“As I should,”Eliza answered. “He upholds his oaths. He’s never been cruel. Well, I take that back. There’s been only asingle moment I can think of when he was cruel. But I promise it was due.”
“What happened?”Madison asked, as she felt the prick of curiosity jab at her. Eliza shook her head as she grabbed a cube of cheese and started nibbling.
“I apologize,”Eliza said with a shake of her head. “That is nae me story to tell ye. If that’s somethin’ ye want to ken, ye’re goin' to have to bring it up with the laird. I ken better than to get myself involved in other’s affairs.”
Madison watched Eliza for a moment,trying to find the right words. Everything about Theodore confused her—his roughness one moment, his gentleness the next. The way he'd ordered the entire castle made welcoming for her, yet couldn't seem to look at her without that intensity that made her pulse race.
"What canye tell me about him?" Madison finally asked. "About the laird. I cannae figure him out."
“What do ye mean?”Eliza picked a strip of the chicken, her expression curious.
Madison hesitateda moment as she chewed on the words she wanted to say. “He… kissed me.”
Eliza’s eyeswidened with shock as her smile widened. “Is that so?”
“It was just once.But it came on so abruptly and ended just as fast. But I daenae understand why. I believe he did it out of pity, or some strange sense of duty. But the thought of that makes me heart ache. When I see him, when I even get around him, I daenae ken what happens. It’s like I cannae think. He steals me wits if that makes any sense.”
"Aye."Eliza's knowing smile made Madison's cheeks warm. "That sounds like attraction, lass."
Madison blinked. "What?"
"Ye're drawn to him.And from what I've seen, he's just as affected by ye." Eliza leaned closer, her voice softening. “The laird’s a man who carried much on his shoulders. He’s nae one to give his heart away so easily or without thought. If he’s shown ye kindness, lass, then it’s genuine. He’s nae one to play games.”
“So, ye trust him?”Madison asked arching an eyebrow as she started to wonder if maybe she should trust Eliza at her word.
“With me life.The laird has done nothin’ but lead with a firm, but righteous hand. He’s a leader if I’ve ever seen one.”
“Why and how?”Madison asked as she finished off the last biscuit. Her stomach felt overly full, but she wasn’t about to complain.
“Because I’ve seenhim at his worst, and at his best. And even when he lost his temper, he never struck out at those who dinnaedeserve his ire. Daenae get me wrong. He can be cruel. Most men can, but only when he wants to be.”
Madison bobbedher head as Eliza stretched before collecting the empty tray. With as much food as there was on it, Madison was surprised by how little remained.
“If there’s nothin’else I can do for ye,” Eliza said as she made a beeline for the door. “I’ll take me leave. The bairn is twistin’ on me somethin’ fierce at the moment, and ye look like ye could sleep.”
“Thank ye, Eliza,”Madison said as she wished she could pry a bit more out of the maid about Theodore. But as Madison watched Eliza closed the door, one thought kept popping up in Madison’s mind. Although she was certain the laird was a decent man. She couldn’t help but wonder who had made the laird so made and why.
14
"Ye look like hell."
Theodore glancedup from the ledger spread across his desk to find Boyd leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed. Dawn light filtered through the narrow windows of the solar, painting everything in shades of gray and gold.
"Good mornin'to ye too," Theodore muttered, returning his attention to the columns of numbers that had blurred together hours ago.
Boyd pushedoff the frame and strolled into the room, dropping into the chair across from Theodore without invitation. "When's the last time ye slept?"
"I slept."
"Aye,and I'm the King of England." Boyd reached across the desk and turned the ledger around to face him. His eyebrows shot up. "Ye've been addin' the same column three times. And ye got a different answer each time."
Theodore snatched the ledger back."I was double-checkin'."
"Triple-checkin',by the looks of it." Boyd's expression softened. "What's got ye so twisted up ye cannae even count straight?"
Theodore set down his quill,the tip leaving a small ink blot on the parchment. He stared at it for a long moment before speaking. "Do ye ever wonder if ye're goin' to turn into yer parents?"
The question hungin the air between them. Boyd's jaw worked, but he didn't answer right away.
