Some Like It Scot by Donna Kauffman Read Free Book Online Page A

stained glass arched windows of the church that looked out over the garden. If there were family members inside, watching her…he wondered what they thought of him. His appearance. Not to mention their conversation, complete with hand-holding. Perhaps the fact that they were sitting and talking, which meant she wasn’t running away as yet, was enough to keep them at bay.
    Very abruptly, she slipped her hand from his and stood. “This is silly. Sitting out here being ‘a petulant sulk’ as Cricket so kindly called me, is only delaying the inevitable.”
    He stood. “Who is Cricket?” And why is it inevitable, he wanted to ask. But did not.
    â€œBlaine’s mother.” The bride gave a small shudder. “Trust me when I say she’s not remotely chirpy, so I don’t know where the nickname came from. I’m just thankful I never got saddled with one. One that stuck.”
    He tilted his head and folded his arms. “Now you have to tell me.”
    â€œTell you what?”
    â€œWhich ones didnae stick?” He held up one hand, briefly. “Before you accuse me of mockery, please be aware that we in the U.K. invented the hideously unfortunate nickname.”
    She folded her arms, heedless of the veil she was crushing, her tone amused when she spoke. “I’ll tell you mine if you tell me yours.”
    â€œI don’t believe I mentioned that I had one. I was speaking on behalf of my countrymen, and all our forebears who bore the brunt of such names as Squibs, Blinker, Duckie. Those are merely in my immediate branch of the auld tree.”
    She couldn’t entirely stifle the snicker.
    â€œSee?” he said. “Your turn.”
    â€œMine aren’t nearly so…auspicious. I have a number of names in addition to my surname, so plenty to play with. Among them Katherine and Georgina. Family names.”
    â€œBoth beautiful.”
    She smiled. “Thank you. Could definitely have been worse. But the nicknames just didn’t suit.” She sighed, then said, “Mostly various forms of Gigi and Kiki, all trotted out early on during my childhood and tried on for size.”
    â€œHardly torturous, but how did you keep them from sticking?”
    â€œI don’t recall, actually, but my grandfather told me I simply refused to answer to them.”
    â€œSmart and confident, even as a child. Good for you.”
    â€œSmart, perhaps.” She glanced at the church, and he could see a slight slump in her spine, even as she squared her shoulders. “As for the rest, well, I’m apparently still working on that part.” She looked back at him and he could see the red lips curving more broadly, though her eyes were in shadows behind the tulle. “I should get inside—before I’ve used up whatever leverage I have left. I’m sure I’ll need it just to get through the rest of today.”
    â€œAre you certain?”
    â€œI’ve never been less certain of anything in my life. But I am certain my life will be made exponentially more miserable if I don’t. And I don’t want to hurt Blaine. He’s counting on me. And, this way, I’m in some position of power.” She took a step away from him and fluffed out her skirts, then straightened her veil, finally managing to extricate her ring finger from the netting. “Even if it’s power I have absolutely zero interest in wielding,” she added, more to herself, than to him.
    She took another step, shook out a few more folds, then turned back to him. The sun chose that moment to shift out from behind a small cloud and beam directly upon her. She was radiant, bathed in the soft yellow glow. “You’re a beautiful bride,” he said. Truly the most stunning vision he’d ever seen. He felt that odd clutch again. “I wish there was more I could offer.”
    She stared at him. “You’ve offered more than you know.”
    Before he