Aye, the lady had a healthy distrust of him. Apparently, she had a healthy distrust of all men.
Who had hurt her to cause this?
He would pry the information out of Gwenys, for she was a pert, chatty thing.
Miranda, on the other hand, was completely closed up. Yet she could become someone quite wonderful if she ever learned to trust him.
But it was a stupid thought, because Miranda would never allow herself to get too close to him. No trust. Not ever. And she would never fall in love with him.
Why would she? He was a big oaf. He looked more like a brute than a proper duke.
Things might have been different had they not got off to such a terrible start. Mongo’s behavior had ruined any chances of forming a bond of affection with her. Theidjithad put a taint on every Lanark male.
“Thank ye, Mongo,” Bram muttered.
“What shall we do today?” Gwenys asked, obviously eager to see more of Edinburgh and not at all understanding the depth of Miranda’s ordeal.
Perhaps it was for the best. Miranda did not appear to like being fussed over.
Bram noticed Douglas’s eyes brighten as Gwenys spoke, and knew the lad would not mind escorting her wherever she wished to go. Well, Douglas was more than a mere lad, for he was a man full grown at five and twenty years old. Bram had noticed the cleverness in him ever since he was a child.
And then there was his brother, Mongo. How was it possible those two were spawned from the same seed?
“What do ye have in mind, Gwenys?” Douglas asked, his smile broad as he responded to her question with one of his own.
“More shopping, if you are not averse to it.”
Douglas nodded. “No’ at all. It will be my pleasure to take ye around. Where would ye like to browse first?”
“I noticed some fine woolen shops near Edinburgh Castle. Would you take me there?”
“Aye, lass. Sounds perfect. We can return here in time for ye to share afternoon tea with yer aunt. They do it very nicely here. Then ye can show yer aunt the lovely things ye’ve purchased.”
Gwenys turned to Miranda. “Oh, would you not come with us?”
Miranda glanced at Bram, then shook her head. “No, love. I’m still a bit achy and would just like to rest here for the day.”
Gwenys’s bright smile faded. “Then I’ll stay with you. Never mind about the woolen shops.”
Miranda patted her hand. “No, you go off and enjoy yourself. I’m sure you’ll have a much nicer time without me to slow you down.”
After a little more coaxing, Gwenys agreed to go off with Douglas for the day. Once the pair had left the table, Bram leaned forward. “Do ye wish me to escort ye to the magistrate’s office, Miranda? Or would ye prefer I summon him here?”
Her eyes rounded in surprise. “Is this why you thought I wanted to remain behind? To report Mongo and his companions?”
He nodded. “Isn’t it?”
She let out a breath. “I haven’t decided yet.”
Bram had not expected her hesitation. He was pleased, but had no intention of stopping her if she chose to move ahead and contact the magistrate.
But it did delight him that her reconsideration about Mongo might mean she was softening towardhim. “Miranda,” he said gently, “I know what Mongo did was wrong, and I will impose a suitable punishment on him if ye choose no’ to tell the magistrate anything. I promise ye, he will feel the consequences of his impetuous actions. I give ye my solemn word of honor.”
“Am I to trust your honor, Solway?”
“Aye. I may have many faults, but I am no liar. If I give ye my word, I shall always remain true to it.”
She took a sip of her tea and then set the cup down on the table with a slight tremble to her hand. “Would the same apply to your wedding vows?”
