It remained closed.
Where was he?
Duncan stayed away from the breakfast room on purpose.
He had tried to work and failed at it in a way that irritated him, since he had gone over the same page twice without taking in a word. Every time he forced his attention back to the papers on his desk, his mind returned to Charity in his study the night before, angry and flushed.
God.How badly he had wanted to kiss her at that moment. He swore under his breath and pushed the papers aside.
A knock sounded at the door.
“Come in,” Duncan said.
Malcolm stepped in, shut the door, and looked at him for one long second before lifting a brow.
“Aye, I can come back later if yer busy?”
“If you’ve come in to be entertaining, leave,” Duncan replied, a bit briskly.
“I came to ask if ye still want the steward after noon,” Malcolm said, moving farther into the room and sitting withoutinvitation. “But since ye missed breakfast and look like ye slept badly, I’d say the steward can wait a moment.”
“You take far too much interest in my mornings,” Duncan gave him a flat look.
“Only noticin' your expression, which is worried,” Malcolm said. “That usually means trouble.”
Duncan leaned back in his chair, then said, in the plainest version of the truth, “I found the girls outside last night trying to leave, and I brought them back.”
“Leave the castle?” Malcolm’s brows rose.
“Aye.”
“And Charity was pleased, I suppose?”
“What do you think?” Duncan looked at him. “She was not happy and came to my study after.”
“Was it a very serious conversation? Has she called off yer weddin'?”
Duncan’s expression shut down at once, and he realized that something that he did not even want to joke about.
“Do not start prying.”
“I’m nae pryin',” Malcolm said. “I’m tryin' to work out if I tell ye to stay out of her way till ye’ve got yourself in hand.”
Duncan was quiet for a moment, then said, “I called her ungrateful.”
“Aye. That’ll do it.”
Duncan stood and moved away from the desk, too restless to stay still. “She stood there telling me I had no right to step in after I brought her sisters back safely, and I lost patience.”
Malcolm watched him cross to the hearth. “So ye're avoidin' her now?”
Duncan glared at him.
“Ye’re hiding in here,” Malcolm said plainly. “Call it what ye like.”
“This marriage is an arrangement. It has a purpose, and the purpose is plain enough. Stability, that is what it is.”
Malcolm said nothing, which made Duncan continue.
