The fact that she was questioning herself so critically, only lent value to Alex’s suspicion. He had every reason to suspect her of spying. And the only way out of this keep was convincing him she wasn’t acting on behalf of the earl.
A knock on the door startled Keely. She sprang up from the comfortable chair. “Come in.”
The door opened, and a pretty, blond-haired maid came inside with a tray. “Lady Keely.” She did a half curtsy, then rushed to the table, setting the tray down. “My name is Leah.”
“Thank ye for the food, Leah.” Keely smiled.
“Laird MacKay asked me to serve as yer maid.”
“Did he?”
“Aye. Though my mother isna too pleased by it, tis my decision to make.”
How would the other women treat Leah for daring to serve an outcast? “If ye change yer mind, I’d understand. I doona wish for anyone to suffer because I’m here.”
Leah clicked her tongue. “Tis the older women who gossip the most.”
“Aye,” Keely acknowledged. “They’ve lived through unspeakable suffering. Today only serves as a bitter reminder of the past.”
“Is it true, milady?”
Keely snorted at the girl’s lack of manners, appreciating her unbridled curiosity. “What exactly are ye asking?”
“I am sorry.” Leah bowed her head.
“Doona apologize, Leah. Ask what ye will.”
Their gazes met, and Leah nodded. “Ye loved Alex but married Laird John?”
The girl reminded Keely so much of herself when she was but sixteen. “How old are ye, Leah?”
“Seventeen.”
“So very young,” Keely said.
“But ye are not much older, milady.”
“Perhaps not,” Keely said, “but I feel verra old today.”
“Ye’re tired, milady. In need of food and rest.”
“It will be verra hard to sleep after everything that happened…”
“Ye mean Angus’s death? Doona fash over that man,” Leah said. “He had a violent nature, always quick to anger—cruel to his wife and son.”
A new wave of sadness washed over Keely. “So I made a woman a widow and left her son fatherless?” Sinking onto a bench, Keely covered her face with both hands and took a shaky breath. “Is there no end to the bloodshed today?”
Keely heard the maid pour something into a cup, then she padded over to where Keely sat. “Some wine?”
Keely gazed up at her. “Thank ye.”
“Tis not yer fault, milady. Mary MacKay would praise ye for freeing her of such a husband if she could. He cared nothing for his family, often leaving them hungry and cold. Because of ye, in a few months, I am sure she will marry again.”
“How can ye be so sure?” Keely sipped her wine, savoring the full flavor, eager for the numbness it would bring.
“Though Mary does nothing unseemly, tis no secret she an Neil MacKay, one of Laird John’s captains, are in love.”
“Would Laird John have approved of the match?”
