Page 64 of Beguiled

“Do you trustme?” Murdo asked. He sounded almost diffident, as though the answer to his question was of little more than passing interest.

But when David whispered, “There’s no one I trust more, I think,” the tension in him seemed to drain away.

“You need to eat,” Murdo said after a few minutes. “I’ll get some broth brought up for you.”

He began to shift till David put a hand on his leg, staying him. “Don’t go yet.”

Murdo didn’t say anything in reply, but he stayed where he was, and they sat there for a while after, Murdo’s long fingers still stroking David’s shoulder.

Chalmers came the next afternoon.

David had been moved to a long couch in the study. He was reading a volume of essays when Murdo looked in.

“Mr. Chalmers is here,” Murdo said. “Donald Ferguson’s with him, but Chalmers wants to talk to you alone first. Do you feel up to it?”

“Yes, of course,” David said, bracing himself on his elbow and pulling himself painfully into a more upright position. As well as a fractured skull and broken leg, he had bruised his ribs, and they screamed with agony whenever he moved.

Murdo nodded and withdrew. A few minutes later, he returned with Chalmers on his arm. The older man’s gait was slow and painful. He seemed worse—markedly so—from when David had last seen him.

“You shouldn’t be out,” David scolded, and Chalmers grimaced.

“I had to see you,” the older man said. “Before you go to Perthshire.”

Murdo helped Chalmers settle into the armchair next to David’s couch. “I’ll leave you alone to talk,” he said diplomatically and withdrew.

Chalmers stared at the closed door for a moment after Murdo left. “He’s been very kind to you,” he said.

David couldn’t read anything in the older man’s tone. In the end, he simply agreed, offering no explanation. “Yes, he has.”

“A good friend,” Chalmers concluded. “If an unexpected one.”

“Very true,” David agreed and smiled, more to himself than at Chalmers.

“I’m so sorry this happened to you,” Chalmers said without further preamble. “All because you were helping my girl.”

“I’m just glad she got away.”

“I’ve had a note from her,” Chalmers said. “It arrived yesterday morning.” He fished in his pocket and drew it out, handing it to David.

The quality of the paper was poor and the writing slapdash.

Dearest Papa,

You will know by now that I have run away from K.

Thank you for the money you sent for me by way of D L. It means more to me than mere gold—to know you love me still is the greatest blessing I could ask for.

Know that I am safe and well. I am travelling with a kind man who is a friend of D L’s. He will see me safely settled when we arrive at our destination. As soon as I can, I will write to you properly and send you my direction.

Send me news of D L when you write. I pray all is well with him, and that K has not harmed him in retribution for helping me.

I love you, Papa. My greatest wish is to see you again, one day.

Your loving daughter,

E

When David looked up, Chalmers had tears in his eyes.