Page 78 of Claimed Highland Brides

CROSSROADS

Jamesina honestly did not know what to make of the Englishman that had enjoined himself into their party. He rode behind the wagon, answering all of Daividh’s questions with a studied openness. Yet there was something about him…Jamesina could not quite put her finger on what it was. His demeanor, or maybe just something in his eyes. He wanted this too much.

“What are ye gawkin’ at?” Ùna blinked curiously at Jamesina, making her blush at being caught out.

“Nothing. I am gawking at nothing and nobody,” Jamesina said with as much dignity as she could manage on short notice.

Ùna giggled. “Ye’re a terrible liar.”

Jamesina pinched her nose. “Haud yer whist! What do ye ken aboot lying?”

“Enough to ken how tae do it wi’out being caught out.” Ùna grinned mischievously at Jamesina.

“Who’s lying?” Fenella called from her seat atop the sack of beans in the wagon.

Jamesina snorted. “Ye’re such a busybody. Keep yer nose oot o’ other people’s business.”

Instead of complying, Fenella got to her feet and wobbled over to their side of the wagon. She plopped down next to Ùna, crossing her legs and smiling. “Tell me.”

Ùna immediately obliged. “Jamesina was staring at the Sassenach but she wilnae admit it.”

Fenella immediately grinned, brown eyes dancing with mischief. “Oho, ye like him?”

“I dinnae like him. I’m just curious as to why he wanted a job wi’ Daividh sae badly. ’Tis a bit suspicious do ye no think?”

Fenella frowned, tossing a lock of chestnut hair back from her face. “Why would he no want a job wi’ Daividh? He will be well compensated and have a roof over his head. If he didnae have those two things before, then o’ course he wants the job.”

Jamesina sighed. Her sisters just didn’t understand.

* * *

Delwyn knew he had to be careful. In spite of the fact that he’d brought him along for the journey home, he knew the laird of Braenaird Keep did not trust him.

Rightly so.

He sighed, arranging his face in as pleasant an expression as he could manage as he answered the laird’s questions. He could feel the girl’s eyes on him, the one who reminded him of nothing so much as a doe, with the freckles all across her nose and her wide brown eyes. Admittedly, her mane of hair was quite a bit fierier than any doe he’d seen but still, the image remained.

He wanted to turn his head and look at her, but he dared not. He did not need his knowledge of the mines to know that this laird was protective of his sisters-in-law. It was clear in how stiffly ready he sat, ready to fend off any threat.

It was clear in how suspiciously he watched Delwyn, as if daring him to so much as glance at one of them. He had the feeling that he would find himself abandoned at the roadside without further ado should he be so foolish.

So he set out to be pleasant to Laird Campbell and convince him that Delwyn was going to be the most trustworthy steward he’d ever had.

“But how did ye come tae be in Scotland? Did ye no have any prospects in England?”

Delwyn looked away from the laird, feigning embarrassment. “I didn’t want to stay somewhere where they all knew me. I would be the talk of the town were I to take a steward position for an Englishman.”

“Aye but why Scotland? Ye lot prefer France do ye no? Or Spain?”

Delwyn swallowed. “Yes, that’s true. And indeed, I was on my way to France when in Dover. Unfortunately, I encountered brigands who robbed me of my remaining purse. I had a friend who offered free boarding on a ship to Scotland so I took the chance.”

“And ye decided tae brave the countryside rather than stay in Edinburgh?”

Delwyn shrugged noncommittally. “I did try to find a position but…well, I didn’t manage. One of the serving girls at the inn where I was staying thought I might have better luck offering my services to a laird when she saw me reading a French novel.”

“Ah. I see. Weel, I suppose France’s loss is our gain!”

“I do hope so. I am very much enjoying your countryside. Very bleak views but filled with haunting beauty and mystery.” Delwyn was glad to be able to speak truthfully.