Page 33 of To Love a Scottish Lord (Highland Lords #4)

He nodded, recognizing Charles Talbot from his earlier meeting with the man. Talbot hadn’t improved with familiarity.

Striding forward, Elspeth spoke to the proprietor. “You need to crate the bird for her,” she said. Taking the chicken from Betty, she calmly held it out to him.

Talbot looked as if he wanted to argue with her, but Brendan joined Elspeth, regarding the other man coolly. Without a word, he watched as the butcher took the chicken and disappeared into the back of his shop.

“That should solve the problem, Betty,” Elspeth said, smiling at the girl. She ignored Talbot, speaking to the young maid. “How are you doing in Mary’s absence?”

“It’s been difficult without her, miss.” She glanced at Talbot out of the corner of her eye, and Brendan couldn’t help but wonder what she might have said if Charles hadn’t been present.

“You must remember that Mary is your mistress,” Elspeth said, glancing at Charles as she spoke. “Even if she’s away from home.”

“For too long,” Charles said tightly. “Tell me, is your brother never going to get well or die?”

For a moment, Brendan only stared at Talbot. Elspeth put her hand on his arm and he glanced down at her, forcing a reassuring smile to his face.

“Mary’s been gone entirely too long. She’s not comporting herself as a proper widow. But, then, she never has.”

Elspeth looked as if she would like to respond to Charles, but the man grabbed the cage the butcher proffered and moved toward the door, Betty following.

The young maid glanced over her shoulder, and just before Talbot whisked her out of the butcher shop, managed one last question. “Do you know when she’ll return, miss?”

“Soon, I’m certain,” Elspeth said. She sent a glance to Brendan, and he didn’t contradict her.

What could he say? That Mary had already remained at Castle Gloom far longer than she should?

Or that he wasn’t entirely certain that even respectability would move her from that place?

He’d seen the looks between Mary and Hamish, had heard their muted conversations.

Brendan hadn’t been all that surprised when Hamish had asked her to stay and she’d acceded.

“She’s a sweet girl,” Elspeth said, staring after the two of them. “But Charles thinks himself the arbiter of Mary’s behavior. He dislikes her work with the poor, and resents the fact that she tends the sick. I’m surprised he remains in her household with all her flaws.”

“Shall we go see the dolphins in a few days?” he suggested in an effort to change the subject.

Charles Talbot was not going to ruin the rest of his day.

Nor did he want to discuss Mary and Hamish.

That situation could not get better with the passage of time, and he wondered if the two of them realized it.

“What do you know of the dolphins?” Elspeth asked, smiling and evidently pleased at the suggestion.

“I’ve been told that they can be seen at Moray Firth.”

She nodded. “Mother will be pleased; it’s one of her favorite destinations.”

One day, Brendan thought, he might be allowed to be with Elspeth without the whole of her family in attendance.

Then it struck him that except for the errant Jack, who might appear at any moment, he and Elspeth were now alone.

He banished Betty, Mary and Hamish, and any other concerns immediately from his mind.

“I’m not Mary, you know,” Charles said to Betty once they were back at the house. “I don’t think you’re cute and clever and to be cosseted. You need to learn that things have changed around here. Or should I toss you out on your ear?”

There, he’d finally gotten her attention.

“I was only being polite to them, sir,” she said.

“You’ll talk when I give you leave to do so,” he said, tightening his hand around the girl’s arm.

Rage ran through him. He gripped the door handle so hard he could feel the pattern etch itself into his skin. They entered the house, and he tossed his hat atop the coat rack, uncaring that it fell or that Betty immediately picked it up and dusted it off.

He’d overheard their conversation so clearly that Elspeth and Brendan might have been speaking to him. Is she in love with him?

Betty put his hat on the sideboard with great care, looking at him out of the corner of her eye. “I didn’t mean to anger you, sir.”

She was almost to the door when she turned and looked at him again. “Miss Grant said I should remember that it was Mrs. Gilly who was my employer. Begging your pardon, sir, but I don’t think I’m the only one who’s forgotten that.” The door closed behind her.

He stared after her, thinking that he should dismiss her after all. But Mary liked her, and for that reason he hadn’t replaced the young maid.

Now he didn’t care. He looked around the foyer of the house he’d come to think of as his.

Mary couldn’t do this to him. Not after all this time. Not when he’d been so patient, telling himself that all he had to do was wait. His fury was like molten gold, pouring into hidden depressions and fissures, revealing previously concealed imperfections.

Charles realized that he could hate Mary now.