Mistress Gallagher followed him into the room, hands on her hips as she shook her head.
“A week? This could take more like a month. Christmas will be over, and Lady Thorne’s guests will be headed back to where they came from before we find those skates.”
Fergus tried to see the mess through her eyes and agreed that the task ahead appeared daunting, but he had some idea of where the skates were stored. “I’ll wager we’ll find them before afternoon tea.”
Her eyes sparkled with a touch of playfulness behind her wire spectacles. “What do you wish to wager, Mr. McTaggart?”
“I didnae—”
He clamped his mouth shut, stopping himself before he blurted out that he’d meant it as a figure of speech. A wager could be just what they needed to get to know each other better, and Fergus was eager to learn more about the lass.
He had given up on satisfying his curiosity soon after she came to live with Lord and Lady Thorne; any time he asked about her past, she deftly changed the subject.
Before moving into the Thornes’ home in London to help care for Miss Gracie, Mistress Gallagher had lived the life of an independent woman, sharing a home with Helena’s sister in Chelsea and answering to no man. Even stronger than his urge to kiss her was his desire to understand why she had abandoned her independence to help a young girl have a better life.
He rubbed his jaw, noting he hadn’t done the best job with his morning shave. “What do you suggest the wager should be?”
“If we do not find the skates before tea, I want to go on an adventure with you and Gracie. I’ve barely stepped outside the castle since we arrived, and to be completely candid, I am growing restless and want to explore the land.”
Fergus liked that she wanted to see Aldmist Fell beyond the castle walls. As the land steward, it was his pride and joy.
His father had worked the land when Fergus was a lad, and after his father had been laid to rest, the former lord of the estate entrusted him with its care. Someday, he hoped to have a son of his own to ensure Aldmist Fell continued to flourish.
“I’ll accept that wager,” he said. “And if we find the skates before tea, you have to answer three questions about yourself.”
Her gaze turned to ice, and he sensed a wall erecting between them.
“What could I possibly tell you that you do not already know, Mr. McTaggart?”
He didn’t want to frighten her away with overly personal questions.
“I dinnae know your favorite holiday sweet, or if you like to sing carols, or if you’ve ever been on a sleigh ride.”
“Oh!” She blinked, clearly caught off guard by his harmless inquiry.
“Well, I’ve always loved fruited nut cake. I enjoy singing, although I suspect others would prefer I not, since I cannot carry a tune. And I’ve never had the opportunity to go on a sleigh ride.”
He grinned. “See? That wasna difficult.”
“No, I guess it wasn’t.” She smiled, her face softening. “Where should we begin our search?”
“How about over there?”
He pointed to a stack of trunks furthest from where he thought the skates might be found. This was one wager he didn’t mind losing, as he suspected he could sneak in a question or two while exploring Aldmist Fell.
And if he couldn’t, he had no doubt Gracie would perform the task for him; that lassie was full of curiosity.
He grasped the handles of the top trunk, lowered it to the ground, and popped the lid open, releasing the familiar scent of aged cedar and wool.
“You start with this one, and I will check the one beneath it.”
Edith swiped a sleeve across her damp forehead. The afternoon light barely penetrated the gloom of the tower chamber, and their chances of finding the skates were dwindling with the setting sun.
Mr. McTaggart rocked back on his heels, abandoning the trunk he had been searching to pull a watch from his pocket. “It appears you won the wager, lass. Lady Thorne is likely wondering why you’ve not made an appearance in the drawing room this afternoon.”
Edith sighed, partly relieved that she wouldn’t be subjected to more questions, even if Mr. McTaggart's inquiries during their hunt had been harmless.
He’d asked about her favorite places in London, whether she knew how to skate, and how long she had been caring for Miss Gracie before Lord Thorne found them in Chelsea.
