Either the dim lighting and the fact that it was dark outside had something to do with it, or maybe Connor was just being around this redheaded beauty for too long without knowing anything about her. While he did not indulge in over imbibing of whiskey, beer, or wenches in general, the first in command was well sought after by girls within and around the MacKenzie Keep. His dark-as-sin looks probably played a part in it, but being left in the dark for so long regarding one girl for so long was definitely something Connor was not used to.
So when her green eyes turned mildly panicked at the sudden reminder that she was quite scandalously alone with him in this room, an amused smirk picked up the corner of his lips. "We've spent multiple nights together, gealbhan. Are you turning missish on me now?"
"Those were different!" she retorted, flame making her hair seemed even brighter at her protest. Connor held back a laugh, and instead turned his laughing eyes on her. "How so? Technically we were alone, at night, in the dark. Like now. I don't see a difference."
"Oh don't be impossible! No one else knew we were alone then. Now we just-we had just came-I mean-"
"Oh, so you like to remain unknown by others? That can be arranged, of course." he was having far too much fun teasing her, but oh how fetching she looked now all frustrated with her lips pursed and red creeping up her neck. He suddenly decided that he could probably do this all day, if given the chance.
"Insufferable-ow!"
"Did I hurt you? Where is that salve?" All teasing grins gone when she winced as he brushed against her angry red skin, worry overwhelming Connor again. He quickly dipped the towel in the cold water and draped it across her skin again, just as the door opened to reveal Hammond, and the one he knew as Lady Evelyn.
"Hammond, who was at the door?"
"A duke, apparently, of Ascot or something. Some old friend of the Viscounts."
"And where is the duke and the viscount?" Connor asked, frowning as the brunette whom had been by Hammond's side sashayed over to grab the towel he was holding on his gealbhan's skin, practically shoving him away before taking his seat, much to the captain's consternation. He blinked in quick succession, surprised by her behaviour. "Lady Evelyn, you really don't have to do this. I was doing fine." Connor found himself confused. Didn't the English ladies usually get served by their ladies maid? Not the other way around?
Neither of the girl's answer his query though, as Hammond cleared his throat and spoke up. "See, the thing is, she isn't Lady Evelyn."
"Huh?" Confusion now clear upon the captain's gaze, he tried to look to his laird for clarification. In Hammond's defense, he had the decency to look mildly sorry for his friend as he stepped forward to take a place next to the brunette. "This isn't Lady Evelyn. Her name is Amelia Kinloch, lady's maid to Lady Evelyn... who is seated right next to her."
Connor had to physically remind himself not to gape, as his gaze fell both in horror and surprise, on the redhead that had been haunting his dreams day and night. His redheaded beauty was the Lady Evelyn? The one he had been assuming to be a spoiled brat and a missish English lady? Surely no one of her gregarious nature and vibrant personality could be spoilt?
Yet as he watched her quailing under whom he now knew to be Amelia's ministrations, he couldn't help but wonder. Was she? Her hair was bright as the sun, comparable only to Hammond's own, less bright but equally red locks. She had the vibrancy of Highland lasses... but did she have the stock?
"Why didn't you speak to me at first?"
"You guys have seen each other before this?" Amelia blinked, her voice louder then usual as she asked in her surprised manner. To her credit, Evie gave a rather embarrassed and guilty look at her lady's maid reprimanding tone. "Well... kind of."
"How?" Suspicion now colored Amelia's tone, taking the salve from a maid and proceeding to dab it all over the reddened skin on Evie's arm, all the while never taking her eyes from a cornered looking Connor. Taking pity on him, Hammond decided to swoop to his rescue. "We met the first day, when both of us couldn't fall asleep and were wandering. I think Lady Evelyn... or, well we thought she was a servant girl that time, was near the kitchens."
It was a concocted story, one that Amelia let slide with just another wary glance at the two imposing Highland men. "Please, call me Evie. Lady Evelyn sound's rather stiff." the redhead finally spoke up gently, not at all sure if she dared to even look at Connor. Technically, she's lied to him. Did he mind? Did it matter? Choosing to deal with it later, Evie looked at Hammond instead when he addressed her.
"Why were you avoiding us? Was it your father's doing?"
"Yes... and no. I wasn't avoiding, per say." Noting how dangerously angry he looked, Evie sought to remedy the situation. "Father didn't mean bad. He was seeking to protect me. But... let's just say if there were ever Fathering 101 lessons like they give us deportment lessons, Father would probably need to attend one." Her dry humor did at least fish out a scoff from Hammond, but at least he looked less murderous, enough to fall into a plushy couch nearby.
"You take on quite a bit of the MacKenzie traits. The red hair, especially." Hammond finally commented jovially, directing a smile so gentle at Evie that she felt warmth encase her almost instantly. The Viscount of Karlsborough had been a father in name, and while he felt love, also had no clue how to display it. Quite unlike Hammond's doting smile on his cousin, despite them having just met. Evie found herself looking at what she supposed was now her cousin, unable to help the friendly smile that graced her face (much to Connor's surprise, and mild annoyance). "Not just the hair, if my father had anything to say about it. I've been called the Highland Heathen during my two short seasons in London society."
