Winnifred cocked her head. And here she’d thought she had to live up to the reputation of a true lady of the manor. “Sin doesn’t speak much of his father. What was he like?”
Deirdre’s shoulders rounded. “He was a good man. Too soft for this world, but good.”
Too soft? Winnifred had seen his portrait. Like every other Dunkeld, the third marquess looked anything but soft. “W—"
“So, are ye saying you’d like to help me in the garden? My son has indicated that you have some knowledge when it comes to agriculture.” Deirdre fisted her hands on her hips as she gazed over her stunted plants. “That might come in useful.”
An olive branch if she ever saw it, and Winnifred gratefully grabbed ahold of it. “I’d love to. Just not right this moment.”
At her mother-in-law’s arched eyebrow, she hurried on. “My husband has two friends visiting. I left them in my sitting room. The Earl of Summerset and the Baron of Sutton.”
Deirdre’s face lit up. “John and Max are here! How lovely. Give me a moment to clean up and I’ll join you.”
Winnifred nodded. She tried a tentative smile in the woman’s direction. It was ignored. Oh well. She turned and slid through the door, closing it before Banquo could enter with his dirty paws. She’d made a small bit of progress today. It would have to be enough for now.
Loud voices slowed her steps as she approached the drawing room. Something smashed into the wall, and she froze outside the door.
“And I’ll tell ye for the last bloody time, she didn’t trap me.” Sin’s voice was as hot as a volcanic eruption. “Saying such insults her honor. And insulting her honor, insults mine. I willnae give you another warning.”
Winnifred swallowed. She didn’t want to be the cause of a rift between Sin and his friends. Never wanted to give him reason to regret their marriage. She leaned forward, pressing her ear to the crack of the door.
“Everyone, calm down,” Sutton said. “We have matters more important to discuss than the circumstances of Dunkeld’s marriage. No offense.” There were some soft thuds, like furniture being moved. “Besides, Summerset only has a bee in his smallclothes because he’s the only bachelor left in our group. He feels abandoned.”
“I bloody do not!” Summerset shouted over Sin’s “None taken.”
“Liverpool asked us to come to Scotland to help you investigate,” Sutton said. “There are more and more rumblings in parliament about possible rebellion. He’d like us to find evidence to discredit the movement.”
“Or concoct some,” Summerset said, his voice a cynical drawl.
“I understand the prime minister’s concerns, but I won’t be a party to slandering a good Scot.”
Winnifred pressed closer. Sin sounded tired, and she wondered about this job of his. Was it one he found fulfilling, or was it only a duty? He had so many already. His shoulders were broad, but not wide enough to hold the burdens of the world.
She only had a moment’s warning. The sound of his nails was muffled on the long rug running down the hallway. His excited huff had her spinning a moment before his paws knocked into her chest, sending her back through the drawing room doors.
She tumbled through with a cry, hitting the thin carpet hard. Banquo stood over her, panting happily and woofing at the three men, like he’d just retrieved the biggest stick in the world.
***
Sin rushed forward and pulled the dog off his wife. “Are you hurt?” he asked, helping her to her feet.
Winnifred rubbed her bum. “Only my … back.”
His lips twitched. He could take care of her … back later. When he showed her how naughty wives who lurked outside doors were punished.
He turned to Banquo. “Bad dog. What have I said about jumping on people?”
The deerhound whined and dropped to the floor, tucking his grey head under his paw.
Summerset flicked his pocket square from his jacket and waved it at Winnifred. “You have a little mud on you. Just there.”
Winnifred looked down, and flushed beet red. She snatched the handkerchief and spun, giving Summerset and Sutton her back as she tried to brush the two brown paw prints from her breasts.
Sutton smothered a chuckle, and even Summerset looked genuinely amused. Which meant they had both been looking at his wife’s breasts.
Sin narrowed his eyes and stepped between his wife and his friends. Dirty, rotten, buggers, all of them.
She turned back around and sighed. “Are you leaving again?”
