My Heart's in the Highlands by Angeline Fortin (ebook reader screen TXT) 📕

she wanted him to appreciate her every facet, notmislead him into thinking she was something she was not. “Lord Ayr… Ian, I could perhaps be of assistance to you, if you’d like.”

“In what way?”

“Robert was very fond of Cuilean. He lovedit, in fact, but he wasn’t fond of running it. The accounting boredhim to tears and he disliked dealing with the tradespeople, theconflicts between the gamekeeper and the orchard’s gardeners or thepark’s groundskeeper’s disputes with the grooms exercising thehorses on the lawns.”

“And?”

“I could assist Jennings in familiarizing youwith the estate’s operations.”

Hero could feel Ian’s eyes on her, studyingher solemnly, but refused to return his gaze. Let him think what hewould, she thought defiantly. She was a smart woman and proud ofher accomplishments!

“I would be pleased for any assistance youmight offer,” he said at length, and it was Hero’s turn to studyhis profile as they emerged from the southerly end of the hedgesand continued toward the more informal pleasure gardens. He seemedserene enough, but Hero couldn’t decide if he was genuinelyaccepting her offer or merely patronizing her.

“I ran this estate for almost seven years,you know,” she told him huffily.

“That long?”

“I could be a real help to you.”

“I believe you. That’s why I accepted youroffer.”

Hero inhaled sharply, ready to defend herposition, but before she could speak, she caught the twinkle in hiseye and the hint of a dimple on his cheek. “You’re teasing me,” sheaccused.

“Only inasmuch as I find your indignationamusing.”

“But I could truly help you.”

Ian stopped and pulled Hero to a halt aswell. “Look at me, Hero.” She lifted her gaze to meet his. Thelaughter still lingered in his eyes but there was sincerity there.He repeated gently, “I believe you. That’s why I accepted youroffer.”

“Really?” she asked skeptically.

“Did I simply acquiesce too easily?” heteased. “Were you expecting me to interview you ruthlessly orrequire some demonstration of your knowledge or perhaps even awritten recommendation before I accepted your word on thematter?”

He had given in too easily, Heroadmitted to herself. She had been prepared to argue her suitabilityto the task before he accepted, just as she’d had to with Robertbefore he finally let her sit in with Jennings. The new marquis wascertainly an unusual man, to have agreed without a more substantialestablishment of her skills. Hero shook her head in disbelief, anaction Ian misinterpreted.

“You were, don’t deny it,” he scolded withlaughter in his voice.

“I won’t say anything more on the subjectother than to offer my thanks,” she responded primly. “I will trynot to disappoint you.”

“I doubt you could even if you tried.”

Hero looked back at him curiously, but Ianwas now refusing to look at her.

“You know, I’ve ridden my horse across thelawns a dozen times since I’ve been here,” Ian told her, changingthe subject. “I suppose I oughtn’t have done that. I would not wishto upset the groundskeeper.”

Hero just smiled, realizing that Ian wasquite adept at changing the subject. “You are the laird. It is yourright to ride your horse anywhere you’d like.”

“Through the gardens?”

“If you chose to.”

“In the library?”

With a false shudder, Hero shook her heademphatically. “Never there! Even I wouldn’t brave Mrs. Potts’swrath by marring her floors.”

“She is quite fierce, isn’t she?”

“Terrifying.”

Hero smiled and received Ian’s mischievousgrin in return. With a sigh, she thought how nice it was to feel asif a man valued her intellect and truly seemed to like her. Not thesocial façade one donned in company but the woman she truly was. Helaughed at her jests, teased her playfully, and showed a pleasingconfidence in her intelligence. It was … nice. That he seemed tofind her as physically appealing as she found him was an addedwindfall.

Slipping into a companionable silence, Heroallowed Ian to lead her to the south end of the formal gardens,where a moss-covered stone archway and low wall announced theirarrival at the pleasure gardens. While the front lawns of thecastle were very tidy and structured, these terraced gardens were ariot of pathways winding about a cacophony of flowering beds, tallstatuary, small fountains, and draping willows. The facing walls ofeach level that rose back toward the firth to their right weredripping with clematis and other climbers.

Soon, Ian was inquiring about the gardens andtheir origins as they meandered through them, showing a surprisingknowledge of the flora and fauna that they came across. He was ableto name so many more varieties than Hero was even while he drew theduke along with them, making sure her father didn’t wander off andonce or twice reminding Beaumont of his name.

When Beaumont stopped at a fountain to diphis handkerchief in the water and mop his face with it, Ian stoodby her father’s side and did the same. He agreed heartily with theduke that the nudity of the woman portrayed on the fountain’sstatuary was indeed a most envious state, though he calmly offeredthat perhaps they should refrain from imitating the goddess lestthey offend Hero’s more delicate sensibilities.

Hero bit back a smile at that, surprisingherself with the thought that the sight of Ian in the nude wouldn’toffend her at all.

It was another surprisingly hot day, mostunusual for Scotland, even in June. The sun pierced through Hero’slace parasol, and bees buzzed lazily as the trio wove their wayalong the many pathways that wound through the acres of gardens.She wished she were able to loosen her clothing the way the menwere able to, still she couldn’t seem to stop smiling despite herdiscomfort. Ian was such a kind man to be so patient with herfather. The duke could be a trying personality these days, yet Ianaccepted him and even played into the conversation in a way thatdelighted the duke and tugged at Hero’s heartstrings.

“Daughter,” Beaumont began, breaking throughthe hum of summer pleasantly surrounding them, “I thought you saidthere were swans here.”

“Yes, Papa, we will see them soon.”

“Swans?” Ian echoed.

“Haven’t you been to the swan pond yet?”

“I have a swan pond?” he asked with playfulsurprise.

“Where did you say you had ridden all thosetimes this past month?”

Ian grinned broadly. “The library, Ibelieve.”

“Six hundred acres of property and you hadn’teven made it into these gardens yet? I shall simply have to takeyou