Page 20 of A Dangerous Highland Affair

“It’s nae mistake!” piped up the large woman. “He’s a conman an’ a thief, an’ he still has the brooch!”

Neacal felt himself turn hot and clammy from the inside. Beads of sweat trickled down his forehead as his mind worked fast.

“Och nae,” he said, smoothly, his eyes darting into Teasag’s. “Listen, it’s all just a big misunderstanding…”

Staring into Teasag’s large, limpid blue eyes stopped Neacal in his tracks. She was so beautiful. For a moment, Neacal didn’t think he could continue. How could he possibly get away with this? Lying to Teasag’s face was the only option, and yet, as he tried to do it, he felt his tongue tie, his lips clumsy.

“It’s nae misunderstanding!” barked the woman, as behind her, the posse reassembled, as if they were getting ready for another attempt. “He’s got my brooch!”

“An’ my pearl earrings!” piped up a second, slighter woman by her side.

“An’ my sixpence!” said a third woman, with a stoop, coming to stand behind them.

Before he knew it, the crowd had reassembled and were pushing at him for an answer.

Beside him, Teasag was furious. “Nae,” she said, pushing with her slender arms against the crowd.

The larger woman looked at her menacingly. “Awa’ lassie, our quarrel’s nae wi’ ye…” she said, pushing a straggling hair back into its bun.

But Teasag placed herself in front of him, like a human shield, and then stood implacably.

“Nae,” she said simply, as Neacal’s heart shone. He could kiss this girl right now; her bravery had melted him. “I’ll nae let ye rip him to pieces like hounds wi’ a rabbit…”

“Yer friend is a thief!” hurled the larger woman who seemed to have appointed herself speaker for the group. Behind her, the other women nodded their heads.

“Nae, that cannae possibly be right!” said Teasag, outrage flashing in her bright blue eyes.

“It is,” said the larger one. Neacal gave a little shudder as she reached nearer towards him but could not quite get to where he was standing.

Although he was all ready to kick her off, he felt reluctant. Even despite everything, she was still a woman, and it didn’t sit right with Neacal to have to defend himself like that.

“He robbed us doon in the toon, at the market,” said the grim-faced woman with tightly drawn lips and permanently folded arms. “We only want what’s ours!” she agitated.

“Well, he cannae ha’ done,” stated Teasag confidently. She walked around, nearer to Neacal, watching him closely. “He was wi’ me all morning until just now!”

Neacal’s conscience was stung. Turning his head around fast, he couldn’t help wondering what on earth was going on. But Teasag was smiling serenely as if there was nothing to worry about.

“With ye? He cannae ha’ been!” stated the larger woman, but to his surprise, she seemed to be taking the idea on board.

“Aye, an’ I can tell ye he couldnae be the person ye think,” said Teasag calmly.

One by one, the women inched forwards to listen to her as Neacal could only look on, astonished.

“Look how busy the streets of the toon were. It could have been anyone who robbed ye!” she reasoned.

“Aye, I was wi’ her most of the morning,” Neacal added. “Like I said, ladies, yer mistaken… an’ I dinnae have any brooches…!”

For good measure, Neacal pulled out his sporran and opened it dramatically.

“Look, it’s empty,” he said, flinging the worn leather purse onto the grounds in front of them. “Och! I dinnae have any of yer jewelry in here,” he said plaintively.

Now the assorted faces looked less sure than they were before. Neacal couldn’t help but stare in wonder at the way they seemed to be controlled wholesale by the sinister woman with the bun.

“Aye, of course, it is!” said Teasag stoically. By now, she had retreated a little, as the threat to him seemed to subside. She smiled modestly as the women looked uncertain. “Ye can see this lad’s nae a thief!”

Neacal felt his cheeks buzz with shame as the cold metal slab in his shoe chafed him.

“Hm,” muttered one of the women. She didn’t sound awfully convinced, but it had been enough to stop her from going any further. Gradually, the mob dispersed, dotting out into ones and twos by the roadside that led to the town.