Chapter 9
CHAPTER NINE
"What can I do for ye, Lord Windham?" Hugh asked, frowning at the sight of the man.
Though he knew that Anna was a proper lady, part of him had hoped that she'd be the one knocking on his door. The woman was tempting as sin. He craved time alone with her in a way that made him feel as though he were crazed.
Anna's father cleared his throat, as though sensing Hugh's focus was somewhere else entirely. He was standing stiffly, and Hugh had a vague suspicion that he was trying to ignore the way he'd reacted when Hugh first arrived.
"Please, you can call me Timothy," he said, still standing on the other side of the threshold. "We'll be family in a few days, after all."
"I suppose ye're right," Hugh replied, then he glanced around the hallway behind him. "Did ye need somethin'?"
The English and their propensity for pleasantries grated on Hugh. Still, he was a guest in this home. If he had to ask several times to get a straight answer, he would do so. And he'd do his best to hide his annoyance in the process.
The politeness with Timothy is purely for Anna's sake, though. She's me future wife. This man will be me faither-in-law. If he were anyone else, I wouldnae hold me tongue so.
"I do," Timothy confirmed. "May I come in?"
"Aye," Hugh said, stepping aside and letting the door close behind. "Now, what is the reason for yer visit? It cannae be a social call."
"You're correct," Timothy said, glancing around the chambers. "I've come to inform you that there will be an engagement party the day before you leave. Anna has insisted and is preparing invitations as we speak. Your attendance is mandatory."
"Well, ye cannae have an engagement party without both of the engaged, aye?" Hugh joked.
Timothy looked at him blankly. It seemed as though he was still unhappy about the way things had turned out. And, Hugh realized, the politeness Timothy had been extending to him was also purely for Anna's sake.
"I will be there," Hugh said, shifting back to his polite demeanor. "Is there anythin' I need to ken? Anythin' that will be expected of me at this gatherin'?"
"Aside from your attendance, you will need to be polite," Timothy said. "We expect you to keep to appropriate conversation topics and to refrain from being too loud. We also expect you to dress appropriately."
Hugh pretended that the implication didn't grate on him. He'd heard that the English had preconceived notions of the Scottish, though he hadn't been prepared to be chastised for something he'd yet to have done. Aside from his initial arrival, he'd been a fairly good houseguest.
Though Hugh wouldn't be surprised if Timothy had heard about his midnight trip to the kitchens. It wasn't as if he were being loud or inappropriate. Perhaps he should have asked for the bread and milk, but it hadn't felt that important at the time. It wasn't as if he'd been caught with Anna.
"Aye, I'll be on me best behavior," Hugh promised gruffly. "It's important to Anna, nay?"
"It is," Timothy confirmed. Then, before he turned to leave, he said, "I will get together the documents for Anna's dowry.
We'll meet about them tomorrow morning. Once the ceremony is completed, you'll be entitled to the money.
I will send you off with a bulk of it. The rest will be paid in installments. "
"That sounds agreeable," Hugh said with a nod.
"Excellent." Timothy started toward the door. "We will meet in the drawing room after breakfast to work through the final details."
With that, Timothy left Hugh in his chambers. When the latch clicked, Hugh dropped into an uncomfortable chair that was angled near the fire. He stared into it, a half-amused smile finding its way to his mouth.
Well, it seems as though me next few days here will be filled with stuffy English activities.
The annoyance would be worth the headache it introduced. Clan McDonald seemed perpetually low on funds. Hugh was doing what he could to bring more money in, but the repairs that the castle needed posed a significant strain. The dowry Hugh received would cover that expense.
He sat there, staring into the fire for hours, going over the events of the day. He hadn't expected to like Anna so much. After their walk today, he couldn't help but feel even more connected to her. The bonnie thing was well on her way to working her way into his heart.
Hugh stayed in his chair as the day faded into nighttime.
Despite the length of his day and the exhaustion of planning the wedding, he still didn't feel tired.
Being away from his castle had made him restless.
He was ready to return, to ensure that things were still running as smoothly as they had been when he left.
"Ach, I'll lose me mind if I stay in here awake all night," he said to the empty room, pushing himself to his feet.
Stepping to the door, he listened to the sounds of the manor.
He heard no one, not even the staff shuffling through quietly.
After confirming that he wouldn't run into anyone, he let himself out for a short walk.
He assumed that a quick change of scenery would be conducive to lulling him to sleep when he returned to his chambers.
As he walked through the darkness, he realized he was drifting closer to the kitchens.
A part of him hoped that he'd run into Anna there.
It was a strange thing that he now looked forward to her company.
When he came to England, he didn't have any expectations of romance; she was simply a means to an end.
That belief felt a bit absurd now that he was getting to know Anna. She was a wonderful, bonnie lass. He'd even venture to say he was honored to be making her his. The dowry was certainly the draw at first, but he found that he couldn't help but be drawn to her personality, her perfect form.
