She shook her head. “No one.”
“Surely there is someone—”
“There are women who are kind, men who are generous, but they are busy with their own work. They care nothing for me except in the services I can provide when someone is ill.”
He was silent, his hand continuing the stroke along her shoulder. She thought for a moment that he had accepted her words, but very soon he was at it again with questions she thought had obvious answers.
“How do you know they care nothing for you?”
“They just don’t.”
“Do they beat you? Say mean things to you?”
“They wouldn’t dare. Otherwise, I might be busy next time someone scrapes up a leg or catches a fever.”
“So you threaten them.”
She shoved back. “Never! I have never said such a thing to them. My uncle has threatened it if they don’t follow his orders, but I have never refused anyone who asked for aid. Even at times when my uncle forbade it.”
His brows rose. “Did that happen often?”
She shook her head. “Only twice after my mother disappeared.”
“So they have cause to be grateful to you.”
She huffed out an irritated breath. “Grateful, yes. Bold enough to defy my uncle? No.”
“Did you ever ask?”
“No!”
“Then how do you know they wouldn’t help you?”
She stared at him, struggling for the words that would make him understand. “My uncle is in charge, and no one fights him.”
“Has anyone ever tried?”
“My mother did after my father died. She was sure Papa had been poisoned, but there was no proof. And my uncle acted so grieved and outraged by the suggestion, no one listened.” Iseabail took a deep breath. “They did not stand up when my father died. They did nothing when my mother disappeared. Why would I think they would do anything for me?”
“Did you ask them after your mother disappeared?”
She sighed. “To do what? My mother was gone. None had seen her. What could I ask them to do?”
“So you kept quiet. You feared your uncle and did not trust that anyone would fight for you.”
“Because no one would!”
“Did you ask them?”
She glared at him. Why wouldn’t he understand? “They didn’t stand up for my father, they didn’t find my mother. Who would care about me?”
“A great many, I think. Did anyone look for your mother? Or was it just you?”
She swallowed down the painful memories of that time. She didn’t even want to look at something buried so deeply. But his words forced her, and honesty made her confess the truth. “I already told you. There was a search party led by Hamish.” She rolled her eyes. “They stomped around for a day and declared her gone. My uncle made a great show of grief.”
He touched her hand. “I do not mean to upset you—”
“This is very upsetting!”
