Page 66 of Kilgannon #1

I woke early, to bright sunlight for a change, and was busy at once with the boys and the household.

Berta was thrilled to have a chance to hang the laundry outside, and Mrs. M.

was convinced that the charm she’d made the night before had brought the sun to us.

It was midmorning before I got into the library and then I came to an abrupt halt.

Malcolm was searching the drawers of the desk.

“What are you doing?” I asked.

“Looking,” he said, straightening and smiling boyishly.

“For what, Malcolm?”

“I heard ye got a letter from Alex. I thought to read it,”

“Why?” His audacity amazed me, and I felt my anger grow.

He shrugged. “I miss him. Who could not miss Alex? I know I shouldn’t read yer private correspondence, but I wanted to hear how he is doing on his trip. Forgive me, Mary?”

Alex , I thought, lam harboring your enemy. “No,” I said. The word hung in the air, and his eyes narrowed before he lowered them. When he looked up he was in control once more and smiled slowly.

“I’m sure Alex will,” he said. “Mary, are ye not making too much of this? What did the letter from the agent say?”

“Why do you want to read it? Are you afraid it’s about you?”

He shook his head. “No.”

“Liar,” I said, watching his smile fade and his eyes flash with anger. He did not answer and I turned to leave, but he was quicker. As I reached the doorway he grabbed my arm and leaned over me, his tone threatening.

“Do not misunderstand our positions, Mary. I am the MacGannon here, not ye. Ye may not speak to me so. ”

“You are not the MacGannon, Malcolm,” I said with contempt. “You are the MacGannon’s younger brother.”

“I meant,” he said, emphasizing each word, “that I am of the bloodline. Ye've only married into it. Dinna equate the two.”

“I do not. I would never equate you and Alex.”

“Understand this well, sister.” His eyes were hostile and his grip painful. “I will not have ye coming between me and my brother again. Take yer dirty suspicions and go among the women.”

I lifted my chin and met his look with disdain. “Release me,” I said icily, and he loosened his grip but did not let me go. He watched me through narrowed eyes, then smiled and tilted his head.

“Mary,” he said, his tone cajoling now. “Can we not be friends? I thought we’d settled the differences between us.

” I took a deep breath and then laughed shrilly, the sound echoing.

Where was everyone? Most times it seemed I could hardly move without climbing over someone, and now, when I needed someone to come by, no one was in sight. “Can we not be friends?”

“Never. I cannot forget what you have done, Malcolm. And I will not forgive you. Perhaps Alex will, but I never will.” I moved my arm again. “Let me go.”

His grip tightened. “Mary, I only wanted to help ye with the business affairs. That’s why I wanted to know what the agent said.”

“Of course.” I shook my head at his pretense.

“How stupid do you think I am, Malcolm? Do you have another plot, perhaps another attempt on your brother’s life?

The last three failed. What have you done now?

What will we discover next?” He twisted my arm cruelly, and our eyes met again.

I considered screaming and took a deep breath.

A hand reached between us and clasped Malcolm’s wrist. We both looked up to see Gilbey standing behind me, his face pale with anger .

“Release her at once,” Gilbey said through clenched teeth.

Malcolm laughed harshly, but he let me go. “Dinna mistake this, Gilbey. It was nothing.” I rubbed my arm and watched him.

“I do not mistake what I saw, Malcolm,” said Gilbey, his tone fierce. “And what I heard. I will tell Alex that you were holding Mary against her will. No doubt he’ll find that most interesting.”

Malcolm moved next to Gilbey. Gilbey was taller but Malcolm twice as wide. They glared at each other. “Ye saw nothing, Macintyre,” Malcolm said.

“I saw you holding my chiefs lady against her will.”

“Yer chief,” spat Malcolm. “Yer chief. Ye saw nothing.”

“I know what I saw, and Alex will hear of it,” Gilbey said.

“Aye, Gilbey, run to Alex.” Malcolm sneered at both of us, “Ye both are scared rabbits. Run to Alex. Bah!” He pushed past Gilbey and disappeared around the corner.

