Chapter 8

"Elisabeth!"

Through the haze of the morning, Lissie stirred.

"Who"s Elisabeth?" she murmured, still only half awake. Through her confusion, Annice tutted. It took Lissie some time to come to.

Then she remembered. She was Elisabeth. It was just that no one in her entire life had ever called her that until she had come to England.

Stirring sullenly, Lissie pulled herself together. Opening an eye, she realized she was not in her bedchamber. In fact, she was not even in a bed.

This was bad. Very bad.

In something of a panic, she glanced at Annice.

Something was wrong. Even by Annice"s insane standards, she was overdressed for the bedchamber. Blinking, it took Lissie a minute to get her bearings.

"Where-where am I?"

"God"s tooth, Elisabeth!" tutted Annice. But she kept her voice low. Casting her eyes down, she looked around the assembled room.

It was not even the solar. She was in the grand hall and getting an even greater shock, and she could see she was not alone.

The great and the good were sweeping through the doorway. As they entered, Annice smiled and greeted them at a distance. In a minute, she would go over to formally present Elisabeth to them, but for now, she was frowning intently.

"For heaven"s sake, Elisabeth. Shake a leg. Look at yourself. You"ve been asleep, with your mouth open, catching flies."

Annice"s brows were on end, and Lissie could not help but think how comical she looked just then. But the situation was anything but a joke.

Giving her a quick dig, Annice shoved Lissie forward to receive the callers who were arriving.

Slowly, Lissie"s mind cleared. She remembered.

She had nodded off in the great hall over morning calls. Now it came back to her.

"Morning calls" seemed to be a Sassenach thing. Since arriving here, Lissie had been submerged in the strange world of English etiquette.

It was not something she was used to. Apparently, every day started with a dismal stream of visitors, none of whom seemed to have anything to say to her, and deteriorated from there forth.

Now her days were spent in mind-numbing conversations with unsuitable men. And if she were really unlucky, they would try to accompany her on rides or walks.

It was all too clear that these callers were only appearing to gawp at her, and sometimes, to mock her.

Today was no exception. No sooner as her eyes were wide open again, a caller was being thrust toward her. With a sinking heart, Lissie saw it was Andrew.

"Lady Elisabeth!" he gushed, bowing foppishly in front of her. Immediately, his fussy headdress shot off. Lissie tried her hardest not to giggle. At least it was not her clumsiness on display for a change.

Andrew struggled to retrieve his headdress, a chaperone that seemed to have come apart at the edges and was now unfurling in one long strip of fabric.

Lissie could not help cast an eye over the not-so-young man in front of her. He was a dull and pale Englishman with hair the color of dust and a complexion to match. His headdress hid a bald patch the size of Salisbury Plain, and Lissie would not have been surprised to find attendant druids to match.

Yet somehow, Andrew, first earl of somewhere—Lissie had never taken sufficient notice of where precisely—was under the misappropriation that he was a fashion icon.

Lissie watched as he primped and preened his way about town, for she had had the misfortune of his company several times by now. And each time, he appeared in an outfit even more outlandish than the last.

This particular morning he was draped from head to toe in a houppelande so extravagant it threatened to submerge him entirely. But doubtless, the expense was immense. Even Lissie stopped to admire the sheer silk fabric draped across the floor—in intense dark reds and slashed to reveal a fur interior.

And the chaperone, well, now that he had it reassembled, it was impressive indeed. Except it was at least twice the size of his actual head and with a large plume that nearly poked her in the eye when he extended his hand toward her.

"Lady Elisabeth," said Andrew, making a huge show of bowing toward her. "May I say how splendid thou art are this morning; thou art a full and comely creature indeed!"

An immediate tinkle of giggling from behind her, made it clear that the London ladies thought this hilarious.

It was.

What was even more hilarious was that Lissie was expected to court him.

"Um, I thank thee," said Lissie, hoping that Andrew"s headdress would once again unfurl and maybe this time gag him. She was desperately bored.

