‘Aye, she is a delight, as you said, and ravishing too. My God, I thought the London ladies were fair, but now I see such a vision before me, I am almost transported back there.’ Hew turned to Tara. ‘Some of us Scots have had the roguishness bred out of us. You will find that I am a far more civilised companion than many hereabouts, and you may always rely on me if you require aid.’ With a stiff bow and broad smile to her uncle, Hew moved off into the crowd. Uncle Ralph seemed to have rallied his good spirits.
‘What a splendid fellow, and he is very well set up here at Machrie.’
‘Yet he is still a Scot, and did you not denounce them all as ignorant louts, Uncle?’ said Tara, hating his hypocrisy.
‘Aye, but Hew is an ignorant lout with a vast estate to inherit. His father is one of the wealthiest lairds in the county, and nothing has been spared on Hew’s education. And he can pass muster in the most elegant of drawing rooms. He was struck by you, Tara. I can see it.’
‘He seems rather full of himself.’
‘As are all the sons of rich men.’ His expression soured. ‘You would do well to cultivate his favour, and since when were you particular of the company you keep?’ he snapped.
‘What do you mean?’
‘You know full well what I mean. That lout Callum Ross has been staring at you all evening. I see him lurking in the crowd with his eyes on you. I blame you for his lechery. You encouraged the likes of him and yet rebuff a fine gentleman like Hew Gordon.’
Tara’s patience snapped. She had endured quite enough of her uncle’s bullying. ‘He was too forward, and I do not care for Hew Gordon.’
‘Well, you should, is all I am saying,’ he muttered.
An awful thought slid into her mind. ‘You cannot be thinking of him as a husband for me, Uncle.’
Her uncle looked shifty for a moment and then glared at her. ‘I am not. But he is an influential man, is all I am saying, so do not disparage him again. When he comes back, try to be charming, Tara, for both our sakes.’
Tara gazed out at the dancing revellers in misery as several reels came and went, and Uncle Ralph fell silent beside her. Every now and then, she would catch a glimpse of Callum in the crowd, and when their eyes met, she looked away. She was the worst kind of coward, but an evening that had shown promise was quickly turning into an ordeal, and the thought of facing him was just too much to bear.
***
Bryce approached Callum and sighed. ‘Skulking about in corners again, Callum. What are we to do with you?’
‘Leaving me alone would be a start,’ he muttered.
‘This will not do. I see the delectable Tara Hennaut over there. Go and talk to her.’
‘She has been engaged all evening, talking to that slimy cousin of yours and before that, a redcoat officer. It seems she is not too particular about the company she keeps.’
‘With one notable exception - you. And that comment was beneath you, Callum, and untrue. Now I see the source of your black humour, and it is jealousy. Go and talk to her or anyone, in fact. I have observed you ignore any number of eager young ladies seeking to catch your eye. Instead, you prefer to stare at poor Tara Hennaut all night. When are you going to do something about it? I heard you sent her some chickens, so surely that will make her well-disposed to you?’
‘No, it has not. And I cannot talk to the lass, for she will not speak to me.’
‘And why is that?’
‘Leave it, Bryce. ‘Tis nothing. I made a mistake, that is all, and I need to make amends.’
‘Make amends. For what – kindness?’
‘I said leave it, Bryce,’ snarled Callum. ‘Go and find some lass to chase. I am bad company tonight.’
‘You have piqued my interest now. What is it you did?’
‘I will keep my counsel on that, but suffice to say it raised her uncle’s ire.’
‘That old hypocrite. I cannot stand the man. By day, he ingratiates himself with the Shaws, my Uncle Dunbar and other upstanding members of the county. And all to burrow into society, sniffing for advantage. And by night, he visits the gambling houses, brothels and taverns, drinking himself to a stupor, while his niece bides alone at Braecaple, prey to all manner of villains.’
Callum hung his head. ‘And I am one of those villains, for I have shamed her, and that was not my intention.’
Bryce raised his eyebrows and then clapped him on the back. ‘You hound. You stole a kiss, didn't you, or was it more shocking than that?’
‘Do not continue. I warn you.’