“It didn’t sound like nonsense. You said that now that you’d returned it you were no longer haunted. Where did you return it? The castle?”
The child’s voice was still pitchy and panicked. He hurried to reassure him.
“Fine, lad. Ye have worn me down. I will tell ye, but ye must promise no’ to tell anyone else. Do ye understand?”
“I promise.”
“Aye. I returned a portrait to the castle. Aye, ’twas haunting me, but now that the painting is returned to its home, it will no longer haunt anyone.”
“So thereisn’ta ghost at the castle?”
Duncan shook his head.
“You promise?”
He gave the boy one simple nod in assurance.
“Good. Can I ask you one other question?”
Duncan laughed and bit into a piece of steaming hot bread.
“Ye shall anyway.”
“Can I work with you today? Help you out? I like learning new things and maybe you could teach me how to do what you do.”
Duncan sat silently a moment. The lad was a handful. He wasn’t sure he could stand a day of the boy chattering away, but the job was a large one. A helping hand would go a long way.
“If yer Ma and Da doona mind it, and ye promise to do as I tell ye, then aye. I canna pay ye though.”
“I don’t want you to pay me. I just want to learn.”
Duncan smiled. He liked the child. Even if the boy talked far too much.
“Perfect. Then I shall welcome yer assistance.”
For the briefest of moments, the two ate together silently before Cooper spoke up again.
“Everyone at the castle really likes you.”
Duncan smiled. The wee lad really couldn’t help himself.
“Well, I am glad for it. I want those employing me to be satisfied with me service.”
“Yeah. Someone at the castlereallyseems to like you.”
Not keen to take the child’s bait, Duncan continued eating his meal.
“Don’t you want to know who it is?”
“No’ particularly, lad. I doona care for gossip.”
Duncan glanced up from his breakfast to see Cooper frowning.
“I don’t gossip. I’m just trying to tell you something that I think you’d like to know. I heard Madeline tell Mom that you were the most exciting thing to happen to the castle since she moved here. And I gotta tell you, Duncan. Ms. Madeline doesn’t get excited about much.”
Duncan detested gossip, but in this instance, the boy was right. He did enjoy knowing that Madeline liked him. Mayhap he hadn’t made a total dolt out of himself the night before. The next time he saw her, he would make certain to test the waters further.
Chapter 12