A Scot to the Heart (Desperately Seeking Duke #2) - Caroline Linden Page 0,60

the last of the sandwiches.

“And be cautious,” Louisa added gently. “It is easy to get your heart broken. Yes, even those of grown men who have been soldiers can be broken.” Her eyes twinkled at his instinctive frown. “Not only should you be certain of your own feelings, you should know how she might receive them. You have a different future before you now, and you must choose a suitable wife carefully and deliberately.”

“I only meant to evaluate Stormont Palace, not choose a bride.” He jumped to his feet, ready to escape the conversation. “Are there more macaroons in the kitchen? I seem to have eaten all of these and left none for you.”

She gave him a look of reproof. “Yes. But think on what I said.”

He smiled at her on his way out the door. “Always, Mother.” And fled the room, wishing he could so easily escape the nagging question, inside his own head, about his intentions and his heart.

Perth was a picturesque town set in a stunningly beautiful landscape on the River Tay. They had driven through it on their way to Stormont and the younger ladies were eager to return.

Ilsa knew that was because they’d spied a neat little millinery shop, with stylish bonnets in the window, but she was easily persuaded to go along. Winnie had read in Pennant’s Tour that there were some handsome walks and a beautiful park. Ilsa had missed her long walks on Calton Hill with Robert, and fancied a ramble after the St. James ladies shopped.

She did have to choose a hat, though. Bella refused to allow her to decline, and the shop owner didn’t help by producing a hat that was unquestionably beautiful, a broad-brimmed straw hat with a crimson ribbon and a darling spray of miniature white roses. Then Mr. Duncan led the party to a cozy inn, where they had tea and cakes.

Mr. Kincaid and Mr. Monteith declared an interest in seeing Gowrie House, site of the infamous conspiracy, while everyone else walked in the park. Agnes took the lead, with—after a long moment of hesitation—Mr. Duncan. Ilsa was left to stroll with Bella and Winnie, who were in raptures over Ilsa’s new hat, Perth, and the shawl and gloves Bella had purchased as well as Winnie’s new bonnet. The sunshine and exercise did wonders for Ilsa’s humor, and by the time they returned to Stormont Palace she was in a buoyant mood.

She had barely stowed the hatbox in her room when Bella tapped at her door. “Come with me,” she whispered.

“Why?”

“Winnie and I have been dying to talk to you.”

“We just spent all day together,” she pointed out.

Bella rolled her eyes. “We wanted to talk privately.”

Oh dear. She’d been waiting for the axe to fall on that kiss Winnie had seen. “Oh? Why?”

“Nothing naughty! Just . . . private.”

Ilsa hesitated. “I’m not going down to the cellars in search of a ghost.”

“No, no. Nothing like that.” She motioned with her hand. “Please. We would like your advice.”

Being invited into a secret sister conference was too much to resist. She followed Bella down the hall to the room she and Winnie shared.

At their entrance, Winnie looked up from her position, seated on the floor. “Come see, Ilsa!” she whispered eagerly.

She realized why when she came into the room, and Winnie tugged aside a fold of her skirt to reveal a black kitten with bright green eyes, small enough to hold in one hand. Bella shut the door and hurried to drop down beside her sister.

“Who is this?” Ilsa asked in delight as the little animal pounced on a loose thread from her hem. She sank onto a cushion Bella provided.

“We call him Cyrus,” said Winnie, dangling a bit of yarn in front of the kitten, causing him to leap about in a frenzy. “He’s from the barn but his mama died, and Mrs. Watkins is feeding him in the kitchen.”

“We plan to smuggle him home,” said Bella, scratching the kitten’s head. “Isn’t he darling?”

“He is.” Ilsa smiled as Cyrus tried to lope off with Winnie’s string in his teeth, only to tumble over Bella’s foot and be scooped back into the center. “Is this the advice you need? I recommend a hatbox and a bribe to your maid, and a very solemn expression as you assure your mother you’re not up to mischief.”

Winnie shook her head, grinning. “Why do you think we had to go into Perth? Now we have the hatbox. If that doesn’t work, Alex has