The Highlander's Alpha: A Highlander Werewolf Romance (2 page)

“Should a lady really be using a swing?”

Isabelle dragged her toes across the ground to stop the swing from moving, as the voice chuckled at her.

“You’re never too old to use a swing.” 

“Is that so?”

Isabelle watched the man take a seat on one of the many concrete benches placed throughout the garden. She kicked her feet and began to swing slowly again.

“You are a very good dancer, Lady Royce.”

“Thank you.” Isabelle felt her face flush and was grateful that they were in the dark, so the golden-eyed man couldn’t see. She heard his chuckle once again before moving from the bench to stand behind her. She felt strong hands on her hips for a few seconds before he gave a gentle shove and the swing went a little higher.

“Who are you?”

“The Count of Oxfordshire, Lady Royce.”

“What’s your name?”

“I’m dreadfully sorry, but I must go now. I am being summoned,” he said, as he bent down and placed a delicate kiss on her neck. Isabelle shivered and leaned her head back slightly, but he simply laughed again before disappearing into the night.

So the man had danced with her, pushed her on her swing, and kissed her neck; but, she still didn’t know his name. She picked her shoes up off the floor before entering the house through the back door so no one saw her. She didn’t feel like speaking to anyone inside the home at the moment.

“Isabelle, I don’t mean to intrude, but did you speak to your father?” Janet asked, as she rushed down the hall with a smile on her face.

“I did and you are unable to have relations with Gerard. I am terribly sorry, Janet.”

“Why ever not?” Janet’s face screwed up in confusion, as she stared at her.

“Servants are not able to court, but I am to try and find a count to settle down with,” Isabelle said without stopping, as she walked towards her bedroom. She was grateful that Janet didn’t follow her inside. Instead, she stood at the door with a frown on her face.

“The counts don’t appeal to you though.”

“I know. I’m sorry, but I must sleep now, Janet.”

“Thank you for trying, Lady Royce.” Janet curtseyed and disappeared down the hallway again. Isabelle closed and locked her bedroom door before sliding from her dress; she left it on the floor, not worried about the wrinkles that were bound to appear in the expensive fabric.

She would bathe in the morning, she decided as she removed all of her jewellery and slid into her large bed in just her underwear. As she closed her eyes, all she could see were golden eyes and the feel of the mysterious man against her. A flush appeared over her body and she shook her head. She wasn’t going to see him again, so she really needed to get him out of her head.

****

“Lady Royce, it’s time to awaken.” Janet was knocking on her door and Isabelle moaned before pulling the pillow over her head, trying to block out the sound of the banging. She groaned again when she heard a key in the lock.

“Janet, I’m tired.”

“I’m dreadfully sorry, but your father requested that you come down to eat breakfast.” Janet headed over to the windows and pulled open three sets of curtains before tugging the covers off Isabelle with a sigh.

“Janet...” Isabelle whined.

“I’m doing as I’m ordered, Isabelle.” Janet pottered around the room and picked her dress up from last night before hanging it on the back of the door, so the wrinkles would naturally work out of the fabric.

“My father never usually wants to eat breakfast with me.”

“He said he has someone for you to meet.”

Isabelle managed to pull herself out of bed. She had no plans for the day, so she dressed in a light summer dress. The only time she really ever dressed nicely was when she had something to do that day or when her father required that she dress perfectly.

“I just want to say thank you,” Janet said, as Isabelle appeared from the bathroom, dressed and ready to eat breakfast.

“For what?”

“For talking to your father.”

“I did not get permission though, Janet,” Isabelle said, as she frowned and left the bedroom, leaving Janet to clean up the mess. She didn’t really like Janet to be treated like a slave, but she’d gotten used to it over the years and didn’t try to stop her anymore.

She was sitting at the breakfast table for a few moments before her father entered the tall room, pristine and immaculate as always.

“Good of you to join me, Isabelle.”

“It’s not like I had a choice.”

“That’s not how you speak to your father, Isabelle.”

“I’m sorry, Father.” Isabelle sighed, as she stared at her father. She wished she was able to leave, but she was unable to unless she married.

Her father crooked his finger and an incredibly tall man appeared next to him. Isabelle stood up and looked at the man’s face. Something seemed familiar about him, but she wasn’t quite sure what it was.

“Isabelle, I would like you to meet Adam Silver, the Count of Oxfordshire.”

Isabelle felt her heart thump in her chest, as she gazed into the golden eyes of Adam. So, that was her rescuer’s name.

“I do believe we have met, Lady Royce.”

“I do believe so,” she whispered, as she watched him bow. She knew she was supposed to curtsey, but she couldn’t take her eyes away from Adam’s golden ones.

“I saved her from that terrible Count Francis last night at the ball, Lord Royce.”

