heart.
Rafe looked hopefully at the others. “Did I hear someone mention dinner?”
“Yes, we were just about to send someone to fetch you.”
They all proceeded into the large dining room. It had been recently remodeled after a fire that had destroyed much of the castle. Lydia had been stunned when Brodie told her the story during the ride here. How Brock and Joanna’s cook, a woman who had been in love with their deceased and abusive father, had tried to poison Joanna and then attempted to burn down the castle.
Thankfully, no one but the mad cook had died, but the castle had been in ruins. The local townsfolk the brothers had supported for years came to help rebuild it. With the help of Joanna’s fortune, they had recently finished the repairs.
The new dining room held a large oak table, and the cold stone walls had been softened with tapestries depicting Bonnie Prince Charlie and his Highland warriors preparing for battle. A few family portraits also hung by the fireplace at one end of the room. Brodie pointed them out to her.
“That’s my mother and Rosalind.”
“Your sister looks just like your mother.”
“Aye, she does. It used to enrage my father to see Rosalind after our mother passed. It’s why she fled home so young and married the first Englishman she came across. She was able to escape with him to London and have a good life, until he died and she married that bloody baron.”
Brodie shot a look at Rafe, who laughed. “You won’t hear me disagree.”
Lydia sensed that Rafe and his older brother did not get along all that well.
Thankfully, Isla was a welcome distraction from these uncomfortable topics. She now told Aiden about how she and Rafe had explored the house.
“We found two otters in the large fountains in the gardens.” Isla giggled. “They were hiding under lily pads.”
Aiden’s unguarded smile made Lydia grin as well. When she caught Brodie’s eye, he was relaxed, watching his brother and Isla with open fondness.
He can love, if only I had time to win his heart. But Lydia had to be smart and not allow her desires and wishes to make the situation worse.
“Then we found a hedgehog,” said Isla. “She was quite fussy. And the badger!” The girl was delighted to have the focus of the entire table on her. It wasn’t because she needed attention, but she was hungry for affection. In a way, Lydia understood. Although her father was very much alive, he had never been fully alive for her, only Portia. Lydia had lived a half life when it came to her family.
Brodie leaned over to whisper in her ear. “What’s the matter, lass? You look troubled.”
Lydia wanted to unburden herself to him, but she didn’t dare. He had used her emotional weaknesses against her in an argument before when he was angry, and she had no desire to ever allow him to do that again.
“It’s nothing. I believe I am missing home.” It wasn’t a lie. Even in the midst of this adventure, she still longed for home. Not that Bath was truly home. Home was wherever her loved ones were. She loved the people at this table, but she also missed her father, her sister, and even Aunt Cornelia.
“Perhaps a bit of dancing will do you good?” Brodie suggested.
“Dancing?”
“Aye, dancing. Aiden, fetch your fiddle after dinner,” Brodie told his younger brother.
Lydia brightened instantly, and her heart skipped a beat. Dancing? Here? How wonderful.
Brodie placed a hand on her thigh under the table, brushing his fingers over her leg, and it only heightened her excitement.
“Tonight, you willna be dancing alone. You will be dancing with me,” Brodie promised.
20
Brodie escorted Lydia into the ballroom, which had been refinished with a new wooden dancing floor. Aidan retrieved his violin and stood in the corner of the room while servants rushed to light the wall lamps and the candles in the chandeliers. Rafe held Isla’s hand and was explaining how men and women danced at balls, and then he executed a feminine curtsy to show the girl what to do next. Lydia’s laughter at the sight had Brodie’s heart skipping a few beats. She was so perfect, especially when she lowered her guard and could be herself, assuming that no one was paying attention to her.
Aiden finished tightening the strings and gave a nod to the dancers.
“Miss Hunt.” Brodie grinned as he bowed to Lydia. She curtsied, holding her gown away from her legs, and when she did, he caught a