Well? Unlike the mistress, the maid was positively flourishing.
Mhairi felt lost and alone and abandoned. Flossie's shifting allegiance left her off-balance and heartsick. She couldn’t approve of the girl's choices, but by heaven, she'd miss her maid when she went back to Bruard. This might be their last chance to see each other. She didn't want to leave her friend with bitterness lingering between them.
Her smile felt slightly more natural, and she forced a cheerful tone. "Come, I'm sure we've got a few minutes left. Tell me more about this wonderful Duff."
Chapter 14
By the time the Mackinnon reappeared at the door to the garden – Mhairi noted it was well past the half hour he’d offered – she and Flossie were talking as they'd always done. But she remained conscious that the old closeness was gone forever. When she returned to Bruard, it would be a different place because her friend would no longer be there.
She became more curious about this remarkable Duff. She’d dearly like a good look at him. So far, she hadn't paid him much attention. He was just another Mackinnon in the mass of other Mackinnons. But if she believed Flossie, he was a potent, if unlikely mixture of Hercules and Sir Galahad.
Flossie hugged her quickly, curtsied to the Mackinnon, and went on her way, pausing at the door for a backward glance of farewell. Mhairi realized that her maid knew as well as she did that everything had changed between them. But her smile held unmistakable fondness and a silent message of courage.
Mhairi wasn't mean enough to wish Flossie anything but well. But she couldn't help feeling the girl was rash to abandon her home and kin and turn to strangers.
"Ye hoped that Flossie would persuade me to consent to the marriage," she said, going on the attack as soon as she and the Mackinnon were alone.
"Aye."
She should have known the Mackinnon wouldn't lie. So far he'd been honest – for a kidnapper.
"I should have guessed ye were up to some scheme."
"The girl has a place here for as long as she wants it." He leaned against the worn stone doorframe, folded his arms over his impressive chest and studied her with an unreadable light in his deep brown eyes. "Ye could, too."
Disdain flattened her lips. "What I want doesnae count, does it?"
He sighed and ran one powerful hand through his thick black hair, today left loose except for two thin braids at his temples. "The lass didnae succeed in talking ye round."
Mhairi made a sweeping gesture of denial. "How could she?"
Her jailer shot her a straight look. "Because she could tell ye that she's come to nae harm, in fact she's been treated well. Because she's someone ye know and trust ready to say that we Mackinnons are at least as human as any Drummond, and possessed of kind hearts and generosity. Because she's free to leave, yet she's decided to stay."
"Then she's more fortunate than I am," Mhairi retorted. "The maid is granted a privilege the mistress can only dream of."
That interrogatory brow rose. "You're free to say yes to my proposal."
"While my name is dragged through the mud."
He looked unexpectedly diffident. "Aye, well, it's no’ so bad as all that, lassie. Jean, plague take her, has decided your pride is more important than mine. She's telling anyone who will listen that she played chaperone all night and you're as untouched as ye were the day ye arrived."
Shocked, Mhairi surveyed him. "So everyone knows we locked ye out?"
He shook his head. "No. So far, she’s saving my reputation, too, and she’s holding that back. But dinnae fash yourself. Your good name is safe at Achnasheen."
"Ye dinnae sound as if you mind." For once, curiosity was stronger than hostility.
He shrugged and offered his arm. Only as he led her back toward the stone bench did she realize she'd touched him without hesitation. "Once I’d wiped the wine from my face and taken a deep breath, I found I wasnae at ease with my people thinking ye were my doxy."
Relief made her knees wobble. God bless Jean. This was a better result than Mhairi could have hoped for. "So my cousin will
hear I'm no’ your lover?"
"I suspect so. He'll be alive to any gossip he can pick up while he's here."
"He's no’ a spy. He’s here on an honorable mission to return me to my kin."
A wry smile twisted Black Callum's lips. "And to find out what he can about the keep’s battle readiness."