Chapter 16
Any moment now, the McDermott daughters were going to pinch each other and giggle. Riona frowned at them, but her expression made absolutely no difference to their silliness.
They acted as if they had never seen an attractive man before.
James’s bruises had faded over the last week until only a tinge of yellow appeared on one cheek.
Riona found herself wishing that he could have remained battered for a few more days, and then instantly felt ashamed of thinking such a horrible thought.
Mrs. Parker, meanwhile, was looking on fondly as if the two girls were precocious children instead of women old enough to have their own households.
Where was her censure? Her disapproval?
James, to his credit, appeared to pay them no heed, concentrating instead on his conversation with their father.
“I would appreciate it if you could assist me in this matter. I know it’s not a large vessel, but I had hoped to be able to use it for river traffic.”
“I would be more than happy to take a look at the design,” James was saying.
Mr. McDermott was always trying to increase his profits and had hit upon the idea of taking his produce to market using a water route.
Their neighbor had proved invaluable this last year.
He had loaned them his draft horse when one of theirs had gone lame, and some of his workers had come to help Ned from time to time.
The relationship between the two farms went back several decades.
The difference now being, of course, that Mr. McDermott was a widower.
Riona suspected he looked at her mother with the vision of joining the two farms.
She doubted, quite frankly, that there would ever be an alliance of land or marriage between her mother and their neighbor.
Mr. McDermott, kind as he might be, had a rather boisterous nature.
His laugh was so loud that the china in the cabinet seemed to shiver whenever he was amused.
Susanna treated him like a rather large puppy, kind yet firm.
Upon first meeting Mr. McDermott, Riona thought that his daughters’ characters must fade beneath his effusive nature. But instead of being shy, withdrawn women, both Rosalie and Caroline had distinct personalities.
Rosalie McDermott was one of those tiresome individuals who have an answer for everything.
Despite the fact that she had no experience or any knowledge, she offered a comment on everything from animal husbandry, planting uncultivated furrows, and sluice drainage, to a score of other farming subjects.
In addition, she professed superior awareness about Edinburgh despite the fact that the last time she’d visited the city was two years ago.
She was, she said to anyone who would listen, familiar with the fashions, the balls, the dinner parties.
In short, she had an opinion on anything.
Her sister, Caroline, was her opposite, but by no means a shadow of Rosalie.
While her older sister espoused to know everything, Caroline pretended to know nothing, cultivating a vacuousness she perceived as charming.
In addition, she batted her eyes at any available male in the vicinity.
Even Old Ned was not sacrosanct. She patted her bodice from time to time as if her heart were beating too fast in her chest and sighed dramatically like an actress on the stage.
Whenever anyone would ask her opinion, Caroline would sigh deeply and say, “I truly don’t know. What do you think?”
Now both of them were looking at James with greed in their eyes, as if they wanted to add him to their collection of suitors.
She, who had railed so fiercely against society’s rules, wanted to dictate a few of her own.
James truly should not smile in the presence of other women.
Not at the milkmaids or at Polly and certainly not at poor Abigail.
Or at strangers, either. Women became silly in the presence of his charm.
They lost their senses, evidently, choosing to giggle or stare wide-eyed at him.
Riona wished she could say something, anything to dissuade them from staring at him so, but she was constrained to silence by good manners and one thing more.
He wasn’t hers. He never would be. The knowledge was like a blow to her midriff.
He wasn’t hers. He never would be. Maybe if she repeated that to herself endlessly, she might be able to act with some decorum around him.
She concentrated on her plate, the silverware, the damask tablecloth. Anything but across the table at him.
A kiss did not bind them. Even though it was a kiss like no other.
But, oh, it was so difficult to sit here and watch as other women admired him, knowing that she could never claim him as her own.
She had no right to frown at Rosalie McDermott.
Or change the subject, or chastise either of them for their simpering looks and small, coy smiles.
Had she acted as foolishly?
“Perhaps you might come and visit me tomorrow?” Gorman McDermott said.
“I would be pleased to,” James said, glancing at Susanna. Her smile was approval enough.
