He turned her to face him. “See? So you do want to attend.”

She didn’t answer, but she didn’t need to. Now that Logan had removed the barriers, a pretty flush had started to warm her cheeks. Once he got her into a proper silk gown rather than this scratchy mourning attire, half the battle would be won.

“That’s only six reasons so far,” he pointed out. “You said there were a dozen. Hurry up, then, so I can remedy the rest.”

“On second thought, perhaps there’s only one more reason. But it’s the biggest reason, and there’s no remedy to be found for it.”

“Try me.”

“I can’t leave the lobsters.”

Holy God.

She moved toward the tank, peering into it. “Fluffy’s become more active over the past day. It’s a sign she might be ready to molt. I have to stay close, or I could miss the mating entirely. I’ve been waiting too long to let that happen. So has Rex, for that matter.”

Curse it, couldn’t she see that Rex wasn’t the only frustrated male in this castle? If the bloody lobster ended up satisfying his natural urges before Logan did, he would be tempted to climb the highest tower of Lannair Castle and fling himself off it.

“Let me worry about the lobsters,” he said.

“But—­”

“Trust me.” He put his hands on her shoulders. “I’m a captain, remember? I know how to set a watch, draw up a plan, command troops. We’ll remove Rex to a separate tank for the night. My men will set up shifts for the lobster watch. If there’s any sign of Fluffy molting, Rabbie will ride hell-­for-­leather to Varleigh’s estate and let you know. You’ll be home with plenty of time to put Rex and Fluffy together and watch the sparks fly.”

She glanced at the seawater tank. “I’m not sure how many sparks will be involved.”

“Watch the bubbles blub. Watch the antennae wave. Whatever it is that happens when lobsters make love, I swear on my plaid you willna miss it. I make no promises I canna keep.”

She looked up at him with those calf’s eyes. As usual, he could sense a whole world’s worth of thought going on behind them.

Logan couldn’t hold back anymore. He touched his thumb to her collarbone, sliding up and down the narrow ridge. Soothing her the way she would soothe herself.

Her skin was so soft. He was dying to touch her everywhere.

“Let me worry about everything.” His voice was suddenly hoarse. “I just want you to enjoy yourself. You deserve this, Maddie.”

She drew in a deep breath, then released it. “Fine.”

Fine.

That wasn’t exactly the overjoyed acceptance he’d been hoping to hear.

But he’d take it.

“Perhaps it’s more than fine.” She lifted her head and looked into his eyes. “Perhaps it’s perfect.”

Perfect. Now that was better.

“Maybe this is the compromise we’ve been searching for.”

Logan supposed maybe she’d been searching for one, but he had never been interested in compromise. “I want what I want, lass. That’s all.”

“I know. I do understand. That’s what makes it perfect.” She whirled away from him, as if powered by her own little breeze of excitement. “See, you have a dream.”

“I told you, mo chridhe, I dinna—­”

“You don’t dream. Fine. Call it a goal, then. You want to give your men a baile here, in this glen. I have a dream, too.”

“A dream with bugs.”

“Exactly. A dream of all the insects in the British Isles. If Mr. Dorning hired me on for his encyclopedia, I would have a small, but steady, income to support myself. And then I would be established, with excellent prospects for more work thereafter. I wouldn’t even need to live here.”

Logan shook his head. “We’ve already discussed all this. A lease willna be acceptable, and I canna buy the land.”

“Perhaps we can work out another sort of bargain. A trade.”

“A trade? What kind of trade?”

“Your goal for mine.”

He could only stare at her. She wasn’t making sense.

“I could never think of attending a ball on my own,” she said. “I’m shy, I’m awkward. I want to flee and hide. But maybe I won’t be that way if you’re near.” A little smile played about her lips. “It’s as if you make me so irritated, I forget to worry about myself. If you escort me to Lord Varleigh’s ball, perhaps you can help me make a good impression on Mr. Dorning. And if he gives me the encyclopedia post . . .” She turned to face him. “ . . . I’d give you this castle, and gladly.”