Enraptured by Candace Camp

you around.”
    â€œHmmph.” McKay regarded her for a moment. “And sae I micht.”
    Sally distracted Old Angus by asking him about the state of his ailing back. He responded with a fierce admonition that it was none of her business, followed by a lengthy description of each and every twinge of pain he had suffered.
    As the others chatted around them, Coll bent his head toward Violet’s. “Now you’ve let yourself in for it. Old Angus will be there to visit tomorrow, I’ll wager.”
    â€œI look forward to it.”
    â€œI believe you do.” Coll grinned. “I might have known. The two of you will squabble the whole afternoon and doubtless enjoy every minute of it.”
    Violet laughed. “Are you comparing me to a crotchety old man?”
    â€œNae, I’m not fool enough to step into that quagmire.” Coll’s blue eyes danced, and Violet’s heart lifted in response. It was almost impossible not to glow under the warmth of his smile. His eyes darkened, the warmth turning into another sort of heat.
    Violet felt herself blushing, and she looked away, her gaze falling on a young blond woman on the other side of the room. The girl had a fresh, pretty face, but it was marred by the scowl that creased her forehead. She stared at Violet as if contemplating where to plunge the knife.
    Startled, Violet glanced away quickly. Before she couldask Coll the girl’s name, the girl herself swept up to them, her face now beaming.
    â€œColl Munro!” The blonde reached out to give his arm a playful tap. “It’s been ages since I hae seen you. Pa was saying yesterday that you maun hae got too grand for us.” She did not glance toward Violet or the others, her eyes fixed on Coll.
    â€œNae, now, Dot, you know I’m not too grand.” Coll shifted from one foot to the other. “There’s a deal of work to be done and, um . . .” He glanced at Violet. “Have you met Lady Thornhill? My lady, allow me to introduce you to Miss Cromartie.”
    â€œOoh, a lady.” Dot’s eyes widened dramatically and she bobbed a curtsy. “ ’Tis an honor. I hope you dinna find it too quiet and simple for you here, my lady.”
    Violet suspected the girl meant the opposite. She also suspected that Miss Cromartie had her sights firmly set on Coll. She wondered if Coll reciprocated her feelings. He appeared a trifle stiff and uncomfortable, but Violet was not sure how to interpret that.
    â€œYour da’s been playing for half an hour now,” Dot went on, gazing up at Coll with limpid eyes. “And you hae no’ asked me to take the floor with you even once.”
    â€œUm, well, I’ve been talking.”
    â€œBut you maun dance!” Dot aimed a dazzling smile at him, leaning in. “I heard him say a reel’s next. Will you no’ come and dance with me?” She held out her hands.
    â€œWell, um . . .” Coll glanced toward Violet, then Sally, and finally said, “Yes, of course. If you will excuse me . . .” He nodded toward the others and started with Dot toward the dance floor. Violet noticed he did not take the girl’s hand.
    â€œOch, that Dot, she’s been chasing Coll for two months now.” Sally shook her head.
    â€œThey are courting?” Violet asked casually.
    â€œ She is,” Angus McKay snorted. “Not Coll.”
    â€œShe’s not one who could hold his interest for long,” Sally agreed.
    â€œThe lass is thick as a plank of wood,” Angus added.
    â€œThere’s many a man dinna mind a foolish wife, but not our Coll.” Sally gave an approving nod.
    â€œI am surprised Mr. Munro is not spoken for,” Violet said. “He seems a very eligible bachelor.”
    â€œAye, that he is. But particular.” Sally gave Violet an assessing glance. “It’s the way he was brought up. Here at Baillannan with all the