“Well, thank you for saving me,” Isabelle said, as she felt her cheeks flush. She decided it was best for her to sit because if she didn’t sit, then her legs would turn to jelly and she would fall.

“Now all the introductions are over, let us eat.” Her father gestured at Adam to take a seat. Isabelle was relieved, but disappointed when he took a seat opposite her instead of next to her. She spent the next hour idly eating and pretending not to listen to their conversation.

“Lady Royce, your books have arrived,” a maid said, standing by the door and holding a large package. Isabell excused herself from the table and rushed over to the maid. She heard her father chuckle, as she tore into the package. She sat on the carpeted floor and gently took the new books from the large box. Her father had managed to get her seven new books by the morning and she was deliriously happy about it. She almost squealed in excitement, as she pulled out
The Picture of Dorian Gray
by
Oscar Wilde.

Isabelle had been waiting for this book for nearly four years. She lovingly stroked the cover of the book before jumping to her feet and kissing her father’s cheek.

“Thank you so much, Father.”

“Anything for you, my dear.” Her father patted her hand and returned to his conversation with Adam. She looked over at Adam and felt her cheeks flush at the smirk that graced his strong face.

She quickly disappeared from the room and headed to the library. She had no plans, so she and
Oscar Wilde
were going to have a court. She felt satisfaction as she cracked the spine of the new book and started reading.

****

“Lady Royce, your father says it’s time to eat.”

“I do not wish to eat,” Isabelle said, as she turned another page of her book. She vaguely heard light footsteps approaching her and jumped in surprise, as a firm hand landed on her shoulder. She placed her bookmark in her book before gently setting it down on the table beside her.

“It is time to eat, Isabelle.” Adam’s deep voice husked in her and she closed her eyes. She felt her face flush again before Adam chuckled.

“I said that I am not hungry.”

“That is not true. I can hear your stomach rumbling.” Adam took a seat in the chair opposite her and crossed his legs.  Isabelle took her time to appreciate Adam’s form, as he reclined in the chair. He moved with such grace, it seemed like he never touched the floor. The suit he wore was a dark gray and fit his body perfectly.

“I shall eat later.”

“You don’t want me to drag your pretty derriere to the dining room, do you Isabelle?”

Isabelle uncrossed her legs only to cross them again, as she gazed at Adam. She saw him smirk again and he took a deep breath before he bent over and rested his hands on his knees.

“When was the last time you had a man?”

“I—I don’t have to answer that.” Isabelle stammered and look away from his golden eyes to the beautiful blue sky outside. She jumped in surprise, as Adam appeared in front of her. Well, Adam’s groin appeared in front of her.

Isabelle hastily stood up and brushed her dress down before turning away, but Adam was already in front of her. He moved so quickly that she hardly saw him move from one spot to the next. He stepped so close to her that she could feel his breath on her forehead. She shivered involuntarily and went to turn away, but Adam placed one hand on her neck.

“Come now, Isabelle.”

“I am not required to give you that information.”

“Why so formal?

“I do not want to discuss my sexual habits with you.” Isabelle frowned, as Adam chuckled again before his hand moved to the nape of her neck and his head bent down to the side of side of her neck.

“Just give me a number, then.”

“Two.”

“I can tell when you’re lying; I can smell it on you, Isabelle.” Adam took a deep breath and Isabelle clenched her thighs together in frustration. With Adam this close, she was having trouble thinking. Her mind was fuzzy with desire and the need to kiss him.

“Isabelle, it is lunch time,” her father’s voice penetrated through the fog of desire. She jumped away from Adam with a sigh.

“Yes, Father,” she said, as she turned from Adam and followed her father to the dining room.

“Adam, you are needed in the garden.”

“Lord Royce?”

“Just leave, Adam.”

Isabelle sat on one of the dining chairs and waited for the lecture she knew she was going to get from her father.

“You are not to mess with Adam.”

“You said to find a count and Adam is a count, Father.”

“He is low of birth. You are not to have relations with this man. Do you understand me, Isabelle?” her father said, as he angrily stabbed at the steak that was on his plate.

“Low of birth holds no meaning for me, Father.”

“You are becoming worse over these past few months. You are to act like a lady or I shall send you to your Aunt Valerie for appropriate training.”

Her Aunt Valerie ran a boarding school for wayward ladies. The school was designed to snap ladies back into shape, if they’ve ventured off their path. Her father seemed to think that she was becoming one of the wayward ladies.

“Adam is off limits. Leave it there, Isabelle.”

“Yes, Father.” Isabelle frowned into her meal and turned to the look out the window. She could see Adam standing next to Terry, the gardener. He was nodding and looking at him. As if he felt her staring at him, Adam turned and gave her a small smile.

She hurried to eat her meal before standing and smiling to her father.

“I’m going for a walk around the estate, Father.”