Nodding across the hall, Lissie wondered when she would ever be released by her cousin and be free. It was only mid-morning, and she was flagging fast.

Lissie sighed as Annice shook her head that there were more callers, and Lissie should take them. With a weary smile, Lissie turned to Andrew.

She was just about to speak when the double doors to the chamber flung open, and a sudden hush descended on the room.

From the corner of her eye, Lissie could see that something had happened. Desperately, she wanted to turn her head to observe who had come in. But she couldn"t without being seen as desperately rude.

Andrew must have noticed the hullabaloo because he looked caught off balance. Then again, that could have been something to do with his poulaines. Lissie wondered how he even walked in them with a pointed toe so long and crimped they seemed certain to overturn him.

Judging by Andrew"s face, all was not well. Lissie could not help it. She turned her head toward the door.

And then she saw him.

Will.

* * *

"Lissie!"

The room became so still that Lissie wondered if Will had turned everyone to stone.

Smiling, Will pushed his way through the callers and came toward her. The beaming smile he was wearing made it worthwhile. Lissie was literally glowing in his attention, and seeing the look on his face made her feel proud.

Although her head was whirling, and she did not know what had prompted Will to reach her here, one thing she was sure about was the reaction of the London ladies. Seeing the most eligible bachelor in the whole of London just sweep into her room was the most exciting thing that had happened in some time.

"Lissie, my darling, how beauteous thou art this morning."

He bowed before her, tipping his low-brimmed hat. A sly smile crept across his cheeks, seen only by her. Lissie felt amusement rising in her throat.

Either side of her, the room had stopped dead. Annice was glaring at her, as were Lady Caroline and her cronies.

But Lissie did not have eyes for any of them.

"Will!" she said, genuinely surprised. "H-How did ye find me?"

Another smile wrapped its way around Will"s face.

""Twas hardly hard, my lady, to find the only Scottish beauty in London."

A peal of giggles erupted from behind them, but neither of them was listening.

"So, what are ye doing here?"

It was direct. Perhaps too direct. She could imagine what Annice had to say about it. But Lissie did not care.

"I wondered if you wanted to go for a ride, my lady?" he asked, with a twinkle in his eye.

He did not need to ask twice. Lissie jumped at him, almost knocking him over. A murmur of amusement covered the room. Let them laugh, thought Lissie, glowing. Meeting Caroline in the eye, she grinned.

"Let"s go," Lissie said to Will. "Wherever ye want."

* * *

Everything twinkled in the clear,bright sun. Emerging from the darkened room behind them, Lissie felt like she had been buried for years. Blinking, her eyes adjusted to the light.

In the bright of day, it was easy to shake off the uproar from the house and forget it had ever been there. The noise, the snarky smiles, the judging... All of it was gone in the time it took for Will to open the front door and let her eyes flood with light.

Reaching the outer world, Lissie felt herself restored. There had not been enough of this; the sun, the birds, and the sky. Since coming to London, she had been shut up and kept underground like a root vegetable.

"You asked me for a ride, but in fact, I cannae ride this morning. I have no horse," said Lissie as they walked side by side down the driveway.

The morning was beautiful, even for London, she had to admit. And as they walked, Lissie had to take care to steer away from Will"s hand, which dangled closely to hers.

The energy between them fizzled, taking on a life of its own. A surge of pleasure bubbled up in Lissie. For the first time since arriving in the English capital, she felt alive. But more than that, she felt something else; desire.

This tall young man was quite the unexpected pleasure. In a city where everyone seemed to be gray, he stood out. His shoulders were straightened, and his hair the color of coals, in stark contrast to the small, shabby dust and ash-shaded folk who milled around.

Looking at Will in the face, Lissie ringed the changes. In the full glare of light, he held up well. Unlike some of the others, he did not look as if he would disintegrate in the first ray of sunshine to come his way. And his skin was a rosy pink, a little fresher for being out in the sun, with only a few lines to mark his years in this world.

