How dare he insinuate she was too heavy to carry. Why, she had the tiniest waist span of all her acquaintances. Vexingly, Jennifer felt tears gather in the back of her eyes. Furiously, she blinked them away, refusing to give him the impression she was nothing but a ninnyhammer.
‘Would you please turn your back,’ she managed at length, her voice husky with unshed tears. Unexpected sympathy shone briefly in his eyes, before he obligingly swivelled to face the other way. His sudden compassion was nearly her undoing, and she found herself sniffing as she cast off the blankets.
As she fumbled with the buttons of her pelisse, her hands began to shake with the cold. Indeed, her whole body felt as though it was caked in ice. Clumsily, she tossed the cloak onto the floorand started on the buttons of her blouse. Thank goodness she’d decided against wearing a dress. To have had to ask him to undo the buttons down the back would have been too humiliating.
By the time she’d stripped off her skirt and petticoat, she was simply too cold to even think, and she could have wept in gratitude when he passed a dry blanket back to her as she sat shivering in her chemise. How he’d known she’d finished undressing, Jennifer had no idea.
Two more blankets followed and finally she uttered a small, ‘You can turn round now.’
He turned back and eyed the mound of clothes on the bottom of the boat.
‘Fer cryin’ oot lood, it’s nae wonder it were like carryin’ a coo wi’ all that coverin’ ye,’ he commented, shaking his head. ‘We’ll nae be able tae dry it in a month o’ Sundays. Ah’ll have tae carry ye up.’
Jennifer reddened in mortification, assuming by coo he meant cow. ‘I wouldn’t wish you to strain anything,’ she declared stiffly. ‘After all, a man of your advancing years must take extra care when indulging in any kind of physical labour.’
She was satisfied to see his eyes narrow but, ‘Ah reckon ye’ll be as light as a feather wi’oot that ton o’ claes ower yer,’ was all he said.
Feeling somewhat mollified, Jennifer hunched down into her blankets. ‘Let me ken when ye’re guid an’ warm and we’ll start back up tae the hoose,’ he added.
‘Would it be acceptable for me to ask your name?’ Jennifer asked after a moment.
‘Ah dinnae ken – would it?’ he grinned at her, and her stomach did a sudden flip. His smile was truly devastating. Just as she was thinking how to reply to such a flippant response, he waved his hand and shrugged. ‘Dinnae fret, ah’m teasin’ yer. BrendonGalbraith at yer service, ma lady.’ He stood up and bowed with a flourish.
‘You’re the one applying for the position of Caerlaverock’s steward?’ Jennifer questioned in surprise.
‘Aye,’ he answered, sitting back down. ‘Well, I was. I dinnae ken whether turnin’ up wi’ the daughter o’ the Duke naur naked is gaunnae help wi’ it.’
‘How do you know I’m the Duke’s daughter?’ Jennifer quizzed, ignoring the bit about her being nearly naked.
‘Yer a Sassenach,’ he shrugged. ‘Ah dinnae ken who else ye can be.’
Jennifer frowned. Now he mentioned it, it wasn’t only his reputation at risk, but hers too. Even if it was his deuced fault for startling her in the first place. Biting her lip, she thought quickly. ‘Gifford said he was expecting you at two this afternoon. Do you have any idea what the time is now?’
‘There’s nae sun, but ah reckon it’s nae yet twalhoures.’ He saw Jennifer’s puzzled frown and added, ‘midday.’
‘So you still have at least two hours before you’re expected up at the house?’ Jennifer clarified. He nodded cautiously.
‘Then I suggest you take Flossy and walk up to the house. Once there you can ask whether anyone knows who she belongs to. Make sure you speak with my brother or my grandfather…’
‘Yer grandda’s here too?’
Jennifer frowned at the interruption. ‘Flossy belongs to him,’ she explained. ‘Please don’t interrupt.’ She thought for a second before continuing, ‘Tell them you found her wandering on her own.
‘Obviously they know Flossy came out with me this morning. Once they realise I’m missing, they’ll send out a search party.’She paused and tapped her fingers on the gunwale pensively. ‘I’ll say I slipped into the loch, managed to climb out, and realising I could not traverse the distance back to Caerlaverock while soaking wet, I discovered this boathouse, found it unlocked and came inside to remove my wet clothing and wait to be rescued. All eminently sensible.
‘Nobody will know we’ve been alone together, and you will be lauded a hero for drawing attention to my plight.’ She gave a satisfied chuckle. ‘Likely you’ll be offered the post of steward on the spot.’
‘Ah dinnae think ah can leave ye here alone,’ Brendon protested with a frown.
‘I’ll be perfectly fine,’ she answered firmly. ‘It will not take long for you to reach the house, and I’m entirely certain they’ll send a search party for me immediately.’
‘But ye’ll be here alone,’ he repeated patiently as if to a child.
‘I will be perfectly safe,’ she reiterated in the same slow tone. ‘Nobody but you knows I’m here.’
He stared at her in silence for a second, his face impassive. Then, ‘Are ye always this buckle-horned?’
She stared back, her lips quirking. ‘I’ve never heard the term buckle-horned, but I’ve been described as shockingly loose in the haft and I’m guessing that means the same thing.’