"Oh? Is that so? You'll get on like a house on fire with Gillian then."
"Gillian?"
"My sister. Your other cousin. She has green eyes and red hair too, like our father. I'm the only one who got my mother's brown eyes."
Already, Evie felt a sense of familial warmth as Hammond spoke, finding herself increasingly curious to hear about the MacKenzie home, and how things were like there. Questions spilled out from her mouth like a waterfall, all of which Hammond patiently answered one by one. Connor's patience ran out by the third question, a loud clear of his throat making all three pairs of eyes turn to him in surprise. "I'll be back in my room. I think my wound hurts again."
Evie obviously held concern in her eyes as she stared at his retreating figure out the sitting room door, but Hammond's light chuckle made her turn rather perplexed eyes at him. "Is he alright?"
"Connor is the last person on earth who'll let an injury bother him that way. He's jealous." Hammond explained with another chortle, amusement climbing as he saw Evie's rather confused, and now mildly flushed look. "Surely you've noticed by now, Lad-"
"Evie, please."
"My apologies, Evie. But surely you've noticed by now that my captain's obsessed with you?"
"What makes you come to that conclusion, Laird?"
"I'm your cousin. Call me Hammond. And Connor has always been my best man. I would trust him with the protection of the youngest member of my clan, to my own sister. But lately I've been worried that he would chop off his own toe. He's utterly distracted, and you're the cause."
"Oh, I don't think I can take the whole credit for that."
"Are you certain, little Evie?" A teasing lilt played around his voice, getting up as he grinned at Evie. "I'll be looking in on him, just to be certain he isn't in actual mortal danger. But I doubt it. Any danger he's in right now, merely threatens his state of mind... and perhaps his heart." Leaving them with that curious last note, Hammond swept out, and Evie casted an uncertain look at her closest friend.
"My lady?"
"I think I better change out of this dress."
---
"Was it true, Rothesay? Did I force my Mailie to leave a home she loved?" The duke frowned whilst he looked at the lost stare upon Verrick's face, and frowned. From his memories of the Viscountess of Karlsborough, she had always seemed content with life at the castle. It was clear for anyone to see how she cared for the castle, for every brick and corner, but was it simply because it was her home? Or was it the last connection she had to her beloved Highlands, since she had given it up to be wedded to her English lord? Awkwardly, William Rothesay patted his friend by his shoulders, as they stood in his dim study.
"It's hard to say, old friend. But your Mailie was quite the quiet one, as far as I remember."
"That's the thing though. She wasn't that quiet when I first met her. She was bright, vibrant, gregarious... like Evie is. I... oh gods, it was my fault wasn't it? England beat that vibrancy out of her."
"She loved you. In a way, she let it happen. You can't let the whole blame fall on your shoulders." Rothesay tried to soothe again. Verrick was lost to his words though, his fingers running in his hair and making it stand on end whilst he stared blankly at the wall opposite him. "Do you think Evie will turn like that?" He knew how headstrong his daughter was. While he bemoaned her stubborn nature, he also knew that her fiery personality was what distinguished her and made her unique among the lambs and docile sheeps that the English gentry was filled with. In a way, Gregory Verrick was immensely proud of his daughter.
And he was beginning to realize he didn't want her to end up quiet and docile. Not when she was the very image of his wife.
"Hard to say. You've kept her in Cavalon Castle herself for so long. Other then the first two seasons, she had refused to descend upon Town during the Season after she turned twenty."
"She hated it. Evie can't stand the frills and nuances, the rules that were imposed on her. She felt suffocated."
"Don't you think you're suffocating her in the castle as well then?" It had been a quiet question, but one that was poignant enough to strike Verrick right in the chest, as he realized what he's done for so long. In his efforts to protect his only daughter, he's ended up strapping her wings to herself, effectively trapping her.
"Would... I be able to let her go? Would she go herself?"
"That's for you to decide then, old friend." Rothesay paused, as if unsure what else to say, and lay his hand on his friend's shoulder again. "I came to tell you that you're invited to Charlotte's coming out ball next month. I think Pippa would like her friend there. You know how she hates these do's, as much as Evie does."
Distracted for a moment, Verrick turned up and gave Rothesay a wane but curious smile. "Why didn't you send an invite like people usually do?" Rothesay gave a wry grin this time, rolling his eyes and pacing towards the open window that showed the illuminated lands of Cavalon Castle. "What, I can't visit an old friend?" It was a distraction, one that Verrick didn't fall for as he raised a brow at Rothesay and shook his head, as if asking him to get real.
"You caught me." the duke sheepishly rubbed his head. "Thing is, I need some help."
"What is it?" Verrick prodded when he noticed how hesitant his friend was, curiousity and concern now coming forth in front of the worry he had previously nursed for his daughter.
"My... estate hasn't been doing well. And Fabian... he wants to help."
"How does that relate to me?"
"Well... Cavalon Castle does very well in terms of it's estate earnings. And our estates run parallel to each other..." Rothesay trailed off again, much to Verricks' frustration. The viscount scowled at him and nudged his leg. "Out with it man, don't be a woman."
"Fabian is offering for Evie."