A second later, a weathered face framed by a white beard entered her line of sight. “Miss Charlotte?”
Charlie blinked. “Joseph?”
He held out a hand to help her up and she took it gratefully, allowing him to pull her to her feet.
“Is everything all right?” he asked, looking her up and down. “Ye were running like ye had the very devil on yer tail.”
No!she wanted to shout.Everything is not all right! I think I’m in the wrong time!
But the sight of a familiar face undid her. She burst into tears.
“There now, lass,” Joseph said gently. “There’s no need for that. Come on, let’s get ye home and ye can tell Flora and me what the matter is.”
Charlie nodded dumbly and allowed Joseph to lead her away.
***
NIALL BURST THROUGHthe door, sending it slamming back against the wall. He was breathing heavily from his almost-run through Edinburgh’s streets and his hair was sticking to his forehead with sweat. He hurried down the hall and shouldered open the kitchen door.
Joseph looked up from where he was perusing the latest set of pamphlets. He was alone.
“Where is she?” Niall demanded. “What happened?”
“Easy, lad,” Joseph said, holding out a placating hand. “She’s upstairs with Flora. All is well.”
Niall took a deep breath, trying to still his racing pulse. When one of Joseph’s men had come to find him and tell him that Charlotte had been accosted, he’d feared the worst.
Wiping his forehead with the back of his hand, he released his breath in a long, slow exhale. Charlotte was safe. He dropped into the chair opposite Joseph and leaned back, taking a second to catch his breath.
“What happened?”
“I dinna rightly know,” he replied. “I followed her as ye instructed and in truth, it wasnae difficult. I tracked her to the botanical gardens. She came running out of there like a whippet. Some man had tried to abduct her by all accounts.”
Niall’s stomach tightened with sudden fury. “What man?”
“I dinna know. I havenae been able to speak to her properly yet. I brought her straight back here and Flora took charge of the lass. I sent Davey out to find ye and—” he spread his arms wide, “the rest ye know.”
Niall sat back in his chair, digesting this news. He wasn’t sure what to make of it.
Joseph was watching him steadily. “What did ye discover at the meeting, lad?”
Niall sighed. He went on to tell Joseph about MacAllister’s presence at the meeting, his interest in Charlotte, and the way he was talking to Lady Murray at the ball last night.
When he finished, Joseph sucked on his teeth. “It isnae enough. Rumor and hearsay willnae cut it in front of the magistrates. We need more.”
“I know it. But we willnae get more now. I think MacAllister suspects me. We need to get out of Edinburgh for a while until all this blows over.”
Joseph nodded. “Flora will be mightily glad to hear ye say that. As am I, truth be told. All this maneuvering gets under yer skin. Makes ye see enemies where there aren’t any. I dinna like it.”
Any further conversation was precluded by the sound of footsteps coming down the stairs. A moment later, the door opened to admit Flora into the kitchen, closely followed by Charlotte.
Niall’s breath quickened at the sight of her. She had changed into a dress of sapphire blue that brought out the soft blue of her eyes. The dress, simple in design, clung to her slender figure and fell in elegant folds to her ankles. Her fiery hair shone like copper, brushed out and falling in waves around her shoulders.
Charlotte paused at the threshold of the room, her eyes flicking between the two men before settling on Niall. A soft blush crept across her cheeks, making her freckles stand out against her skin.
“Well,” she said with a shrug. “I seem to be making a habit of this.”
Niall rose. “I heard what happened. Are ye all right?”
