Highlander Unleashed

Chapter Nine

Chapter Nine

Being summoned to the study was beginning to feel a little less like being called to the principal’s office each time she went, although she was still wary. It had been several days since she’d had her conversation with Niall about finding work, so she assumed that this afternoon she would be getting her answer.

He was sitting in one of the armchairs by the hearth instead of behind the big desk, so hopefully that bode well for her. Or maybe he just wanted to put her at ease before he gave her the bad news. She hated having the decision as to whether she could work or not rest in someone else’s hands—Vi would have a fit—but considering her unusual circumstances, which included being in the eighteenth century and not the twenty-first, she had little choice.

“You asked to see me?”

He rose and gestured her in. “Please. Have a seat.”

Niall really would have made an excellent poker player, she decided, since nothing in his facial expression gave any indication as to where this conversation would go.

She sat. So did he. Good for starters.

He cleared his throat. “Tell me again why ye wish to secure employment.”

What? Were they going to have this conversation again? She managed to keep from sighing. “I do not like having to be dependent on your family.”

He studied her. “Ye are nae liking Castle Dounie?”

“No. I mean, yes. I mean…” She did sigh then. “Castle Dounie is fine. I cannot complain.”

“Then ye wish to stay?”

She was getting confused by the line of questioning. However, given that she literally had no other place to go, she needed to be careful that she didn’t get herself kicked out. “Of course, I would like to stay. I just… If I go to work, I can be helpful to you.”

He turned. “What do ye consider being helpful?”

She furrowed her brows. “What do you mean?”

“Helpful,” he said again, his gaze not leaving hers. “How do ye think having employment will be helpful?”

“Besides earning coin for myself, if I’m in Inverness several days a week, I may hear something about what the government is planning to do. I can then relate that to you.”

Niall stared at her for a moment longer, then rose and walked to the window. The sunlight streaming through gave an almost bluish sheen to his hair and cast half of his strong, angular features in shadow. From the part she could see, he appeared to be troubled. Charlotte wasn’t sure why, but something compelled her to rise and go to him. Standing this close, she caught the faint scent of soap and leather. She tried not to inhale too deeply as he gave her a glance.

“What is it? You look upset.”

He didn’t answer immediately, just turned and looked back out the window. It took restraint on her part not to tug on his arm and demand an answer, but somehow she managed to remain silent.

Finally, he looked at her. Another moment went by. Still he hesitated, then sighed before he spoke.

‘Verra well. Da talked to Fergus Gordon, our solicitor. He is in need of a clerk right now and agreed he’d take ye on—”

“Yes!” Restraint gave way to impulse. Charlotte raised on tiptoe and threw her arms around Niall’s neck. “Thank you!” She turned slightly to kiss his cheek, only her aim was off, because she caught the corner of his mouth instead.

For an instant, he stood stock still. Then she felt his arms go around her waist as he gathered her close, his mouth finding hers. Time stood still. There was only the wonderful sensation of his lips sweeping across hers, gentle yet commanding. Skillful, just like she remembered…

“Oh, I’m sorry!”

The sound of Greer’s voice from the doorway made Charlotte jump back while Niall slowly dropped his arms, his eyes lingering on her mouth long enough for her to grow increasingly warm. Then he looked to his sister.

“Can ye nae knock?”

“Why should I? I came for a book. I didna ken ye were…” She shrugged. “Well, ye can thank me later.”

His eyebrows rose. “Thank ye?”

“Aye,” Greer replied smugly. “Simon and Da are on their way.”

****

Both Charlotte and his sister left before Simon and his father got there, which was lucky for Niall. Lucky because he knew his sister wouldn’t be able to keep from smirking and his brother would be sure to pick up on it. And lucky, too, that Charlotte wasn’t here. He didn’t think he could keep a very self-satisfied smirk off his own face if she was.

Charlotte had kissed him. She had kissed him. Ever since he’d brought her home, he’d been wanting to taste her, feel her lips moving against his, have her open her mouth to him. She had been willing. He could feel it, not only because she’d thrown her arms around him, but the way her body melded easily into his, the way she had subtly pressed the softness of her plump breasts against his chest. If only Greer hadn’t interrupted…

“Well, what did the lass say?” his father asked.

Niall pulled himself abruptly out of his fantasy of where that kiss might have led. And, he reminded himself sternly, if Greer hadn’t come in when she did, his father and brother would have witnessed where that kiss might have led, which would have been disastrous…and not only because they thought he was besotted. Simon would have told him she was manipulating him, while his father would probably make another reference to Samson and Delilah.

“She was verra glad to hear it.”

“Nae doubt,” Simon said. “’Tis a good opportunity for her.”

“And one that we’ll be watching.” His father eyed him. “Ye did explain the circumstances to Keir?”

