Most of all, he hated that he didn’t feel strong enough to resist the siren call.
Gritting his teeth, Fox followed Leah up the stairs and into the great hall.
His wife straightened her spine before turning around to face him, as if the effort of doing so cost her remaining dignity.
Though he had no regrets about his marriage—all four days so far—it was a damn nuisance that he didn’t know his wife, and therefore, could not read her moods or understand what portion of the past ten minutes had upset her most.
“I apologize for the noise,” she began. “It willnae—”
“Oh, Mrs. Carnegie! Captain!” Bethany called breathlessly, all but skidding into the room in her haste, freckles dark against her pale skin. “Madeline . . . she’s run off.”
And there it was—the end of Fox’s tether.
“What do you mean . . . run off?” he snapped. “You weren’t to let her out of your sight!”
“I know.” The maid twisted her hands in her apron. “But I needed tae use the necessary. I was only gone a wee moment, but ye ken how Miss Madeline can be.”
Bloody hell.
“The door to the castle is wide open!” Fox gestured back down the stairs. “She could be out on the moor by now. Or worse, chatting with the workmen about—”
“Bethany, please go fetch William and the others,” Leah’s soothing voice interrupted. “We’ll start looking immediately.”
Leah’s calm wasnotwhat Fox needed at the moment. Yet another reminder of how out-of-control he felt.
Bethany raced out of the room.
Fox turned to his wife.
He meant to ask her about herself, how she was doing, if Tam’s words had upset her, how they should go about locating Madeline.
Instead, irritation poured from his mouth. “Why was the door open? How has anyone been keeping Madeline safe today? And why must everything cause such an infernal racket?!”
“I apologize for the noise.” Was that a sigh in Leah’s voice? “As I said earlier, anytime ye undertake repairs on this scale, the situation is bound tae get worse afore it gets better. As for Madeline, she shouldnae have gotten out of the nursery. We’ll start searching immediately. If ye feel up to taking the keep, then I’ll start in the shuttered south wing.”
Leah took a step to brush past him.
If ye feel up to taking the keep . . .
As if she doubted his ability to help search for the little girl he loved more than anything or anyone else.
As if his capability were in question.
As if he were an invalid, in truth.
Fox couldn’t tolerate this. Not for one more moment.
He stopped Leah with a hand to the elbow.
“Who says you are the one to direct this? To insinuate what I am and am not capable of?” he asked. “I may no longer have scores of men under my command, but I am fully capable of action. Moreover, I know this castle and better understand where Madeline might have taken herself off to. How can you be sure, madam, she isn’t outside right now, racing up the glen?”
“Pardon?” Leah’s color rose once more.
“I don’t appreciate you ordering me about,” he bit out. “I’m not a witless invalid, nor one of your courtyard slaters, to be managed and dictated to.”
Leah’s head reared back, as if his words were a slap to her senses. She stared at him, her nostrils flaring.
“You and I are in this together, husband. I am notdictatingto ye. I’m merely attempting to ensure that our efforts are effective.”
