“Fine.”
Truth be told, he wasn’t sure he could stomach any food anyway. He glanced at the empty flagon of whisky on the table. Last night he’d retired to his study and drank himself into oblivion. It had seemed a good idea at the time but he was regretting it now. He had an aching head and churning stomach to add to the list of his problems.
“Right,” Flora said. “I’ll tell Joseph to expect ye downstairs shortly. He’s got something he wishes to discuss with ye.”
Niall opened his mouth to ask what that was but Flora was already gone, slamming the door behind her. Niall winced and rubbed his head. Was he imagining it or did sounds seem louder today?
By the time he reached the door to the hall, his headache had started to abate somewhat although his stomach was still churning. He pushed the door open and stepped inside, his eyes immediately springing to the chair that a certain red-haired beauty usually occupied. His stomach sank when he found it empty.
“She’s gone to the pottery already,” Joseph said from his place at the high table.
Was it really so obvious he was looking for Charlotte? Aye, he supposed it was, and he couldn’t bring himself to care.Stay, he’d asked her, and she’d refused. She’d done the sensible thing, the right thing, but that didn’t stop the rejection feeling like a kick to his stomach.
He made his way over to Joseph and slumped into a seat next to him. As usual, Joseph had the day’s pamphlets spread over the table in front of him. Flora came in and pressed a cup into his hand. The scent of mint tea wafted up his nostrils.
Niall nodded his thanks and took a sip. “Flora said there was something ye wanted to talk to me about?” he said to Joseph.
Joseph let out a long breath. “Aye.” He pushed some of the pamphlets towards Niall.
“Read this,” Joseph said, tapping one of the papers with his gnarled finger.
Niall glanced at the pamphlet. The headline read,Laird Campbell’s Scandalous Mistress.Niall put down his tea and read.
Niall Campbell, the notorious rake and rogue laird, has taken a mistress,it read.Sources say they are living in sin at his manor in the country.
Niall’s jaw clenched, his headache flaring back with a vengeance.
But that was not all. The pamphlet went on to accuse Niall of neglecting his duties as laird and leaving his people to suffer while he indulged in sinful acts with his mistress.
His hands trembled with rage. The writer had even gone so far as to mention Charlotte by name, referring to her as ‘the brazen strumpet who had impersonated Countess Argyle’ and painting her as nothing more than a money-grubber.
This was a low blow, even for Boyd MacAllister.
He crumpled the pamphlet in his hand and threw it against the table. “This is ridiculous!” he spat. “Charlotte isnotmy mistress. She’s a guest in my home!”
Joseph’s eyes narrowed. “I know that, and ye know that,” he said. “But what about the people outside? What will they think when they read this?”
“That’s exactly what MacAllister wants,” Niall snarled. “He’s trying to turn the people against me.”
“So ye think MacAllister is behind this?”
“Of course he is!” Niall replied. The only question was whether Bryce was involved as well. Would his own brother stoop so low as to try to ruin an innocent woman’s reputation like this?
Niall scrubbed his hand through his hair. “Does Charlotte know about the pamphlet?”
Joseph shook his head. “Nay. She left for the pottery before the pamphlets came in.”
“Good.” He took a deep breath and squared his shoulders. “Then I’ll be the one to tell her.”