“Aye. We had a talk.” He made an effort to keep his expression impassive. Keir had laughed when he’d “admitted” he was interested in the lass and wanted to find out if she might have another swain. His friend would laugh even harder now that it was actually true. One kiss and he was already wondering if there had been other men in her life other than the betrothed Grant, whom she was running away from. “Keir kens what he needs to do, but I did swear him to secrecy.”

“I still think it would be better if Fergus were aware,” his father said. “We’d find out faster if she is a spy if she were fed incorrect information that she’d want to give to her messenger.”

“We’ve already had this conversation, Da,” Niall replied.

“I agree,” Simon said unexpectedly. “The fewer people that ken what our suspicions are, the better. If she proves to be a traitor, we can claim we were nae aware.”

His father looked thoughtful. “Aye. I suppose there is that. We wouldna want to be accused of knowingly harboring a government spy.”

Simon nodded. “’Tis best, I think.”

His brother could be almost as devious as his father at times, but Niall wasn’t sure if he should be irritated with Simon’s “logic” at the moment or whether to thank him for stilling their father.

“I also want to remind ye both that ye are on a fishing expedition here,” Niall said. “Charlotte has told us she is running away from a marriage she doesna want. ’Tis common enough. Why should we nae believe her?”

“She could be trying to gain sympathy,” his father answered. “Women are like that. Unscrupulous.”

Niall would have laughed at the irony of his father saying that, but he was too annoyed. “Charlotte has told us she is a Campbell. Why would she do that if she were a spy?”

“Could be another ploy.” His father shrugged. “Sometimes, the best thing to do is use the truth to deceive or divert the enemy.”

Well, the Fox would know, although Niall did not think Charlotte was an enemy, especially after that kiss.

However, perhaps it would be best not to tell his father that Charlotte had offered to bring them information.

****

Charlotte avoided Greer’s gaze as they left the study and made their way toward the stairs that led to the solar. She’d just been caught kissing Greer’s brother. What could she say?

She stifled a sigh. Here she was—a twenty-first-century woman who was not a virgin—embarrassed about a kiss? Maybe the old adage about “when in Rome…” really did apply. Being caught kissing in the eighteenth century was probably akin to being caught in flagrante delicto.

Warmth spread through her as she recalled how sensuous the kiss had been, how wonderful Niall’s arms felt pulling her close, how fantastically the two of them fit together as though made for one another. If only they hadn’t been interrupted…

Something poked her. For a moment, still lost in her fantasy, she thought it might be him. Then she realized it was Greer’s elbow instead. She was glad the hallway was lit only by sconces. Her face was probably flaming.

“Are ye back among us mortals?” Greer asked with a grin.

“What? I—” Her face definitely was on fire. “Yes, of course. Why?”

The stupid question was out before she could stop herself. She didn’t need an answer. She knew why. Greer probably did too, although that didn’t stop her.

“Ye look like ye are far, far away from here.”

If Niall’s sister only knew how far away from here she really was…

“Or,” Greer continued, her grin widening, “maybe just downstairs in the study?”

That was exactly where she had been, still wrapped in an ever-deepening kiss, although she’d never admit it. “I suppose I should explain—”

“No need,” Greer said. “I ken my brother. He’s had his eye on ye since he brought ye home.”

That sounded rather like she was a rescue puppy, but the other point… He was interested? “He has?” she asked. “Really?”

“Och, aye.” Greer waved a dismissive hand. “He has always had an eye for a bonnie lass.”

Well. That statement was certainly an ego-deflator. Although not so different, either, from twenty-first-century men. That wasn’t anything new, merely human nature. She grimaced. Still.

Greer frowned slightly. “Did he take advantage of ye?”

“What? No. No.” Greer shook her head. She certainly couldn’t blame Niall since she was the one who instigated the whole thing. Probably best not to admit that, though, since she didn’t know how Greer would take it. “I…didn’t mind.”

The frown was replaced by a smile. “It didna look like ye did, but I wanted to make sure my brother was nae giving ye unwanted attentions.”

A giggle threatened to burst out, but she managed to push it down. “He wasn’t. It…just happened. I was…just happy to hear I could work in Inverness.” She looked at Greer. “Maybe it would be better if you didn’t mention what happened to Simon or your father?”

“Doona fash. My lips are sealed.” Greer studied her for a moment. “But ye might do well to have a care around the two of them. Especially Da.” She hesitated. “He wants Niall to marry Fiona Gordon. He will nae take it kindly if he thinks ye are interfering.”

Charlotte felt like one of the castle’s horses had kicked her solidly in the stomach. Marriage plans? That had not occurred to her. Did Niall agree? It probably didn’t matter if he did, given that many—most—marriages in the eighteenth century weren’t based on love but on logical reasons like alliances and land and power. Her romance-writing mind had forgotten that.

She swallowed hard. “Thank you. I’ll remember.”

She needed also to remember that getting attention from Niall—however wonderful it felt—didn’t define his intention. Women who casually involved themselves in trysts were not held in much respect. She would have laughed if she didn’t feel so much like crying.

The eighteenth century wasn’t so different from the twenty-first after all.