He was teasing her, all right, the devil. He was trying to hide it, but Juliana could see just the tiniest grin lurking at one corner of his lips. She crossed her arms over her chest and fixedhim with the sternest look she could muster after having climbed him as if he were a tree, and she a squirrel. “You’re an odious, wicked, teasing man, Mr. Blair.”
His grin widened. “Not at all, lass. There really is a ghost in the tunnel. It isn’t a soldier, though, but my great-great-great uncle Mackenzie Blair, who’s said to haunt the cellars in search of a bottle of his favorite whisky.”
Juliana did her utmost to stifle her answering grin. “I never cared much for whisky. Now, Mr. Blair, if you’re quite finished, I’d be grateful if you’d take me above ground again. I’m certain Duncan must have gone out by now.”
He bowed. “We’ll go back through the library. It’s the closest.”
Juliana took up the fold of his coat she’d already ruined with her frantic clutching, and let him lead her through what felt like dozens of narrow passageways. Just as she was able to discern the light spilling into the tunnel from the library, Logan came to an abrupt halt.
Juliana’s fingers tightened on his coat. “What is it? More rats?”
He didn’t answer. He was advancing toward another of the shallow alcoves tucked into the wall at the end of an adjacent passage.
“Come out, Duncan.” Logan’s voice was kind, but firm.
There was a brief silence, then Juliana heard the unmistakable sound of a child’s sniffle. The little boy she’d seen earlier crept from the alcove. His small face was red, his eyes swollen, and his cheeks wet with tears.
“Don’t cry. It’s all right now.” Juliana darted forward, her arms stretched out instinctively for the child, but he wasn’t looking at her. He was looking at Logan.
Logan beckoned the boy forward, and knelt down so he could see his face. “Finlay and Brodie again?”
The boy nodded, and then, as if he couldn’t bear to contain his misery a moment longer, he let out a pitiful sob. “They laughed at me, an’ called me a baby, and then I said I wasna a baby, and they said prove it, an’—”
Logan sighed, and drew the little boy closer to stand between his knees. “And they sent you into the tunnel to prove it, and you got lost. Do you remember what I told you about Finlay and Brodie, Duncan?”
Duncan drew his sleeve across his running nose. “Aye, sir.”
“What was it?”
“Ye said to tell ’em the laird says I’m their brother an’ they best behave decent to me, sir.”
“Good. And what else did I tell you, privately?”
“Ye said they’d come ’round, an’ I ’spect they will, but it’s taking ever so long, an’ I don’t have anyone to play with.”
Logan chucked the little boy under the chin. “They’ll come ’round, Duncan, but until they do, why don’t you play with Isobel?”
Duncan stared at him, horrified. “But she’s agirl!”
Logan’s lips twitched. “A lad can’t have too many friends, and Isobel will be good to you.” He took Duncan by the shoulders and turned him to face Juliana. “See this lady here? She’s Mr. Fitz’s best friend.”
Duncan stared doubtfully up at her. “Hisbestfriend?”
The little lad had a mass of unruly red hair, and his big blue eyes were still swimming with tears. Juliana’s heart just melted for him. “His very best.” She sank down onto her knees so her face was even with the boy’s. “Girls make very good friends, Duncan—quite as good as boys, I daresay. I’m sure Mr. Fitz would tell you the same.”
Duncan rubbed the heels of his hands into his eyes, drew a shaky breath, and nodded.
“Go on and see if you can’t find Isobel, Duncan, and then next week you and I will go fishing in Ruthven Burn together.”
“Ye mean it, sir?” Duncan asked.
“Aye. We’ll bring a picnic, if you like.”
A radiant smile replaced the last of Duncan’s tears, and after a few more reassuring words from Logan, he allowed himself to be coaxed out of the tunnel. Logan gestured for Juliana to follow after him, then pushed the door that led from the library into the tunnel firmly closed behind them.
He reached down to tousle Duncan’s hair. “When you see Finlay and Brodie, tell them the laird’s looking for them.”
“Are you gonna thrash ’em?” Duncan asked hopefully.
