Page 119 of What a Highlander’s Got to Do

“Can you no’ sleep?” Isobel asked as she sat next to the older woman.

“Bah. It happens when we get older. I can’t bear lying in bed doing nothing.” She ripped out a couple of stitches and placed a couple more, making everything worse.

“I had no idea you did needlepoint.” Though to say she did it was a stretch.

Esmeralda huffed a laugh and put the work down. “It’s just to keep my hands busy. Exercise my aching fingers, perhaps. I’d much rather talk to you.” Her gaze narrowed. “Why are you not sleeping? A young thing like you, dancing till all hours.”

“We dinna dance tonight. It was a musicale.”

“Thank God I didn’t go.”

Isobel chuckled. “You have no idea. Some of those notes probably scandalized birds as far away as deepest Africa.”

A shudder. “Horrors. I never understood why mamas force their children to perform when they are clearly untalented.”

“One of the pianoforte players was quite good.”

“Did you have a nice time?”

Hmm. “Define nice time.”

“Did you see your young man?”

“Aye.” She had. But there had been no sneaking away at a musicale. She had sat by his side and listened to the “music” and soaked in his warmth.

She shivered now in memory and loss.

“He is a fine specimen. So handsome. Wealthy. Titled.”

“None of those things matter.”

Esmeralda shot her a glance. “All of those things matter.”

“He’s more than that.”

“Yes?”

“Sweet. Thoughtful.” She smiled to remember his ferocity when he thought William might have insulted her that afternoon. “Protective.”

“All good things. Is he a good kisser?”

Heat walked up her cheeks. “I . . .”

“Oh, never mind. I can tell by your blush. So he’s a perfect man, is he?”

He was. Or close enough.

“It’s a good thing, then, that you’re marrying him soon. You know. Before someone else steals him away.”

Isobel had no idea why that thought caused a frisson of horror to crawl up her spine. No one was stealing Nick from her. No one could.

Not if she was willing to let him go.

Oh. God. Was she?

Was she willing to let him go?

Was she really?