And now he was smiling, with a tricky look in his blue eyes. They had walked as far as the stables, and now Lissie was standing, uncertain, before him.

"Well, that is where you are wrong, my lady."

A large smile unfurled across his face. Lissie looked on in suspicion.

"What do ye mean, wrong?" She squinted. "I left Florentine at the Percy Manor."

Will led her to the stables.

"Aye, you did," he said, and smirked. Putting his hand behind her back, he walked her to the first stall. There, in front of her eyes, was Florentine.

He twinkled. "Except I brought her back myself!"

Lissie jumped.

"Florentine!"

For the next five minutes, she fell to cooing over the horse and petting it, thoroughly ignoring Will, who watched with barely concealed amusement.

"Och! What did ye do that for?" she asked, once she had made her acquaintance with the horse. But the smile on Will"s face said it all. After a moment"s pause, Lissie turned.

"Thank ye," she said sincerely. There was a moment that the pair of them drew close. A stark moment where, once again, they seemed about to kiss.

Lissie could feel it in the air, the kiss, attempting to escape and become real. She could sense the taste of his lips on her face, the unique, warm caress of his mouth all over her. It was a sensual overload, and suddenly, Lissie felt she had to get out of there. It was too much, too close. But somehow, something stopped her.

This was intense. She needed to touch him. It was like a spark, and she was the hay. Just the sheerest touch and she would be alight. Sensing the danger zone, Will stepped backward. It was just as well he did. The whole place would have gone up like a tinderbox.

"I thought you might like to ride her this morning," said Will, but unnecessarily, for Lissie had already leaped atop of Florentine and was beginning to trot out of the stables.

"Come on then," teased Lissie, her dark hair flailing from its headdress. In a moment of pique, she ripped the damned thing from her head and flung it on the floor.

Will"s eyes rounded as Lissie gave a grin. She did not care anymore. Hair flying, she cracked a pace down across the path from the stables and out onto the street ahead. She felt free.

They were halfway to the hunting park before Will approached her. Trotting side by side, he brought his large stallion next to her. Looking around, Lissie wondered where she was. It was not any manor park or grounds she was aware of. Seeing her face, Will grinned.

""Tis the Manor of Hyde," he said, pointing to the green horizons. "My family are permitted to ride and hunt here…but not many are," he added.

Looking about, Lissie approved. "We are honored," she murmured, turning to watch him.

An exciting, prickly feeling pushed its way through her stomach. She was alone with Will, at last, in a huge and open space. Lissie glanced around and tried to imagine how many acres this was, but her brain failed to compute the space.

It was big.

Will just nodded as Lissie sped up. Florentine was no match for Will"s large destrier. Even looking at it made Lissie feel small.

Turning toward her, Will inquired shyly, "So, how are ye finding London? There are many grounds I would be happy to show you."

Mounted on Florentine, Lissie smiled wistfully. "I dinnae think so," she said sadly. "My cousin doesnae permit me to ride unaccompanied."

Will looked quizzical. Cocking his head, he looked around as if to make his point. "But mistress, we are unaccompanied now!" he said.

Lissie sighed. If only she could think of herself as liberated, but the truth was rather different. In reality, Annice held all the cards. She could never go and do as she wished.

"Nay, we"re nae," sighed Lissie.

Will looked perplexed. Since arriving at Annice"s house, she had been watched like a hawk. Now was no exception.

"Jane?" called Lissie wearily. Out of nowhere, an old gray lady popped up. For a minute, Will nearly fell off his horse.

The elderly lady came over, dressed immaculately. As usual, she was folding something, perhaps handkerchiefs, as she stood waiting.

"Jane is my escort," said Lissie, beckoning Jane forth.

Will looked as though he felt ambushed. "Ah, good day, my lady," he muttered while attempting to smile. But it was clear that he had been put on the back foot.