He walked into the kitchen, being as quiet as he could. When he didn't see Anna there as he had the other night, he was surprised at how disappointed he felt. Under his breath, he murmured, "That sassenach is doin' somethin' to me head."
After grabbing himself some fresh bread, Hugh made his way back to his room. While he went, he wondered when his thoughts on the lass had changed. Truthfully, it might have been the moment he laid eyes on her, the moment that she fainted and he caught her, feeling her soft body against his.
Ach, I daenae ken how long I'll be able to behave around her.
Though if the way she looked at him was any indication of her feelings, Hugh didn't think she'd be able to keep her hands to herself either.
Anna was buzzing with excitement on the day of the engagement party. As she dressed herself, she agonized over the correct jewelry, the way her hair lay, and the curl of her eyelashes. The dress she wore was new, something that her seamstress had been working on for days.
With one final look in her mirror, she tucked away a stray strand of hair and left her chambers. She made her way to the guest room where Hugh had been staying. While they'd agreed to meet outside the ballroom, she was simply too excited to see him to wait.
She knocked on the door, getting a gruff, "One moment," in response from him.
Nearly a minute later, he opened the door.
Her breath caught in her throat when she took in his appearance.
The doublet he wore was buttoned, but a wisp of chest hair stuck out from the top, and it stretched across his broad shoulders, showing off his muscular form.
And, when her eyes drifted lower, she saw the kilt.
His calves were well-defined. Hugh seemed to be made of pure muscle.
"Ach, daenae tell me the Englishmen are goin' to faint when they see me," Hugh said with a laugh. "Ye're starin', Anna."
"I…" She swallowed hard, realizing that she'd been holding her mouth open. "Sorry, I just wasn't expecting you to look so… nice."
"Yer faither made it very clear I was to be presentable," he replied, smirking at her. "And ye look temptin', Anna. Cannae believe that ye're goin' to be me wife."
"You… Hugh!" she exclaimed, her face flaming. That feeling from the walk, the warmth in her stomach, was back with a vengeance. Her voice was a little shaky when she said, "You cannot just say such things!"
"I cannae compliment me bride?" he asked, taking a step closer to her. "Ye have nay idea what ye've been doin' to me since I arrived. Ye look so enticin' in that gown." His finger trailed along her side. "It may be crass of me to say, but ye'd look even better without it."
The comment left Anna sputtering, unable to form a proper thought.
Even after Hugh withdrew his touch, she felt the ghost of the contact through her bodice.
Gooseflesh had erupted on her arms, and her heart felt as if it were in her throat.
The sensation in her stomach intensified and spread down between her legs.
With a smirk, Hugh said, "Is it about time for the two of us to grace the guests with our attendance?"
"Ye–yes," Anna said, forcing the way her body reacted out of her mind. "But if you don't like it, you're free to hide away in the library. I doubt anyone will be looking for you. After your initial greetings with those I've invited, you may leave."
"Ye think a borin' party is too much for me?
" he asked, offering her his arm. "I've fought, I lead people, I sit through council meetings that would put most to sleep.
Yer stuffy English engagement party doesnae scare me.
Besides, I think I'll quite enjoy seein' the way people react to me appearance.
This isnae the traditional garb that ye wear, nay? "
"No," Anna said, hooking her arm with his but staying still for a moment. His proximity was both a comfort and intoxicating. "I do think it might come as a surprise to some of those in attendance."
Hugh grunted, though Anna could tell he was amused. As he began walking them toward the ballroom, he said, "Perhaps ye can memorize their faces and recount them for me later."
"You did find my impression of Charlotte's expression quite humorous, didn't you?"
"Aye," he said, slowing their steps as if to savor each moment they spent together. "Ye're quite talented at impressions. I would have thought ye took her face and put it upon yers."
"Then I'll do my very best to memorize the way others react to you," she said, an air of playful teasing in her tone. "We'll meet afterward, and I'll tell you everyone's name along with the face they made when they saw you."
"I'm lookin' forward to it," Hugh said as they turned down the main hallway. "And ye daenae have to worry. I'm nae goin' to run from some prim and proper engagement party. I will be there with ye the entire time. I'm yer husband to be. I willnae leave ye to deal with a party on yer own."
Anna swallowed hard, blinking away the excess emotion threatening to spill from her eyes.
When she'd come up with the scheme that sparked Hugh coming to England and proposing, she hadn't dreamed that it would lead to someone truly choosing her.
She'd hoped only to win some friends; now she was to be Lady McDonald, to be married to a man who defended her and complimented her.
"Thank you," she said quietly as they continued to approach the ballroom. Music was filtering in now, getting louder with each step they took toward the party. "I am proud that I'll be Lady McDonald."
"As am I," Hugh said, as they got closer. "Now, let's attend this engagement party. I want all of these Englishmen and women to see me smart and beautiful bride."