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may see me again."
    He'd let his breath out in a huff and smiled. "Good, then I will. And if we both like what we see, then we'll talk further."
    I'd felt my eyebrows lift in surprise. 'Then I will see you again before you return to Scotland?" "Aye, lass, and often if I have a say." We'd shared a smile.
    I stretched now and pulled the cover farther over my shoulder. I knew that Alex was not as uncomplicated as he appeared at first, but he fascinated me as no other man did. Certainly not Robert. Robert was also Scottish, but I had never thought of him as that, perhaps because he had lived most of his life in England and he and his Campbell cousins owned as many properties here as in Scotland.
    I smiled as I admitted to myself that it was delightful to have a man like Alex so vigorous in his pursuit of me. I could not say I was not intrigued. I had been unduly aware of how his lean legs stretched out, his shoulder touching mine occasionally, the way those blue eyes disarmed me. There was no doubt that physically he was immensely attractive and that his directness and humor were wonderfully refreshing. I had a sudden vision of me brushing that errant strand of hair back and leaning in to kiss him. Oh, no, I was not immune to Alex MacGannon. Nor, apparently, was he to me. I smiled at the thought.
    Louisa did not leave her room until late afternoon, and I wandered the house with Will and Betty. When Betty excused herself after luncheon for a nap, Will and I at last had a chance to talk alone, and I looked at my brother with affection. Often the buffoon, sometimes dictatorial and difficult, he was always a loving brother, and now he smiled at me. I was grateful he was here. "Your Highlander has written a note asking my permission to see you," he said, his expression curious as he fished a note from his waistcoat and handed it to me. "Louisa has received one as well, so it seems he's asking us both. What shall I tell him?" "He's not my Highlander, Will," I said crisply, as I read Alex's very proper note asking Will's permission to become better acquainted with your sister. He wrote with correct English spelling, but I could somehow hear the Scot's burr. "Tell him yes."
    "And what about Robert?"
    I looked up at my brother. "What about Robert?"
    "Do not be trying. Everyone assumes you are marrying."
    "If so, perhaps Robert should declare himself."
    His eyebrows rose. "You do not have an understanding?"
    "He has not asked me to marry him, if that's what you mean."
    "But I thought—"
    "Apparently, so does all of London. But a woman does not assume she's marrying unless something a little more formal happens."
    "Then Robert's a fool."
    "Perhaps. Or perhaps he is not as interested as you presume."
    "If he does not watch his back, Kilgannon will steal you away."
    "For heaven's sake, Will, do I not have some say in this? Robert has not asked me to marry him, nor, dear brother, has
    Lord Kilgannon. But if Kilgannon wishes to be in my company and I wish it also, he shall be. And at this moment I wish it."
    After a moment Will threw his head back and laughed. "Do you? I liked him too, which surprises me. I'd heard very different things of him than the man he appears to be. Louisa admits he's a bit of a surprise to her as well. Of course, she hasn't seen him in years. I daresay we've changed since childhood ourselves."
    "You haven't," I said, laughing.
    "Well, perhaps you're right." He laughed with me. "But, Mary" —fee" leaned forward—"shall I really tell Kilgannon
    yes?"
    "I'm not thinking of marrying him on the basis of one evening. Good heavens, Will, I just met him last night." I sighed. "But he is a fascinating man."
    "You spent the night with him in the dining room."
    "Not exactly," I said dryly.
    "Everyone was talking."
    "Of course." I shrugged, pretending to be unaffected. "But tomorrow they'll be talking about someone else."
    "Probably." He nodded, yawning, and then stood as Louisa swept into the room. She flitted around the table