The Highlander's Yuletide Love by Alicia Quigley Read Free Book Online Page A

not in my work.”
    “On the
contrary, Lady Sophia, I am very much looking forward to the experience.” Ranulf
glanced at her, his gaze enigmatic.
    “There, you see!”
said Harriet triumphantly. “Isobel and I shall arrange an evening that suits
you. How fun it shall be!”
    “Indeed.” Ranulf
bowed again. “Thank you for the invitation.”
    Francis stepped
forward. “Perhaps we should be on our way now, Ranulf.” He turned to Isobel. “I
came here to tell you that we are off to Tattersall’s. Stirling tells me that
Berksville is selling several hacks and a very well set up pair.”
    “Tattersall’s!”
exclaimed Harriet. “You must speak with my stepson, Lord Kincraig, about your
horses some time, Colonel Stirling. He was quite voluble in regard to your
skills as a horseman. I fear you have quite cast Exencour here into the shade.”
    To Isobel’s
astonishment, Ranulf smiled again at Harriet. “I would be delighted to speak
with Kincraig. I’m sure there will be time to answer his questions when I have
the pleasure of dining with you.”
    Harriet beamed. “Thank
you! How glad I am to have met you, Colonel Stirling.”
    “Your sentiments
are reciprocated, Lady Glencairn.” Ranulf bowed to her again. He turned to
Sophy. “Good afternoon, Lady Sophia.”
    “Colonel
Stirling.” Sophy inclined her head frigidly.
    The gentlemen
strolled from the room, and scarcely had the door closed behind them, than
Harriet burst into speech.
    “What a
delightful man! Sophy, I have no idea how you can think him disagreeable! Such
excellent manners, such a presence, and surely you noticed how very handsome he
is.”
    “My taste must
be deficient, I suppose,” said Sophy.
    “I’ve never
known it to be so, but in this case I must agree with Isobel!” Harriet shook
her head. “You were so cold to the colonel, Sophy, that it bordered on ill-mannered.
He will think you do not like him.”
    “The colonel
appears to be receiving plenty of admiration from you and Isobel,” responded
Sophy. “I doubt he has need of mine as well. He may flirt with you, Mama, as
much as he pleases, but I have no intention of adding to his self-regard.”
    Isobel laughed. “I
suppose we must allow Sophy to have her own opinion. In time she may come to
like Colonel Stirling a bit better.”
    “She will have
the opportunity when he comes to dinner,” said Harriet. “How charming that will
be. Douglas will be overjoyed.”
    “Mama, you
cannot mean for him to see my paintings,” said Sophy.
    “Of course I do.
What harm can it do, child? He is well-traveled, and might have some excellent
advice for you.”
    “But I don’t
wish him to see them!” To her chagrin, Sophy realized that she was speaking far
more vehemently than she should.
    “Why ever not? You
cannot tell me you wish to be a painter and then tell me that you do not wish
others to see your work!”
    “I think that,
perhaps, it is not others, but rather Colonel Stirling whom Sophy objects to,”
said Isobel.
    “Nonsense,” said
Harriet firmly. “It can do no harm.”
    Sophy, realizing
that Isobel was looking at her in a quizzical way, subsided. “Very well.”
    “You see?” asked
Harriet brightly. “Shall we be on our way?”

Chapter 7
    Outside, Francis
and Ranulf strolled down Audley Street on their way to Tattersall’s, stopping
now and again to greet an acquaintance. They talked of mutual friends and
horses for some minutes, until eventually Francis’s curiosity got the better of
him.
    “You were very
friendly to Lady Glencairn,” he said.
    Ranulf raised
his eyebrows. “She seems to be a pleasant woman, and I know she is your wife’s
cousin and dear friend. Would you have preferred me to insult her?”
    Francis laughed.
“Not at all. But you have made it clear that you have no interest in attending
parties, so I was startled when you accepted her invitation to dinner.”
    “One informal
dinner with your friends will be no hardship. It would be impossible to