Page 105 of The Tartan Trap

“Indeed she had,” Callum murmured, gazing down at Margaret.

In the background of their happy tableau, Daisy departed in a flurry of fluttering ribbons, spots of pink high upon her cheeks. Margaret was too busy smiling at her betrothed to truly notice.

“I beg of you ladies,” Callum said, bowing toward Lady Blythe and Lady Burnett. “I fear I’ve been overcome with my emotion and have done this all backwards. Please, will you keep our secret until tomorrow afternoon so that I might have time to speak with Lord Cavendish?”

Apparently, it wasn’t only the young ladies who were susceptible to Callum’s charms. Both ladies fluttered and preened and agreed to his request.

Lady Burnett even went so far as to simper, “How romantic” as they exited along the garden path.

Ellis strode over and shook Callum’s hand. Then he took Margaret by the shoulders and grinned down at her. “I’m so happy for you both. You must satisfy my curiosity—which was more convincing, his words or mine?”

Margaret gave a rueful laugh. “It’s truly hard to tell. Though you must know I agree with you—Callum is the best man I’ve ever known, too.”

Callum cocked his head at his cousin. “You said that about me?”

Ellis held up his hands as if to defend himself. “It was in service of your happiness. You mustn’t read too much into it.”

“He brought me your journal,” Margaret admitted.

She secretly loved the fact that Callum hadn’t released her since their kiss. He’d put an arm protectively around her waist and hadn’t let go, not even when Ellis had grasped her by the shoulders.

Callum blinked for a second as if stunned. “I suppose it’s only fair,” he finally said.

“Exactly what I thought,” Ellis said. “May I assume this happy event changes our travel plans?”

“Of course. It delays our leaving until Margaret and I are married, at least.”

Margaret wasn’t sure why the word sent a thrill of expectation through her—everyone knew that marriage came after an engagement. Callum smiled down at her as if he’d felt the same emotion, however.

“Then it’s a good thing I ordered that new suit after all.” Ellis cuffed Callum on the shoulder. “Farewell for the evening, Cousin.”

“You’re leaving?” Callum frowned.

“Now that I’ve seen you happily settled, I’m heading to the White Raven. I never wanted to come to this ball tonight, anyway.” He punctuated his exit with a wink at Margaret.

The garden, which only a quarter of an hour earlier had seemed fraught with potential danger and rejection, now looked magical to Margaret’s eyes.

“Now you have to marry me.” Callum grinned down at her. “We’ve kissed.”

“I put up an admirable resistance,” she argued, eyes wide.

“What, by leaning forward?” he teased.

Margaret pinched him in the side and he chuckled.

“Yet I feel as if I’ve cheated us both,” he finally said.

“How so?” Margaret frowned slightly. “You don’t regret it, do you? Our engagement? I didn’t see how you were to escape the circumstances without becoming engaged to either Daisy or myself. I sincerely hope that you believe I was the better option.”

He chuckled at the sparkle of mischief in her eyes. “Marginally.”

“Truly, Callum. I never meant to entrap you.”

Callum chuckled. “No one who’s paid the slightest attention to our courtship would ever think so. Though the circumstances of our engagement were certainly different than I’d planned, the resolution was just as delightful.” He turned to her. “You did accept me out of more than necessity, didn’t you?”

“Of course. I want to marry you, Callum.” She grinned. “If I didn’t, I would have let Daisy have you.”

He chuckled. “Then the only thing I regret about this evening so far is how long it took you to find me in our game of hide and seek.”