My Heart's in the Highlands by Angeline Fortin Read Free Book Online

displayed for life these days, the interest he paid her and affection he felt toward her that he’d never had time for in years past.  In many ways, she was closer to him now than she’d ever been.  “There are indeed, my lord.”
    “Enough of that, now.”  
    Hero looked up to find his brow furrowed.   “My lord?”
    “Aye, that.   I am Ian, my lady, if you would,” he insisted.  “I’m afraid I haven’t gotten used to being ‘my lord’-ed as yet.”
    “You will, my lord.”
    “But not yet.”
    Hero met his dark gaze.   Nothing would please her more than to say aloud the name that had been pounding in her mind since she had discovered it.  “Very well, Ian.”
     
    Ian watched Hero as she left his arm and greeted his butler, Boyle, warmly hugging the old man and pecking him on the cheek.  It was a display entirely improper for a marchioness, yet that impropriety charmed Ian thoroughly.
    “Welcome home, my lady. I am so pleased to see you much recovered since your arrival,” the starchy old butler offered in an affectionate voice that Ian had not been privy to since taking over the marquisate.  “The others and I were quite worried for you.”
    “ Thank you, Boyle,” she answered graciously.  “Please let everyone know how much I appreciate their concern.  I’m sure I will get around to seeing them all on the morrow, if they are all still here.  I am so glad to see that Lord Ayr kept you on when he arrived.  I had wondered.”
    “My lord made nary a change, my lady, since his arrival,” the butler returned as he stepped forward and pulled out a chair for her at the foot of the long dining table.  “Everyone will be glad to greet you on the morn.”
    “Please move Lady Ayr’s setting to join me at the head of the table, Boyle,” Ian suddenly commanded, startling the pair as well as himself.  At Hero’s inquiring look, he offered only a shrug.  “It makes no sense to sit so far away if there are only the two of us here.”
    “ I couldn’t agree more,” she smiled in return and journeyed up the long table to wait beside the chair that would be to his right.  Boyle hastened to please her, pulling out her chair and seating her before doing the same for the new marquis.
    Once they were seated, a pair of footmen poured their wine and Ian lifted his in toast. “Welcome home, Lady Ayr.”
    “ Thank you, my lord.” Hero tilted her glass and took a sip, her bright eyes questioning his over the rim.  “No changes?”
    “Who am I to change anything?” Ian responded lightly.   In truth, he hadn’t even considered dismissing the existing staff or engaging new ones an option.  He still had much to learn about being the marquis. 

Hero’s eyes danced in amusement then , and Ian wondered if she might be able to read his thoughts.  
 

Chapter Six
     
    At the back of Hero’s mind, Mikah was thinking that this was simply the craziest dream she’d ever had in her life and she mustn’t break character by bursting out in laughter over the absurdity of it all.  She’d never dreamed like this before, being another person with thoughts of her own, and her dreams had never before featured a scenario filled with characters so real, with memories and emotions attached to each one.  She thought of Mandy, Boyle, and her chambermaid, Nancy. Each was as familiar to her as if she had known them for years.  And she had a hundred, a thousand, memories of the Duke of Beaumont as well, each as vivid as her memories of her own dad. 
    The conflict ing memories had renewed her aching head over the course of the afternoon as she had tried once again to sort it out.  The fogginess had returned until Mikah reminded herself that if she simply relaxed and let Hero drive—so to speak—everything became much simpler.  The remainder of the day had been much easier.  Hero was a pretty conservative girl, Mikah thought, recalling how she had spent the afternoon following their arrival at the castle.