“Dae ye need anythin’ else?”
“I am fine, me lady, thank ye. Have you been here long? Waiting fer yer brother?”
Glowing blue eyes met his. “Me brother?”
“Bryce,” he reminded her. “Ye came with yer faither, I suppose.”
“A-aye.”
“He is here for a meetin’ with the laird. Will ye stay until he has concluded it?”
Her cheeks blushed scarlet. “Leavin’?”
Duncan chuckled, “Are ye feelin’ alright?”
She relaxed and quirked her lips, “I’m fine. Hurry, I will be waitin’ in the hall.”
Emily strode from his chambers. Duncan looked after her with a speculative expression. He was not stupid, there was only one reason why she’d be in the castle, at his mother’s side. When she reached the stairs. Emily returned abruptly. Caught staring, Duncan could not shut the door. He waited. “Forget somethin’?”
“The girl. Are ye certain she is tellin’ the truth?”
“I am.”
At the absolute belief in his voice, her eyes widened as she stared at him. “I am confused. ‘Tis nae like ye tae bring strays home. How long dae ye intend tae keep her?”
If he had his way… Duncan gave himself a silent warning. He had to act carefully, so as not to scare Jo away.
“Duncan,” Emily called. “Ye ken I was tutored by an Englishman. That girl, she speaks like one who is fakin’ her accent. Have ye tried tae find out about her clan, her roots? It seems she belongs to none and that alone is suspicious.”
“I appreciate yer concern, me lady. But this is me concern. The maid is behind ye, kindly make way.”
She blinked in surprise, then did as he asked. Duncan could not explain why he was supremely annoyed.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Grace had never seen so much food on one table at once. She was made to understand that this was a proper Scottish welcoming feast. There were several tables like that arranged around the hall. Before her, were roast chicken, pork, beef. All kinds of fragrant broths, soups, stews. Chunks of deliciously browned long bread, apples, cherries, and grapes. The wine flowed. Along with hearty laughs and buzzing conversation.
Duncan had dragged his sister over. “Meet Sheena,” he’d introduced. “Me sister.”
His sister had smiled and then held Grace’s hand to ask how she’d survived with the men out in the wild. Especially with her unruly brother. Grace had laughed at her easy countenance, fighting hard not to think about her own “brother”.
His mother, Lady Fiona, had joined them as well. She had fine lines on her beautiful face and carried herself and spoke with theelegance of one used to power . In a few words, she’d welcomed Grace, introduced her to a servant and assigned work to her.
Opposite her, Duncan sat on his father’s right. Next to him sat Craig and Bryce. Bryce and Sheena spent half the dinner ogling each other and anyone who had eyes could see that flush on Sheena’s cheeks.
Grace had the misfortune of sitting beside the icy girl.God forbid a kind word fell from those lips.She picked at the pieces of chicken on her plate, knocked grapes around and when she did look up, it was to stare at Duncan. The laird and his wife were engrossed in a conversation. Well, mostly his wife, but the man angled his head as though every word that fell from her lips was gold.
Bryce’s father, by the laird’s wife, would throw in an occasional jibe at his friend. He treated Laird Fergus like the disease was non-existent and his friend was still whole. Grace found it both painful and warm.
With her food, she was much like the woman by her side. She could not get a single thing down her throat. She forced herself to notice little things to distract her from the chaos in her mind. Every time she looked at Duncan, she tried to imagine him killing her father and failed.
The images highly contrasted with the way he’d treated her. But it was a war and he might have harmed her father like when he had fought the other night. This man across from her, was the reason she no longer had any family left in the world.
It was too bitter, and a sound escaped her lips. Icy Emily turned her head to stare at her.
“Is it nae tae yer taste?” Sheena asked before Emily could speak. “Cook does like her spice. Here, try this broth, tis much easier on the palate.”
Grace cleared her throat and thanked her. She accepted the bow Sheena offered her with a smile. Her mother happened to look over at that moment.
