“And you are a Sassenach!”
Silence reigned as they glared at each other. She had no intention of giving in. She was about to pull her hair out by the roots, this house party was so very boring. She’d been banned from the billiard room the night before and would love a Scotch whisky, but all she’d been offered since her arrival had been sherry and tea.
If this was English Society, then she would rather be done with it and wait until her twenty-third birthday and fulfill her dream to help unfortunate women.
To her amazement, Cam burst out laughing. “A Sassenach?”
“Yes. A typical Sassenach. You think you know what is best for everyone in the world. You took away our culture, our dress, and even our music. You killed our men, raped and abused our women and children, and drove thousands to leave the land they loved to migrate to Canada.”
Cam shook his head, his demeanor changing to a very serious mien. “Bridget, if you are speaking of Culloden and the aftermath, that was more than seventy years ago.”
“Scots have long memories.” She was stunned to feel her eyes fill with tears. She’d been drilled on the history of England and Scotland and told stories that a young girl should not hear. A Highlander who had moved south to the Lowlands, Douglas had lost both his grandfathers and other Clan members in the Battle of Culloden. And she was correct. Scots had long memories.
His expression softened, and she hoped he had not witnessed her tears. She blinked rapidly to keep them from falling and embarrassing herself.
“We are getting way off track here.”
Maybe another tactic would work. “I really want to hunt, Cam. I am good at it, and I enjoy it. My stable master, Douglas, taught me all the safety measures. For heaven’s sake, I grew up with a shotgun in my hand.”
“Very well. But the hunting today will be driven game, so it will not be necessary for you to wear breeches, since we will be standing in a line.”
“Very well.” She repeated his words and tone. “You are quite fond of compromise, my lord. If I agree to change into a riding habit—don’t raise your brows because I said I didn’t have one—then you will allow me to participate in the shoot?”
He studied her for a minute while she held her breath. As much as she hated the idea, she would not be permitted to shoot if Cam said no. The fact that men held such control over a woman’s life was precisely why she would never contemplate marriage. At least not to a man who considered her a possession to be moved about like a chess piece, rather than a partner.
“All right. You may join the hunt. I will wait here for you.”
“I will be quick, I promise.” She hurried off to change out of her very comfortable breeches into the ridiculous so-called riding habit that had so much skirt to cover her legs while on the saddle that she couldn’t wear it without tripping.
Fiona quickly changed her, smirking the entire time that she’d been forced out of her breeches. “I can hear you giggling under your breath,” Bridget said as her lady’s maid fastened the back of the habit.
“Oh, milady, I am laughing because I’ve never seen you bow to the wishes of a man before.”
Bridget stuck her nose up in the air. “I did not bow to his wishes; I merely compromised.” She gritted her teeth as the fastenings tightened. “Are you finished yet?”
“No need to badger me, milady. I am not the one who ordered you to change.”
“I was not ordered, and when we return to London I shall fire you.”
“Yes, milady.”
“No reference.”
“I would expect none.”
If Bridget had a sixpence for every time she threatened to fire Fiona, who was not only her lady’s maid but a friend as well, she need not wait for her father’s money.
Fiona patted her on the back. “There you are. All ready to show those men how shooting is done.”
Bridget scooped up the bottom of the gown and tossed it over her arm. “Yes. Wouldn’t that show Lord Arrogant a thing or two?” With a wide grin, she left Fiona and returned to the stables.
“I thought you changed your mind.” Cam stood in front of the stable, holding the reins to two horses.
“Not my mind, my lord, only my clothing.” Before she could take another step, he moved forward, grasped her around the waist, and lifted her to the horse.
“Oh for heaven’s sake, this saddle is so unsafe.” Unfamiliar with the thing, she was having a hard time balancing herself. “Cam, I tell you, I am likely to fall from this ridiculous contraption and kill myself.” She wavered on the saddle, gripping the horse’s mane to keep from sliding to the ground.
Cam studied her. “You have no idea how to ride sidesaddle, do you?”