She gasped and gaped at him. “Prey?”
Officer Reese dashed over. “Please, Lieutenant. I was guarding her the entire time.”
Lachlan softened his gaze for the shy Wren. “Do you understand? I am bound by law. I cannae warn my parents about her. I cannae tell them who she is. I want to protect them, but—”
“Protect?” Cilla’s mouth fell open, and her lips quivered. “You think I’d hurt them?”
Lachlan’s tongue froze. What exactly did he think she’d do?
The quivering spread up Cilla’s reddening face. “Why would I hurt the only people who have been kind—” Her voice broke, and she shook her head as if embarrassed by her own emotion.
Guilt welled up inside him.
“I—I apologize, Lieutenant.” The Wren clamped one hand on her hat. “I’m the one who accepted the invitation. Cilla tried to make an excuse, but she’s supposed to be an innocent civilian, a refugee. What excuse would your parents have accepted?”
None. Lachlan drew a deep breath into his cooling, hollowing-out chest. “I’m the one who should apologize. I do apologize, to both of you. Please forgive me.”
“I understand.” Cilla squared her slim shoulders. “You love your parents, and you mean well.”
Meaning well didn’t always mean acting well. “You meant well too—both of you.”
“We had to leave early anyway.” Officer Reese’s light brown eyes stayed round with contrition. “I’m allergic to dogs.”
“Aye, my mother mentioned that.”
“We didn’t discuss anything dangerous, did we, Cilla? Yourfather talked about his work, and your mother asked where I was from.”
Cilla sniffed. “I’m afraid your brother was rather rude to her.”
Mother hadn’t mentioned that, and the simmer returned to his chest. “What did he say?”
“He asked how she—as a Welshwoman—could justify wearing an English uniform.” Cilla slung a basket over her elbow and crossed her arms.
“Neil ...”
“I gather you two don’t get on.”
“No.”
“I wish I was as clever as Cilla,” the Wren said. “She stood up for me.”
She did? Lachlan raised his eyebrows at the double agent.
Cilla shrugged. “Neil said he believes in home rule free of English oppression. I said Officer Reese also believes in home rule—free of Nazi oppression. I admit I liked seeing him taken aback. I don’t like bullies.”
Neither did Lachlan. And he’d always admired those who defended the vulnerable.
Cilla took one step closer, her gaze intense. “Neil said he belongs to Free Caledonia. It’s a separatist group, yes?”
“Aye, a radical one.”
A spark danced in her eyes. “That’s why you told Yardley you could provide information about the separatists.”
“Aye. He knows my family history.”
“Kraus wants to know about these groups.”
Officer Reese sighed. “Yardley doesn’t wish to pursue that.”
