Free Fascination -and- Charmed by Stella Cameron Page B

as, hm, changeable.”
    There was a moment’s silence before Mama narrowed her eyes and said, “You mean he is in varying degrees of ... debility?”
    “Very varying.”
    “As in he could become dangerously debilitated at any moment?”
    The nostrils of Mr. Innes’s straight nose drew in. He tipped his face toward the delicate plasterwork ceiling. “I would say his lordship’s condition could most accurately be stated as dangerous, yes.”
    “In that case, there must be no delay. Not one moment.” Mama rose majestically to her feet and settled her skirts. “We wish to see the marquess at once. He has asked Grace to marry him, and she is here to do so.”
    Grace opened her mouth to speak and promptly closed it. Another man had arrived in the open doorway, this one tall and dark and slender. His curly hair had been disheveled by the storm, and he was in the act of unfastening his cloak whilst Shanks scurried in his wake.
    “Good God!” Mr. Innes’s exclamation made Grace jump.
    “I’m glad you approve of my arrival, Calum,” the newcomer said cheerfully. “Always nice to get a warm welcome to Kirkcaldy.”
    “Your—”
    “Good to see you, too, Archie,” the man cut Mr. McWallop off. “What’s this I hear about a wedding?”
    “Not right now, man,” Mr. Innes said. “The marquess will want to see you. We’d best go immediately to Revelation.”
    Revelation? “What is this about the marquess and Revelation?” Grace said. “Is that his lordship’s preferred biblical reading?”
    “Revelation is a tower,” Mr. Innes said curtly. “To be precise, it is the tower that houses his lordship’s rooms.”
    “Did I not hear the lady say that there was to be a marriage?” the newcomer asked, clearly uninterested in any other subject.
    “You did indeed, sir,” Mama said, settling her elbows at her waist. “The marquess is to marry my daughter.” She indicated Grace.
    “He is?” The cloak hit the floor, and Grace’s hand was enfolded in a crushing grip. “Praise be to God. That’s the best news I’ve heard in years. Haven’t I always told you the Lord provides, Calum? I’ve arrived just in time.”
    Mr. Innes made a strange sound, like a word inhaled, and said, “You always were an irritating bastard ... Ahem. Miss Wren, allow me to present your future brother-in-law, Father Struan Rossmara.”

Fascination
Chapter 5
     
     
    The trouble with women was that they were necessary.
    God, were they necessary.
    Arran cocked his head at a fresh onslaught of wind and rain against the windows and checked his watch. The hour of his proposed meeting with Miss Wren was long passed and she had not appeared.
    Damnation. He ought to be glad. If Calum had not come—with Struan, for God’s sake—to inform him that his
fiancée
was impatient for her marriage, he might take her failure to keep their appointment as evidence that she had some sensibilities he’d failed to discern. He might wonder if she had regretted her forwardness of the previous night and decided to give her future husband the loyal consideration he deserved!
    Arran smiled darkly. He’d been tempted to reveal their first meeting to Calum, and might have done so had dear brother Struan not been present.
Father
Struan—pious priest—had a way of rousing some spurious shreds of conscience in Arran. Struan made one feel vaguely sinful at all times.
    Vaguely? Hah!
    Damn the girl. He had better things to do with his precious night hours than await her pleasure.
    Pleasure. Ah yes. As soon as the business of the marriage was attended to, he would consider resuming his affair with Mrs. Foster. Mrs. Foster asked no questions, made no demands in excess of his considerable consideration of her—and she knew a great deal about
pleasure.
No, perhaps he didn’t have better things to do, but he’d do them anyway. The latest piece—for piano and violin—did not yet please him.
    He went to his favorite piano close to the windows and played again the