middle of a party was hardly the venue for it.
âOh no, I just need to splash some cold water on my face, thatâs all,â Sir Vivian demurred, pulling himself together with an effort. He turned and saw Markie, and his mouth all but fell open.
Callum, seeing his stunned look, also turned around and saw Markie Kendall for the first time. The vision hit him like a punch, and he felt his lungs contract in surprise, dragging in a huge breath. Her image seemed to burn itself into his retina, and would remain with him for the rest of his life.
What he saw was a tall woman dressed in silver-shot emerald green. She must have been nearly six feet tall, because he didnât have to look far down at her, as he did most women. She had a mass of ebony black hair, held up and around her head in a mass of waves and curls, and shot through with sparkling diamond and emerald hair pins. Her blue eyes were lined with matching green, and her low cut gown, which clung to her curves, shimmered as she moved. A single emerald pendant gleamed at her throat, pointing the way down to the swell of her breasts, which displayed a cleavage that made him blink.
She smiled, showing a flash of white teeth, and Callum blinked again.
âHello, Iâm Mar . . .â
Sir Vivian Dalrymple staggered a step backwards, and Callumâs hand shot out to steady him. He knew that he needed to do something fast. Sir Vivian would be hideously embarrassed to make a scene at such a high-profile event as this.
âCome on, letâs get you a seat, old chap,â he said, with a curt and dismissive glance at Porter, who was looking spitefully pleased. He knew that Porter was the biggest gossip in the university, and spiteful with it. And whilst he had nothing in particular against Sir Vivian, who was universally well-liked, Callum knew he wouldnât hesitate to spread his bile given the chance.
The beautiful woman he ignored completely.
âSir Vivianâs wife is very ill,â Callum said, who knew about Juneâs condition. âSheâs currently in the hospital, and I think the strain is getting to him.â He said this with a glare at Porter, who had the grace to at least look a little shame-faced.
âIâll be fine,â Vivian said weakly.
âI noticed a bench just outside,â Markie said firmly, handing her unwanted glass over to Professor Porter, who took it without thinking. âCome on, Sir Vivian, how would you like to escort a lady out into the moonlight?â she asked with a ravishing smile, taking the old manâs arm firmly.
Markie shot the giant a telling look, and seeing those cool blue eyes turn his way, Callum quickly took the old manâs other arm, and together the two of them walked Sir Vivian gently out into the fresh air.
Callum, taking most of his weight, steered him to a garden bench near the entrance to Hall, where the rose gardens, still rife with late blooms, scented the air.
âThank you, Miss . . . er . . . ?â Callum said briskly. He wanted to get Sir Vivian alone so that he could talk to him properly.
âMarkie,â Markie Kendall said, not liking the dismissive note in his voice. The man sounded as if he positively wanted to get rid of her! And she was definitely not used to men barely noticing her!
âMarkie,â Callum repeated, trying not to notice the way the moonlight was shining down on her, making the silver strands in her dress sparkle and shine. Or the way the fabric clung to her as it did so. Or the way the moonlight caught the jewels in the black velvet of her hair, and reflected the light into her eyes.
âIâm sure your date is missing you,â he prompted curtly. Trust Michael Porter to come to the Dinner with a stunning woman like this, he thought sourly. The man had no sense of decorum at all.
âMy date?â Markie echoed with a puzzled frown and a dangerous edge to her voice. Anyone who knew her well could have
âOh no, I just need to splash some cold water on my face, thatâs all,â Sir Vivian demurred, pulling himself together with an effort. He turned and saw Markie, and his mouth all but fell open.
Callum, seeing his stunned look, also turned around and saw Markie Kendall for the first time. The vision hit him like a punch, and he felt his lungs contract in surprise, dragging in a huge breath. Her image seemed to burn itself into his retina, and would remain with him for the rest of his life.
What he saw was a tall woman dressed in silver-shot emerald green. She must have been nearly six feet tall, because he didnât have to look far down at her, as he did most women. She had a mass of ebony black hair, held up and around her head in a mass of waves and curls, and shot through with sparkling diamond and emerald hair pins. Her blue eyes were lined with matching green, and her low cut gown, which clung to her curves, shimmered as she moved. A single emerald pendant gleamed at her throat, pointing the way down to the swell of her breasts, which displayed a cleavage that made him blink.
She smiled, showing a flash of white teeth, and Callum blinked again.
âHello, Iâm Mar . . .â
Sir Vivian Dalrymple staggered a step backwards, and Callumâs hand shot out to steady him. He knew that he needed to do something fast. Sir Vivian would be hideously embarrassed to make a scene at such a high-profile event as this.
âCome on, letâs get you a seat, old chap,â he said, with a curt and dismissive glance at Porter, who was looking spitefully pleased. He knew that Porter was the biggest gossip in the university, and spiteful with it. And whilst he had nothing in particular against Sir Vivian, who was universally well-liked, Callum knew he wouldnât hesitate to spread his bile given the chance.
The beautiful woman he ignored completely.
âSir Vivianâs wife is very ill,â Callum said, who knew about Juneâs condition. âSheâs currently in the hospital, and I think the strain is getting to him.â He said this with a glare at Porter, who had the grace to at least look a little shame-faced.
âIâll be fine,â Vivian said weakly.
âI noticed a bench just outside,â Markie said firmly, handing her unwanted glass over to Professor Porter, who took it without thinking. âCome on, Sir Vivian, how would you like to escort a lady out into the moonlight?â she asked with a ravishing smile, taking the old manâs arm firmly.
Markie shot the giant a telling look, and seeing those cool blue eyes turn his way, Callum quickly took the old manâs other arm, and together the two of them walked Sir Vivian gently out into the fresh air.
Callum, taking most of his weight, steered him to a garden bench near the entrance to Hall, where the rose gardens, still rife with late blooms, scented the air.
âThank you, Miss . . . er . . . ?â Callum said briskly. He wanted to get Sir Vivian alone so that he could talk to him properly.
âMarkie,â Markie Kendall said, not liking the dismissive note in his voice. The man sounded as if he positively wanted to get rid of her! And she was definitely not used to men barely noticing her!
âMarkie,â Callum repeated, trying not to notice the way the moonlight was shining down on her, making the silver strands in her dress sparkle and shine. Or the way the fabric clung to her as it did so. Or the way the moonlight caught the jewels in the black velvet of her hair, and reflected the light into her eyes.
âIâm sure your date is missing you,â he prompted curtly. Trust Michael Porter to come to the Dinner with a stunning woman like this, he thought sourly. The man had no sense of decorum at all.
âMy date?â Markie echoed with a puzzled frown and a dangerous edge to her voice. Anyone who knew her well could have
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