There was an uncomfortable pause. They were standing on the edge of the hunting ground, facing toward a wooded glade, where it looked as if Will had been hoping to enter.

Now he saw Jane, he was not so sure.

Wanting to cause a distraction, Lissie fiddled nervously with her pocket. It was caught somewhere beneath her chemise. For a moment, her fingers battled with the strings. Then, just as a gust of wind took the hunting ground, she let it drop.

"Och!" she gasped, as her pocket collapsed onto the ground, splaying its contents forth all over.

Everything came out—silver coins, loose bits of jewelry, some spare bits of ribbon. All of it blew about the grass beneath their feet. Instantly, Will dived to retrieve it, but Lissie stopped him.

"Nay," she said, bringing a hand to stop him. Smiling, she shrugged coyly.

"There are many things a gentleman should not see," she said shyly. A quick and embarrassed turn of the head sealed it.

Instantly, Will"s face changed. "Ah," he said, looking away. Instead, Lissie smiled at Jane, already on her way to retrieve the pocket. "Would ye, Jane?"

The elderly lady had already taken to her hands and knees, ready to pick up the pocket and its contents flying merrily around the woodland. A scrunch in Lissie"s stomach told her this was a rotten thing to do. She did not feel good about making Jane run about after her like this.

But then again, she had not asked her to come either.

"Thank ye, Jane," said Lissie meekly, as Jane trotted off obediently. "Methinks there"s a yard o" ribbon in there, which needs folding if ye"d be so good."

She could not help but smile as Jane disappeared into the copse.

Now it was just her and Will, staring curiously out at the green woodland.

"Well," began Will.

Lissie could see he was watching Jane intently, anticipating her return, but Lissie had a plan for that.

Clasping a gold coin in the center of her palm, she cast it into the heart of the woodland, skimming it low into the grass. It was a mean trick, but it would buy them some time.

Did Will see? She was not sure, but she had sleight of hand, and he did not appear to suspect anything when she cried out to Jane.

"Och no," she moaned, turning to Will.

He looked at her blankly. Good. He did not know. "I think it"s gone...over there!"

Lissie pointed toward the thick woodland as Jane scurried off to collect it. Knowing she would be gone for some time, Lissie turned to Will and smiled.

"Well then, what a pity, it seems there is no one to watch over us!" Lissie"s eyes twinkled as she glanced at Will. For a second, he seemed to respond, his eyes flashing swiftly to hers.

Then he frowned.

"I, um… Perhaps we should turn back," he said uncertainly. The pair of them watched and waited until they saw the back of Jane.

Lissie"s heart gave a little pang. Dismayed, she turned to Will.

"Go back? We only just got here," she pointed out. Trying her best, she had just managed to keep the resentment out of her voice, but she could not stop the crashing wave in her heart.

She was bitterly disappointed.

For a minute, Will hesitated, appearing to hover on his horse. Lissie watched as his eyes went to the forest, where Jane was ensconced, and then back to her.

"My lady, this is London, where tongues are loose and eyes are everywhere!" Will explained.

Lissie sighed. She knew this to be true, but the difference was she did not care.

"Fannybaws!" retorted Lissie. She couldn"t help it; it just slipped out. Will looked as if he had been slapped. Seeing his face, Lissie fell about laughing.

"Och, I beg thee pardon," she said, with fake courtesy. "I was hoping that ye didnae ken what it means."

Will looked at her. "I do not," he said, straight-faced. "But I rather think that I can guess!"

For a moment, he shot her such a look that Lissie genuinely worried. Then he grinned.

"Your face, my dear!"

Heat surged through Lissie"s cheeks. He had indeed had her going. Something hot and impatient gripped her, as if she could not wait to have him near. Will was still seated on his destrier, a stallion so big it looked as if it could eat both of them for breakfast, should it so wish.

Wishing he would come near, Lissie harrumphed. They had rid themselves of Jane, for the time being, and she was anxious to make the most of it.

"Och, wheesht," said Lissie. Then she looked at Will"s confused face. Shaking her head, she laughed.

