‘And you are loathsome and just like all the rest. You are always staring at me, devouring me with your eyes, and I hate it.’
‘Very well, I will no longer devour you with my admiration. We are done with this dance, and I am done putting a haughty bitch on a pedestal.’
‘Go on then. Go and chase after Jennet Ferguson.’
‘What?’
‘She likes you. She said as much this very evening. Go and bother her instead.’
‘I might just do that. It would make a pleasant change speaking to a woman who actually gives me the time of day.’
‘Why should I give you anything, Callum? You…you took liberties with me, and you shout at me and force me away from my uncle, and now we are here alone, which is not proper.’
Tara’s voice shook, and Callum realised that she was frightened of him and probably with good reason, for he could barely contain his rage. He took a breath to steady himself. ‘I did not mean to frighten or shame you, lass. And as to that day in the barn….’
‘Oh, do not speak of it.’
‘I must, for that day, I felt you wanted me as much as I wanted you. I was carried away by my feelings. Was I wrong? Do you esteem me or not?’
‘I hear such differing opinions about you that I don’t know what to think,’ she cried.
‘Oh, I see. You have made out my character from that pompous bladder, Hew Gordon. Who the hell is he to judge me, nought but an arrogant lecher who sucks his father dry? And I am sure Fenella and her pack of mewling cats gave a good account of me.’
‘Not good, Laird Ross. A bad account, in fact. An account which I contradicted. I defended your virtues. More fool me.'
‘I am gratified to see that I have some in your eyes. But hear this. I care not for the good opinion of a haughty English lass who is a bit free with her favours.’
‘How dare you. What you saw was not of my choosing. I was trying to push Hew off.’
‘Well, you seemed to be doing a woeful job of it when I happened upon you, and I am not sure what I saw.’
Callum’s jealousy was about to explode into lust. He wanted Tara. His desire burned in his loins, it flared with every harsh word out of her mouth, and now it was out of control. Instead of throwing her down on the bed and taking her, his lust came out as anger.
‘It is time someone humbled you, Tara Hennaut. God knows your situation demands it. It would do you good to come down to the base level with the rest of us, and then you might not listen to the opinions of lechers and dim-wits nor sell yourself to the highest bidder.’
‘Sell myself?’
‘Aye, it was the talk of the gathering. There is some scheme afoot, and it is not in your best interests, lass.’
‘Do not call me lass as though we are friends.’
‘Alright, but friend or not, I must speak the cruel truth, and you must know it to protect yourself. Hew was telling his friends at the gathering that you had consented to become his mistress. I overheard them speaking.’
‘No. Why are you saying that? It is a vile suggestion, and I would never agree to that.’
‘Apparently, you have, and it is with your uncle’s blessing. Do you think Hew would have tried to seduce you like that without it? I cannot say I blame you, lass, for you have fallen far, and you could have a life of ease and plenty with Hew’s wealth, that is, if you can stand to let him touch you.’
‘I would never entertain such a notion.’
‘Well, gossip would have it otherwise, and your uncle too.’
‘Gossip can go to hell, and so can you, and I will hear no more of your lies. Go away and leave me in peace.’
‘I’m not going anywhere until I’ve a mind to,’ said Callum, unnerving her with his steady gaze.
Tara turned to the fire and gazed at the dancing flames, thinking of hellfire and damnation. When she cast her mind back to the awful events of the evening, she could not deny that her Uncle had encouraged her to be alone with Hew. And he had said that she was to be provided for.
‘Think on it, lass,’ said Callum. ‘Think about what your uncle has to gain by this arrangement. He is rumoured to have sold Braecaple and everything on it to the Gordon’s, including you.’