I give it to him hesitantly, irrationally afraid that he'll take it away from me. And I want to keep reading it. I also don't want him mocking it anymore, and what if the fears his sister and mum voiced are somehow rooted in truth?
“Leith, you really ought to know that these books are entertaining but also…” his mum’s voice trails off before she finally finishes. “Troubling.”
Islan gives her a sharp look, but Flora continues. “Like it or not, Islan, he’s the Captain and ought to know.”
“Troubling? How so?” He leafs through the pages.
“It's not just that there are similarities,” she says. "It's more than that. It's as if the author herself lives here, knows what goes on, and even though the names are changed, the personality types are just like the people who live here.”
“Aye,” Islan says. “Only there are four brothers and two sisters. The eldest is the bravest and smartest.” Her eyes shine, for some reason, and her voice is a bit choked. “And the second eldest is… reserved. Introverted. He likes to read and chop wood for sport.”
“What do they look like?” he asks, still flipping through the pages.
Islan rolls her eyes. “Nothing like you blokes. They’re stunningly handsome with brilliant blue eyes and hard, powerful, muscled bodies.”
Leith smirks and hands me back the book. He leans in and whispers, “Tell me if they’re any good in bed, lass, and we’ll see if reality can outsmart fiction, hmm?”
I cast a furtive glance toward his mum and shake my head at him. Does he have no sense of decorum?
I text him.You would say that!
He smiles at me.
Islan wonders aloud. “The question is, if there was someone who knew our clan, why would they put us in a book? And who on earth would it be?"
At that moment, there's a large crashing sound in the pantry. Leith is on his feet before anyone else moves, and Flora stands stock-still. “Stay where you are, girls.”
But a moment later a sheepish girl, someone I recognize on their staff, comes out of the pantry with a broken bowl in hand.
“So sorry, ma’am, sir,” she says. “I came in a bit ago to get the place settings for the dinner table, but didn’t want to bother anyone.”
“Did you eavesdrop?” Leith asks, giving her that stern look I know so well. I cringe for the lass.
Her eyes widen, and she shakes her head from side to side. “No, sir! Never! I mean, I heard the conversation, but I wasn't eavesdropping. Did my best not to listen to a single word, I promise, especially about the book!”
Leith scowls at her. “Go, then. Out of here and do your work. And the next time you’re in a position where you may be eavesdropping, make yourself known immediately. Do you understand me?”
She nods and fairly flees the kitchen. Islan and Flora share a look, but I don't know what it means. Do they suspect her? It would make the most sense, that a member of their staff was the one that was spying. But why would a bestselling romance author be working as paid staff here?
“Hello in there! Anyone home?” I recognize Nan’s reedy voice before she comes in.
“Och, aye, come in, Nan,” Islan says. She gives her a kiss on her papery-thin cheek when she enters. “Are you okay?”
“Doin’ fine, lass, and how’s our silent visitor, hmm?” She winks at me. I wink back and give her a thumbs up, which makes even Leith chuckle.
I shift in my seat at the sound of his laugh, such a foreign sound, but one I’d give anything to hear. Over and over again.
“Now, look at this bonnie lass,” Nan says. She pats my shoulder with her little hand, and her voice hardens when she talks to Leith. “If you don’t keep this one, yer heid’s full o’mince, it is.”
I haven’t heard that expression in ages, and I love it. I’ll remember to ask him if he’s got a noggin’ full of mince later, when we’re alone.
Leith gives her a placating smile and changes the subject.
Why?
Is he uncomfortable talking about such things? I knew that a man like him couldn’t be happy with me because I don’t speak. A man of his rank ought to have a woman who can lead, like Flora.
We eat dinner with his family, and even Paisley joins us, but after dessert I'm ready to go back to his place. I need some quiet. I'm so unaccustomed to this level of socialization, it makes me uneasy, even though I don't speak. Somehow, it seems like he already understands this.