“Thank you, Gilbey,” I said at last, turning to him. His face was flushed but when he spoke his tone was even.

“You’re welcome, Mary. I hope he did not hurt you.”

“No. He only made me angry,” I said, though I knew my arm would be bruised. Gilbey nodded.

“And me. He is not to be trusted, Mary.”

“No.” I looked down the corridor, but Malcolm was gone.

“Mary.” Gilbey’s voice had a new note, and I turned. “Berta says she must speak with you at once. I was looking for you.”

What now , I wondered? “What is it, Gilbey?”

“You should talk to Berta.”

I nodded. Whatever it was, the news was not good. Wonderful.

I found Berta in the kitchen with Mrs M.

and a hysterical kitchen maid. The girl, Leitis, only fifteen or so, was sobbing into Mrs. M.

’s ample bosom as Berta stood over them.

The two women looked up as I entered and exchanged a look that did not bode well for my fragile good humor.

No doubt she ’ s with child , I thought with exasperation, and sighed.

I could not imagine what else could be so very distressing.

In some households a pregnant unmarried girl would be cast out, and I had no idea what was done at Kilgannon.

At Mountgarden I had dealt with the situation for the first time two years ago and had been incapable of turning the girl out.

I could not imagine doing so here and not to pretty young Leitis, who had served us so cheerfully for months.

My suspicions were quickly confirmed. Berta and Mrs. M.

were both troubled by the news but more by my possible reaction to it.

I watched them as they fussed over the girl and cast sidelong looks my way.

Leitis blew her nose and wiped her eyes and was at last able to stand before me in some sort of order, although she still took deep ragged breaths and wrung her hands.

She waited for my response and I sighed again, realizing I was unwilling to add to her misery.

I smiled and suddenly the situation changed.

Instead of Mrs. M. and Berta wondering what the mistress would do, we were three women sorting out the problems of a foolish girl.

“Sit down, Leitis, and talk to me.” I motioned to a nearby bench and she joined me. “Tell me who the father is.”

“He says he loves me,” she sobbed.

“Of course. Let’s call him and I shall talk with him,” I said, thinking that this would be quickly solved.

“Oh, madam,” she shrieked, and I had to wait for her to control herself. “He canna marry me.”

“Why?” I asked, but I knew why. The man was married. Leitis didn’t answer, she just cried, and the more I pressed the worse it got. Berta stepped in and assured me that she would discover who it was and talk with me later. I nodded and left, grateful to escape.

I made my way to the library, where I sank into one of the big chairs and looked at the ceiling.

Why do these things always happen when Alex is gone?

I wondered. No doubt Thomas will arrive any moment to tell me the stables are on fire and English soldiers are in the yard.

What should I do now? I was still wondering an hour later when Berta knocked on the door.

She entered when I called, leading a sobbing Leitis by the hand.

“Madam, ye must hear this for yerself,” Berta said, her eyes indignant. “Tell her,” she commanded the girl.

“I was to tell ye it was the laird, madam, but it wasna him.” Leitis was wailing now, and I closed my eyes for a second. I wished to be anywhere but this room at this moment.

“Why were you to tell me it was Alex?”

Leitis moaned. “He said it would serve him right.”

“Who said that?” I asked.

“He told me the laird had been with all the girls and I believed him, but then Berta made them all tell me and he wasna and I’ve been such a fool, madam, and I hope ye can find it in yer heart to forgive me.

” She had drifted into Gaelic and sank now to the floor, continuing.

Between her sobs and hiccups I could not understand all she said.

“And I canna marry him. What will I do?”

“We’ll sort it out, Leitis.”

“Oh, this one canna be sorted out, madam, and ye’ll be turning me out and I’ll starve on the hillside. Oh, Lady Mary, can ye ever forgive me? I dinna mean to cause no trouble.”

I smiled while a terrible suspicion grew within me. “Leitis, I won’t turn you out,” I said kindly. Oh, Alex , I thought. “Let’s start with the story. Tell me. Who is the father?”

She gave me such a wild look that I thought she’d bolt from the room. “Lord Malcolm, Lady Mary,” she wailed, and I closed my eyes.