Page 31 of Death at a Highland Wedding

“Okay, so it could be Violet or Fiona, but it’s more likely Edith Frye. And whoever it is, it’s none of our business. However…” I look at the picnic spread around us. “As much as I hate to say it, we should probably head inside so we aren’t spotted.”

“Agree, with equal reluctance.” His lips tweak in the barest of smiles. “Perhaps we might try again tomorrow night?”

“Definitely.” I pop a last morsel of rich cheese into my mouth. “Itwasvery nice. I have even forgiven you for the lack of coos.”

“I am pleased to hear it.” He tucks the whisky bottle and empty glasses into his basket. “Now let us slip back to the house, where you can hopefully get some proper rest.”

TEN

I do indeed sleep well. So well that I wake to Alice shaking me. When I open my eyes, her concern hardens into annoyance.

“Finally,” she says. “You are making it very hard for Mrs. Ballantyne to get her breakfast on time.”

I frown and push up. “Am I supposed to fetch her breakfast?”

“No, I am. Only she asked to have it in her room with you, and I said you were still abed, and she worried that you were sleeping late again and might be ill. So I had to wake you first, which means her breakfast will be cool and mine will be ice cold.”

“I am so inconsiderate, sleeping at night.”

“It is morning.”

I glance toward the windows, with the blinds closed tight. “Are you certain? That is the problem, Alice. The closed blinds and lack of light to wake me.”

“Would you like me to open them at four in the morning, when the sun rises?”

I yawn and stretch. “That would be lovely, thank you. Be sure to get up at four and fetch me a coffee, will you?”

She shakes her head, scowling, and then peering at me. “Are you unwell?”

I roll my shoulders. “Not at all.”

“You have overslept twice. You are not having headaches, are you?”

I frown as I swing my legs out, flinching as my feet touch the cold floor. “Headaches?”

She crosses her thin arms, setting her jaw in an obvious show of belligerence, which means she’s anxious about something. “You changed in personality after striking your head. If you had headaches, that might mean you are changing back. Catriona loved to oversleep.”

“Ah.”

I roll my neck, getting out the kinks. It also gives me a moment to think. Alice fears the return of Catriona, who’d bullied her. Of course, Alice would never admit that, but the concern lingers and I feel guilty about it. I’ve mentioned this to Isla, who says, quite rightly, that even the truth wouldn’t keep Alice from worrying.

“I haven’t been having headaches,” I say. “I’m oversleeping because I’m late getting to sleep. This isn’t my usual room, and I’m fussing. Late to bed, late to rise. I’ll reassure Isla. Any time you’re concerned, though, feel free to quiz me. I’ll tell you something Catriona wouldn’t know. Like that last week, when we went shopping for the trip, you fairly drooled over that boy outside the dress shop.”

“I did what?” she squeaks indignantly.

“Salivated.”

“I did no such thing. I do not remember any boy, and whatever you are implying—”

“That he had something theft-worthy peeking from his back pocket, and it would have been so easy to nick that you could hardly tear your gaze away.”

“Oh. Him.” She rocks back onto her heels. “I was hardlystaring. That would only get me caught. I didn’t nick it, though. I don’t do that anymore. Though it would have taught him a lesson.Someonewas going to steal it.”

“Agreed. But you were right to refrain. Although… given that you are getting older, you might not want to stare so openly at young men’s bottoms.”

She squawks, and then glowers, turns on her heel, and heads for the door.

“You are welcome for the advice!” I call after her.