“No. But she’s convinced I eventually will. Lots of them.”
The corner of my mouth lifts despite myself.
“She already interrogated me during consultations, you know. About Edinburgh. About why I left.”
“And what did you tell her?”
“The same thing I said tonight.”
“She didn’t believe you.”
“No one believes me.”
Mary turns toward me.
“Why did you really leave?”
For a moment, I lose myself in her gaze.
There’s genuine interest in her eyes.
Nothing invasive.
Nothing malicious.
Just sincere curiosity.
The thought of telling her the truth brushes against my mind, but I immediately shove it away.
I have to remember that in the Highlands, no one is my ally.
Least of all Maggie McGregor’s granddaughter.
“It’s complicated,” I evade.
“It’s always complicated.”
I don’t answer.
She doesn’t push.
Point for her.
“I’m not responsible for Jamie leaving,” she suddenly says. “In case you were wondering.”
“I wasn’t.”
“Liar.”
“All right. Maybe a little.”
She smiles.
A real smile this time.
“He had his reasons, but Maggie prefers imagining romantic drama everywhere.”
“She’s intense.”
