staring into her eyes, and Tara looked down at her feet. ‘We shall soon move to the big house, I am sure.’
‘Aye, so I heard.’
What did he hear? What had her Uncle been saying?
Hew moved closer and put his mouth to her ear. ‘But I am sure you will find yourself in a more comfortable situation as soon as may be.’ He bowed and kissed her hand again. ‘It is what a beauty such as you deserves.’
‘Mr Gordon, I am not sure that is seemly of you, and I….’
‘Call me Hew, please. And forgive me. It is just that you have brightened a rather dismal homecoming.’