Fiona’s lips twitched. “They likely know his version of it, which I would imagine varies some from mine.”
“I don’t like the idea of you going anywhere alone while they’re here, for that very reason. At least take Oscar with you when you ride into Strouth.”
A slow smile touched that mobile mouth of hers. “And there ye are, nae trying to forbid me from going at all. Do ye have a fever?”
“I know better than to attempt to stop you.” He gazed at her for a moment, then shook himself before Hugh could notice his employer was acting like a moonstruck puppy. “Dunncraigh wants to speak with me in the garden. Any idea what he might want?”
She shook her head. “They dunnae tell me anything. Just the two of ye?”
“That’s what it sounded like. Perhaps he wants to apologize for not giving Lattimer more of his attention.”
“I’ve nae wish fer more of his attention, thank ye very much. Nae if it comes with him and his men eating half the larder.”
When Hugh turned away to pile some plates, Gabriel leaned across the table. “What aboutmyattention?” he murmured.
Her smile deepened, color touching her cheeks. “I reckon we can discuss that later,” she returned in the same tone.
He felt those words all the way to his bones. “I look forward to it.”
After he finished eating he debated whether to station Kelgrove at one of the upstairs windows that overlooked the garden, but decided against it. Dunncraigh didn’t frighten him, and he saw no reason to give any indication otherwise. The knife in his boot should serve him well enough if any trouble did arise.
He found Dunncraigh standing beside the swan-adorned fountain in the center of the garden. Half the heads were broken off and the basin held only rainwater, but the view of the loch and the forest beyond was spectacular.
“Ye’re prompt,” the Maxwell said, his gaze remaining on the loch. “But in my experience military men generally are.”
“What experience is that?”
“I was three years old when I lost my father, grandfather, three uncles, and two cousins at Culloden,” Dunncraigh returned. “I’ve kept a careful eye on everything in a red coat since.”
“And I wasn’t born until several decades after Culloden, and I put on my red uniform twelve years ago. I’ve never fought a battle on British soil.”
Finally the duke faced him. “That doesnae make us friends.”
Gabriel took in the man’s relaxed posture, his open hands, his straightforward stance. Fisticuffs didn’t appear to be imminent, which was something, he supposed. “Does it make us enemies?”
“That depends, lad, on the next bit of this conversation. I told ye I inquired after purchasing Lattimer before the Crown tracked ye doon.”
“Yes.”
“Will ye sell it to me now?”
Even with the conversation headed in that direction, the blunt offer surprised Gabriel. This wasn’t the dance he’d expected. “Why would I?” he asked aloud, seeking more information.
“Because ye dunnae want it. It was never entailed as part of the first Lattimer’s properties; it’s yers to do with as ye please.”
“Did you have this conversation with my predecessor?”
“Aye, of a sort. He said the king put an English duke here to remind the Scots to behave, and he’d nae be the one to decide we’d been punished long enough.” Dunncraigh looked at him assessingly, the same way Gabriel viewed an open field likely to be littered with hidden enemy soldiers. “Times have changed since then. The laws have changed in our favor. And ye said ye want to go back to the army.”
“I do.”
“Then ye cannae be laird here.”
Gabriel lifted an eyebrow. Explanations were one thing. Orders were another. “I don’t think that’s up to you.”
Dunncraigh gave a slight nod. “Let me tell ye what I see here, and then ye decide, lad.”
This was becoming very interesting. “I’m listening.”