"She"ll be gone a while, auld Jane. She kens how to take a hint." Lissie winked. But despite his interest, she sensed a reluctance to do anything that might seem compromising.

Impatience surged up Lissie"s chest. Will looked unsure. Lissie despaired.

"Och, what is it about Sassenachs that they cannae loosen up a wee bit?" she lamented. "So how"s this; ye and me have a wee race to the edge o" the grounds?"

The breeze rippled through Lissie"s hair. She pouted meaningfully at Will.

"What? Are you mad?" He looked as if he were marveling at her, yet still, he refused to play.

Lissie frowned. "Define mad."

"I"m looking at it, methinks," said Will so swiftly she wanted to dig him in the ribs. Then he paused. "You"re serious."

"Nay," she said, shaking her head. "Ye"re the one who"s serious, Will. Too serious. Try having some fun for a change?"

Lissie flicked her hair tantalizingly as if she had not already made the point. Somewhere, out there, Jane was watching. Lissie knew this well. It would not take her that long to look for the coin. Well, perhaps it would, but she knew what was going on. Deep down, Lissie did not really think she would crash this party. She was no clipe1.

"Fun?" said Will. He blinked uncomprehendingly. Lissie wanted to take his face and kiss it.

"Fun," said Lissie playfully. "Do ye nae have it in England?"

It was a pertinent question. If the Scottish men had a tendency to take themselves seriously, then they had nothing on the Sassenachs. Englishmen were just a total mystery to Lissie.

Since arriving in London, she had been struggling with etiquette. Now she had enough.

"Perchance," said Will, his eyes darting about from side to side. Lissie wondered what was really working itself out in his head.

Lissie leaned in. She was still on her horse but moving closer. A heat took her, a strange prickling working its way down from her spine and spreading wide around her nether regions.

This wasn"t something she was used to, and it took her unawares for a moment.

"Then why do ye nae race me? Scared I"ll win?" Her eyebrows flicked suggestively. A slow smile spread itself across his face.

"Win?" he scoffed, tugging at the reins of his horse. "You, aboard that thing? Forsooth, my dear, it would hardly be a fair contest. My destrier could eat your poor wee beast!"

Finally!She had gotten a reaction. But it wasn"t enough for Lissie. Keeping as straight a face as possible, she turned to him sternly.

"Wheest, yer bum"s oot the window, lad!"

Will could not help laughing. Seeing him crack, Lissie hid a grin. She had him, at last.

"Alright, my sweet," he said, casting thoughtfully around. "But I am a gentleman and want to give a lady a sporting chance. Instead of a horse race, methinks we should?—"

"Have a foot race!" said Lissie instantly.

Will"s face froze. This clearly was not what he was expecting her to say.

"A...foot race? Have you lost your reason?" laughed Will.

But this time, Lissie was not taking no for an answer. Leaping down from Florentine, she stood in front of him.

"Aye, a foot race. An" guess what? I"m gonnae have a muckle head start!"

"Lissie!" protested Will. "A foot—no. "Tis not right nor proper for a lady to?—"

He did not get to the end of his sentence. Lissie was already looking at him with scorn. But it was also with a sinking heart. She knew only too well what was happening. Quickly, Lissie recalled the appearance of his mother, the dowager duchess of Iverst, last night in the stables.

Perhaps she had not said anything in her presence, but the look she gave Lissie was enough. She disapproved. And that was quite clear.

"Proper?" she scoffed. Inside, indignation burned. Just when she thought she had gotten through to him, he had given up on her. "Will, what is really going on here? Are ye ashamed to be seen wi" me?" Lissie"s eyes scorched into him as she built up a head of steam.

Finally, she was getting to the truth. And it hurt inside. Accusingly, she turned her fury onto him. "Tell me, am I nae good enough for ye? Is that it? Because if it is, I will walk away!"

1 ?A noun and verb in Scottish: tell on someone