His mouth curved in a grim half smile. “Do ye now? Might I have a look at it?”
Mr. Kimes cleared his throat. “I’ll have a breath of air, I reckon,” he said, and bowing like a frightened bird, brushed past her out the door.
“He seems terrified of me,” she noted, nudging the door closed with her hip. “What in the world did you tell him?”
Callum shrugged. “I said he could disagree with me about whatever he chose, unless it was someaught involving seeing ye and the bug kept safe and comfortable. And that the last lad to threaten yer safety got tossed out my window.”
“Ah. I’m flattered then, I suppose. But I’m hardly that delicate.”
He took the note from her outstretched fingers. “Ye’re precious to me.” In his mind that seemed to answer everything, because without another word he unfolded the missive and read through it. Abruptly he looked up again, his brows diving together in a deep frown. “Nae.”
“It’s perfect, Callum. You will very nearly have the run of Maxwell Hall.”
Moving around the desk, he stopped so close to her she had to tilt her chin up to look him in the eyes. “Do ye think for a minute that I’ll allow ye to go to a luncheon with the duchessandDunncraigh? Nae. Ye write ’em back and tell ’em I forbid it.”
“I seem to recall that your concern was for Margaret, and that I could do as I liked.”
“Ye mean to hold me to that? That was nearly a month ago, when I’d nae sorted things out.” He caught hold of her arm, not gently. “Ye may have spent time with the Maxwell and his bonny wife before I came back here, but I’m here now. Ye cannae.“He turned around to swear vehemently at the papers on his desk, as if they’d personally offended him. “Nae, Rebecca. It’s too dangerous.”
She resisted the urge to rub her arm, and instead put her palm on his back. “Ihavedined with them before. No, I don’t like the idea of sitting across a table from that… man. But this is our plan. Isn’t it? Let them have enough hope to continue, and see to it they’re worried enough that they rush their plans and make mistakes?Set them off balance and give us time to find what we need? That’s precisely what they’ve done. They’ve just given you time and opportunity to break into their blasted house and find those ledgers.”
“Ye—”
“Don’t you dare tell me what I’m not permitted to do, Callum MacCreath. I won’t stand for it. I was naïve. I was never stupid. We will have luncheon at Alba Gàrradh, a respectable restaurant, in front of other people. I will take my own carriage there and back again. And I will bring a driver and a groom with me to watch the doors and make certain I won’t be going anywhere against my will.”
His jaw clenched, he stalked away from her. She had no doubt in the world that he could physically prevent her from doing any of the things she’d just said. If she admitted to thinking that by taking more of a risk herself, she would enable him to take a little less, he’d likely lock her in her bedchamber. At this moment, before the Maxwell realized she would not be convinced to marry Lord Stapp, she had a certain immunity. Dunncraigh wouldn’t murder her, not while she literally owned the keys to his kingdom.
“I dunnae like it.”
“I know you don’t. I don’t like it, either. But it’s necessary.”
Callum walked back up to her. She opened her mouth, ready to protest that she wasn’t a child and would not be locked away like one, but he took her hand and placed her palm over his chest. Beneath her fingers his heart beat hard and fast. “I should be the one taking risks. It shouldnae be ye.”
“I think I’ve left plenty of risks for you, Callum. I’m eating a meal. You’re breaking into the home of the chief of clan Maxwell.”
From his short breath, he wasn’t convinced. “If ye hear anything—anything—that makes ye nervous, ye’re to stand up and go to the maître d’ and tell him ye need some air. Is that clear?”
“What’s the maître d’ to do about that?”
“Considering that the moment we finish here I’m riding out to the Alba Gàrradh and paying him two hundred quid to see ye kept safe, I imagine he can do a great deal.”
Goodness. He’d agreed. Attempting to hide her surprise, she leaned up and kissed him on the cheek. “I’ll be fine. I’m much more worried about you.”
Covering her hand with his, he kissed her back on the mouth. “Stubborn woman. Dunnae try to get them to admit to someaught, and for the devil’s sake, dunnae agree to anything. It’s just a luncheon, and ye’re looking for advice because ye dunnae want to be parted from Mags.”
So now he thought she would suddenly become an idiot and end up married over tea. Rebecca tried to tug her hand free, but he held her there with his. “I know what it is,” she stated.
“Are ye angry?”
“Yes, I am.”
“Good. Ye hold on to that.” With that he let her go and left the office.
Yes, parts of the man resembled the boy she’d known ten years ago, but not many of them. She did recall how angry he could make her, but that had generally been because he was drunk or just back from bedding some silly young thing who thought she could tame him. Now he’d done it to give her strength. The boy no longer existed. The man knew what he wanted and went after it.
The man still remained fierce and stubborn, but at least he listened. And he’d just proven that he couldbend. As for taming him, she rather enjoyed the wildness in his soul. It made her feel warm and protected and wanted. After fourteen months of being alone, and nine years of… not coldness, but moderation, she supposed it was, the heat of Callum MacCreath intoxicated her.
If she’d gone away with him ten years ago, he likely would have destroyed her along with himself. She wouldn’t have been strong enough, wise enough, to stand against him. They’d both learned a great deal since then. And painful as the lessons had been for both of them, without those experiences they would never have been able to find this moment.
