Niall certainly wouldn’t argue the point that Charlotte was clever. She had discerned—somehow—that Murray’s men were going to attack at Falkirk. He still wasn’t quite sure what to make of her claim to be from the future. Mayhap she’d had a head injury before Hogmanay that she didn’t remember. That might account for such a strange tale. Or maybe shehadbeen confined somewhere and still didn’t trust him enough to tell him where, for fear of being sent back. That thought stung a bit.
He hated having to deceive Greer, but having his father and brother believe the story he’d given them would keep Charlotte safe for now, until he could think things through to a logical conclusion.
“Clever enough,” Simon agreed, but still looked unconvinced. “I wonder if her real name is even Campbell.”
His father looked at him sharply. “Why do ye say that?”
Simon raised a brow. “’Tis just a thought, since she hasna exactly been truthful with us on other things.”
Niall felt his temper stir. “It would hardly becleverof her to call herself a Campbell at Inverness, would it? ’Tis nae love lost between us and the colonel at the fort.”
“True.” Greer frowned at her brother. “Why can ye nae accept who she is?”
“Because I doona ken who she is,” Simon answered.
“Never mind that for now.” Their father turned to Niall. “I am more interested in finding out how she knew about the attack at Falkirk when Fergus said Alcho hadn’t mentioned it.”
So his father had not believed him. Or, mayhap, he wanted Niall to tell him again. His father wasn’t referred to as “the Fox” for nothing. One of his favorite strategies was getting people to repeat themselves to see if he could catch them in a lie.
“I already told ye that it was assumption on my part.” He shrugged. “She may have agreed with me.”
“It doesna matter now, does it?” Greer asked. “So can we drop the matter? Charlotte has done nae harm and has only been helpful. The two of ye are always suspicious of everything.”
Neither his brother or father answered, but Niall didn’t think that meant they agreed with her. He could practically hear their minds churning.
Not that his own wasn’t churning too. There were still too many questions left unanswered, including the most important one.
Who really was Charlotte Campbell? He had to admit he had no idea.
Chapter Fourteen
“Ye seem restless today,” Greer remarked as she moved a chess piece on the board that had been set up in the solar.
Charlotte glanced out the window where swirling snow blocked any view and the low gray clouds let hardly any light in through the window where the sun usually shone through in the afternoons. “I just don’t like being stuck inside all day.”
As soon as the words were out, she regretted saying them. Greer gave her a quick cursory glance before intensely studying the chessboard as though one of the pieces might have moved itself. The whole family had been watching her since she’d made the new claim a few days ago that she had escaped from involuntary confinement elsewhere. They weren’t overt about it. Most of the glances were sidelong or suddenly focused on something near her if she looked at them, but Charlotte could feel the general uneasiness. Were they waiting for her to have some sort of episode? Or maybe go on a lunatic rant? She couldn’t really blame them for being cautious. She had not gone into detail—there weren’t any details—about why she had been confined or for what. She supposed she should consider herself lucky that they still allowed her a knife at the dinner table. She really needed to clarify.
“I meant that I don’t like stormy weather.”
“Aye.” Greer looked up, her expression neutral. “Hopefully the blizzard will nae last long this time.”
“I hope not. I hate to think of anyone being out in this.”
Greer smiled. “Ye mean Niall?”
Charlotte felt her face warm. Niall had left yesterday morning before the storm broke, headed for Dingwall to check the capacity of the harbor to accept French military vessels.
She wanted to tell him that the French would not be sending any more reinforcements to aid Scotland, but it was a fact she could not prove. He was still not convinced that what she’d told him was true. She didn’t want him doubting her further. Right now, though, she was more worried about his safety.
“I just hope he didn’t get caught out in the storm.”
“Doona fash. He’s been out in worse.”
“Worse?”
“Aye. This far north, squalls coming off the Moray Firth turn into blizzards quickly. He probably stayed at Dingwall.”
“But if he didn’t? If he’s out in this—” Charlotte let her voice trail off. She’d probably already expressed too much interest if the amused look on Greer’s face was any indication. She needed to be cautious in showing concern, since not only had Fiona made quite clear her intentions regarding Niall—which no doubt her father would approve—but Greer herself had told her abouttheirfather’s expectations.
