Talia widened her eyes, feigning shock.
Jenson balked. “Maither.” Lady McGhee looked up from her tea. “Do ye see how she slanders me?”
“Is what she says far from the truth?” Lady McGhee cocked one straight eyebrow.
“I see ye’ve also fallen victim to gossip.”
“Daenae ye worry yerself, I shall bring up the matter with yer braither. Cohen, can I entrust ye with this?”
Cohen rose, lifted a hand to his head, and saluted her. “The boss shall be informed.”
It felt as though they were sharing a joke at both Jenson’s and Darragh’s expense.
“I should like to withdraw me case from Court until I am provided with a more genial inspector.”
Talia ate quietly as they continued to joke, which she came to understand was about Darragh.
As if the man was disturbed by the repeated mentions of him, he appeared in the doorway. But by then, she had finished her meal.
Lady McGhee smiled up at him. “Darragh, do sit with us.”
He smiled politely. At that moment, he resembled a different man. A caring man.
“Another time,” he said ruefully. “Miss Collins, come with me.” He turned around, confident she would follow him.
What she would have done if his family were not present…
She excused herself and trailed behind him.
“How was yer meal?”
An attempt at cordiality? Ha! As if she would go along with it, not when he had been so rude to her. So she did not respond.
Eventually, they stepped into the Great Hall. Darragh stood by the entrance and stepped aside for her, allowing her to cast a curious eye about the room.
The Great Hall was large and sparsely furnished. A grandfather clock stood in all its ancient glory, overlooking the room. If sunlight hit it at an angle, it would be impossible to read. Other than the armchair Darragh was occupying, the two sofas facing one another, and the low-legged table atop which a teapot and two teacups sat, there was only the fireplace.
Despite that, the furniture was arranged in a way that made her wonder whether she had imagined the unused space.
She turned back to him with a cautious look. His chivalry was suspicious. As she walked past him, his eyes flashed with an unfathomable emotion, and he appraised her from head to toe.
To her surprise, a strange man walked into the hall then, causing her to turn around. He looked young, younger than Darragh and older than her. He stood with his hands clasped in front of him. No confident young man could have a posture that bad.
She glanced at Darragh, but he was looking at the man. Neither of them said anything. So she reverted to studying the man. Outwardly, he looked well, other than the strong stench of diffidence.
She could not put a finger on it. Was he afflicted with an illness that required him to seek her out miles away from her abode? She was confident in her skills as a healer, but a lack of suspicion would be complacency. She was not a proud person.
“Miss Collins.” Darragh walked ahead of her and stopped next to the man. The man looked too small next to him. He seemed to realize that, as he puffed out his chest like a peacock. “Allow me to introduce to ye Mr. Joshua Ross.”
Mr. Ross smirked.
“Good day, sir.” Talia’s tone was not that of a confident healer, but that of a woman under the mercy of two dubious men.
Mr. Ross stared at her, and she stared back.
What was happening?
Darragh left his side, and she watched him almost with a plea.
