Page 41 of Kidnapping Cordelia

“Christ! Is that what they’re calling me?” Muir demanded, appalled.

“Nae, laddie, keep yer hair on. I’m only playing with ye. I’m glad ye’re well, aye?”

“Aye,” Muir said grudgingly, accepting the hand Hamilton held out to him. “’Tis good to see ye. I’m glad ye came, aye, but stay away from my girl or I shall make ye sorry.”

“Like that, is it?” Hamilton said with interest. “I heard ye were nae pleased at being caught in such a way.”

Muir shrugged, avoiding his brother’s eye. “A man likes to choose his bride, aye? It’s nae a secret, but… but I’m thinking I might have chosen her anyway, if given the choice. It’s complicated, so dinnae stick yer oar in and muddy the waters.”

Hamilton watched him curiously. “Maybe I will, maybe I won’t.”

“Hamilton,” Muir said, a warning note to his voice.

“See ye later, brother,” Hamilton said, flashing him a swift grin as he went back into the parlour.

“You’re very quiet,” Luella observed as the pony trotted ahead of them, bearing the little dog cart and its two occupants to Muir’s farm.

“I’m sorry,” Delia said at once. “Forgive me. I’m being a terrible guest.”

“Don’t be ridiculous!” Luella said at once. “I know you must have a good deal on your mind. I only wanted to offer to be a shoulder to cry on, or lean on, or someone to complain to if that’s what you need.”

Delia smiled. “You’re very kind, Luella, kinder than I had any right to expect.”

“Nonsense. I told you from the start, I like you, Delia, and I should be glad for you to be my sister, but I wish for you to know that I would be your friend too. If you decide Muir isn’t for you, I would not hold it against you. Choosing your own path is important, and marrying a man you’ll spend the rest of your days with a decision that cannot be taken lightly or overnight.”

“Thank you,” Delia said gratefully. “I just keep thinking that the longer I delay the more I presume upon your kindness, and the worst the scandal will become, and yet I am so confused I… I do not know what to think or what do to.”

“Hardly surprising after everything you’ve been through,” Luella said, guiding the cart neatly around a rocky part of the path before encouraging the pony back to a trot. “But really, if you are thinking you might say yes, there is no hurry. You may not have noticed but scandal does not really touch us here at Wildsyde,” she added with a wry smile. “I mean, that’s not to say there isn’t a scandal, but all the time you remain here, there may as well not be, for no one will speak of it and you need not think of it.”

Delia nodded, relieved to discover that their little indiscretion last night had not yet reached Luella’s ear. “Hamilton said it’s a magic place.”

Luella laughed softly. “Yes, I suppose it is, and that’s just the sort of thing he would say.”

“He proposed to me.”

“What!” Luella was so startled she fumbled the reins and had to take a moment to pick them back up. “He did what? When?”

Rather sheepishly, Delia explained about Hamilton’s outrageous offer within moments of his arrival at the castle that morning.

Luella shook her head, obviously as stunned as Delia had been. “Good heavens. Even by Hamilton’s standards, that’s quite an extraordinary thing to do.”

“I don’t disagree,” Delia replied, still reeling herself.

“What will you do?” Luella asked her, concern in her eyes.

“Well, I won’t accept him,” Delia said at once. “I should never do such a shocking thing. Good heavens, to have tangled Muir in such a dreadful scandal is bad enough, to then jilt him and marry his brother? What a dreadful thing to do.”

Luella let out a breath of relief. “Well, that’s good. I would not want Muir to be hurt.”

Despite her best intentions, Delia could not help the contemptuous little huff of laughter at her words. Luella shot her a quick glance, her expression curious.

“I beg your pardon,” Delia said at once. “But I really do not think Muir will care one way or the other. The only reason he wishes to marry me now is because I’ve told him I won’t.”

“I’d like to say what a typical man,” Luella said ruefully. “But really, it’s just human nature, love. And, to be honest, I believe there’s more to it than that. He’s confused too, I think, at having been plunged into this business so violently. The one thing I do know is that Muir is a good man, and he feels things a lot more than he lets on. Lyall thinks the business with Malmsey disturbed him more than he’s allowing us to see. So, perhaps you should give him another chance. But, Delia?”

“Yes?”

“Don’t be afraid to stand up to him. Like all the Anderson men, they can trample you if you’re not careful. Talk back, shout at him if you need to. Make yourself heard.”