Page 100 of The Laird’s Wrong Wife

Ceana laughed.

Oscar turned toward her, his correspondence forgotten. His eyes lingered on her smile. For six weeks, she had given him as much courtesy as was required. In fact, she kept the smile as Tommy beamed at her.

Tommy jumped down and unrolled the map across the herb packets. The paper curled toward his wrists, so Ceana caught one edge, while he weighed the other with a herb jar. Paisley’s careful handwriting filled the space beside the drawings. A green-brown stain marked one corner, and an inner passage had been drawn in a way Tommy could never have managed.

Ceana looked at Paisley, who bent over her book with sudden interest.

Oh, so that is how it is, is it nae?

Muriel sorted the packet Ceana had just tied. Oscar’s gaze traveled from the handwriting to the stain, then settled on Mairi, who was pouring tea.

“Ye may nae ask me for help,” Tommy announced. “And there could be nay more than two people per team.”

Ceana studied the first folded clue. “Then I intend to win.”

She heard Oscar’s breath catch softly and looked up. His attention had left the map. The tight line of his mouth softened as he watched her, and his hand closed slowly around the edge of the table.

Ceana turned to Paisley. “Will ye join me?”

Paisley glanced toward Oscar. “I cannae. I must see what Ness is doin’.”

Beyond the window, Ness stood beside a stable boy with her lead looped securely around the boy’s wrist. The goat was attempting to eat a broom.

“Aye. That looks urgent,” Ceana said.

Paisley gathered her book so quickly that a loose sheet slid from between its pages. She snatched it up, gave Ceana an apologetic smile, and left.

Ceana faced Muriel. “Shall we make a team?”

“I must gather herbs and leaves before the light fades.” Muriel rose beside a basket already filled to the brim. She gathered the ledger and the sealed reply, which slipped from beneath it.

Ceana caught the letter before it touched the floor. When she handed it back, Muriel’s fingers closed around hers for an instant.

“Thank ye,” Muriel murmured.

“I should hate for yer herbs to be delayed.”

The corner of her mouth lifted, and she left before Ceana could put another question to her.

Mairi set down the teapot. “I must inspect the repaired roof before the evenin’ meal.”

Lennan gathered his papers. “And I have a rider to prepare.”

Tommy darted after Paisley, calling that no one would persuade him to reveal another clue. Their steps soon faded beyond the door.

Ceana remained at one side of the table while Oscar approached the other. The map lay between them, held flat by the herb jar.

“If I am goin’ to have me signet ring returned before Lennan’s rider leaves,” Oscar said, “we must play together.”

“I am willin’ to help recover clan property, me Laird.”

His hand stopped above the map, and a muscle ticked in his jaw. “We’re alone; ye daenae have to be formal.”

“Well, I am only doin’ what ye asked me to do, remember?”

“Ceana.” His voice was low.

He held her gaze, shoulders squared across the narrow table, and offered no other words.