What task did he feel so honor-bound to perform for her mother? She’d agreed to refrain from asking, but she was still curious. Where had he learned his courtly manners? In Paris where someone, no doubt a woman, had taught him to dance?
Rosalie and Caroline were smiling and cooing at James, looking as if he were a sweetmeat and they starving urchins.
But who was she to remark upon their forwardness? She had been guilty of her own wanton behavior.
If anything, she should feel remorse that she’d allowed him to kiss her, feel some sort of regret that it had happened.
Or guilt that she felt nothing of the sort and might possibly do it again if the opportunity presented itself.
What type of woman was she, that she couldn’t cease thinking about it?
“You are very quiet this evening,” Mrs. Parker remarked in an aside to her.
The older woman’s color was high, and she looked inordinately healthy.
No doubt from being abed this past week.
“Are you feeling ill? One can hardly tell with that brown color you’ve acquired.
Buttermilk and lemon juice applied three times day, and especially at night, will help fade your skin.
I doubt Mr. McDougal will find himself pleased to be married to a little brown berry. ”
Riona smiled her assent. In actuality, she didn’t care what Harold thought of her complexion.
“You’re looking a little drab,” Mrs. Parker continued.
“Some color would not be amiss. A pretty little bow in your hair, for example. Flowers like your sister is wearing.” Maureen’s hairstyle was interspersed with tiny daisies.
But then, Maureen’s hair didn’t have to be tamed as hers did.
If she wore daisies in her hair, Riona was certain that she would look ridiculous, rather than fetching.
But Mrs. Parker wasn’t finished with her, it seemed. “You should really try to be more animated, my dear,” she whispered. “All this silence gives you a sullen disposition. Surely you have something to contribute to the conversation. Something that doesn’t have to do with barnyards or animals.”
James glanced in her direction and then away, making her wonder if he’d overheard Mrs. Parker’s whispered remarks.
“Tyemorn Manor is such a pretty little place,” Rosalie said. “Picturesque in its way. Have you given any thought to cultivating the meadow in front of the manor?”
Susanna looked startled at the question and only shook her head.
“I should, if I were you. You might wish to plant potatoes there.”
Susanna nodded again, but didn’t comment. No doubt she considered a view of rows and rows of potato mounds somewhat lacking, Riona thought.
“Will you be taking your daughters to Edinburgh?” Mrs. Parker asked, directing her attention to Gorman.
Riona stifled a smile. Her mother’s plan was working.
“I do so wish to see Edinburgh again,” Rosalie said. “There are a series of charming shops that have exquisite fabrics. On my recommendation, of course. I told them that they needed to stock more lawns and laces.”
Maureen made some polite comment while Riona resisted the urge to yawn.
“Riona, I would be more than happy to show you my last selection. In fact, we can plan a day when the seamstress will be working. She and I are finishing up the details of an exquisite ball gown that I designed. Will you not come and let me show you?” Rosalie surveyed her from her chin to her toes, her expression leaving no doubt of what she felt about Riona’s yellow and blue silk dress.
“Perhaps we can find something in a color that flatters you.”
Riona nodded politely. An unexpected blessing of being married and living in Edinburgh, she’d never have to see Rosalie again.
A little while later, dinner was finally over and they retired to the parlor, the men joining them. Mrs. Parker bemoaned the lack of amusements, while the McDermott girls entertained themselves by crowding around James.
“You will never guess who I saw in Ayleshire, Maureen,” Caroline was saying. “Agnes Haversham. She’s the girl I told you about who’s gone to live in Inverness. She’s back for a visit. You must meet her.”
“The horse fair doesn’t last long, but it attracts a fair number of visitors,” Mr. McDermott was telling James. “A great deal of horseflesh gets sold in our small village.”
“Lethson is the most wonderful ceremony. Although, as I told the elders,” Rosalie was saying, “perhaps it would be better to have it in the early spring, before planting season.”
Riona wanted to ask, but didn’t, why Rosalie thought they would listen to her since the celebration was held because of the summer solstice, the longest day of the year.
Which occurred in June, not April. Mrs. Parker was effectively dealt with by ignoring her, a fact that made the older woman cross.