Donald grabbed the donkey’s mane, preparing to climb off.
Gavin raised his hand. “Dunnae be a fool, lad. She is a marquess’s wife. Now, run along. Spread yer poison in another neighborhood.”
Donald’s narrow shoulders heaved. “This won’t be forgotten.”
Winnifred didn’t know if he meant her insults or Gavin’s dismissal. It didn’t matter. The pathetic worm was unjustly arrogant. He only imagined power, wielding none of his own.
Digging his heels into the donkey’s sides, he turned the animal and trotted away.
“You’ve made yerself an enemy, milady.” Gavin watched Donald until the donkey carried him off his property. He turned to Winnifred with a rueful smile. “I suppose yer in good company.”
She tugged at the hem of her spencer, boxing her anger back into its proper place. She took a deep breath. “Men like Donald don’t worry me.”
And yet she remained unsettled. As she took her leave and climbed into her cart next to a footman, she wondered why. She waved one last time to Gavin, everything about her appearance exuding calm.
But inside, stomach was twisting and flopping like a fish out of water.
She didn’t fear little weasels, but the men he could inflame …?
Well, that was an entirely different story.
Chapter Twenty-Three
“You just missed yer wife.” Gavin greeted him with a hearty handshake and backslap as Sin climbed down from his mount. “She left here nae ten minutes ago.”
Sin dropped his horse’s reins, knowing the animal wouldn’t wander far. He rolled his shoulders. “She must have returned by way of Inver. I didn’t pass her. How fares your experiment?”
“It’s too early to tell, but I have nae doubt that your wife will get the right end of it.” He shook his head. “She’s a clever one.”
Sin pulled in a deep breath. That she was.
If only— Sin cut off that ungrateful thought. Her lack of love was just something he’d have to work on.
Gavin shifted. “She also might be a wee bit upset that you dinnae tell her about yer ball.” He stared down at his boots. “I might have made mention of it to her.”
Sin sighed. “It wasn’t a secret; I just hadn’t gotten around to telling her.” They had been politely avoiding each other since his declaration of love. An awkwardness descending over their marriage that he didn’t know how to alleviate.
His friend’s expression clouded. “Did you also nae pass that friend of hers, MacConnell? He was here, too.”
The hair on the back of his neck stood on end. He narrowed his gaze on his friend, trying to read it. “And? What did he have to say for himself?”
Gavin shrugged and picked a hoe from the ground. “His usual nonsense.” But he hesitated, and Sin’s hackles raised further.
“There’s more.” Sin gripped his hips. “What is it? Do you think he is finding success rousing my tenants to rebellion?”
“No.” Gavin ran his hand up the back of his head. “I mean, there has been some talk, but I think for the most part yer people are loyal to ye, and therefore the union betwixt the countries. But that wasn’t what worries me.”
Sin was losing his patience. “Well, what does?”
“The way he was looking at Lady Winnifred.”
Sin flexed his fingers, his knuckles cracking. “How did he look at my wife?” His voice was low. Deadly. It matched the way he felt. If that little pus bucket had done anything to insult his wife, his life was forfeit.
Gavin flushed. “Well, Lady Winnifred had some choice words of her own which MacConnell didn’t take kindly to. He made some mention that women like her used to have their tongues cut out and— bugger, where are ye going?” He leaned on the handle of his tool. “Ye only just arrived.”
Sin swung into his saddle. Any thoughts of sharing a mug of ale with his friend evaporating. “In which direction did he go?”
“Now, Dunkeld, there’s no need to go rushing—”
