Page 39 of Kilty By Association
“All will be well, Elspeth,” he murmured under his breath. “I vow it.”
She didn’t look at him, but at his words, he saw her raise her chin, saw her sweep an imperious gaze around the great hall.
And he couldn’t be prouder.
The following hours were hectic, and Craig was content to stand with one hand on his sword’s hilt in the shadows, watching his charges. Watching the way Elspeth turned into Lady Sinclair, commanding servants with a gracious smile and becoming used to her home once more.
He followed her to the nursery to ensure Katharine and Mary would be comfortable, and when the lass chosen to be the girls’ nurse tried to flirt with him, he merely smiled good-naturedly and bid her farewell.
There was another lass who held his heart.
He wasproudof her. Proud of the way she insisted Robbie take the largest bedchamber; the one his father used to claim. ‘Twas the most comfortable, and no one would blame Elspethfor claiming it, but she wanted the people of Dungotit to recognize Robbie as Earl, and this was a reminder.
After Craig had examined the chambers from top to bottom, he declared them safe enough for the lad to move in. Then he accompanied Elspeth to the roomshehad chosen, and examined that one as well.
The bed was…quite large. And Craig knew he wasn’t the only one who avoided looking at it while in her presence; he could practicallyhearher breath hitch each time he glanced her way.
Would she invite him here?
Not tonight. Tonight was her first night back at Dungotit. If word got out that she was bedding her bodyguard, her power would be doubted. Of course, were she a man, she would think naught of demanding a servant warm her—Nay, wait, in that case, she’d be ahe, aye?What had he been saying? Och, aye, were she a man, she could take a servant to bed without worrying what her people would think.
‘Twas unfair.
By the evening meal, Craig had sunk into a dark melancholy, knowing now they were here at Dungotit, his time with Elspeth was at an end. He’d only enjoyed her company in bed a few times at Oliphant Castle, but he suspected she’d ruined him for any other woman.
This lass held his heart. And his mind. And his cock.
Ye’re pathetic.
Nay, he was in love.
Not just with Elspeth, but with her bairns.
Then keep them safe. Even if that’s all ye can manage, do it well, aye?
Aye. He would.
As Elspeth graciously received the welcoming cheers from her people and introduced Robbie as their lord—to evengreater cheers—Craig stood in the shadows, watching for threats.
Now they were home, he expected the villain—likely the lad’s uncle—to make his move.
After all, ‘twas too much of a coincidence that the first attempt on Robbie’s life had been made the very same day his father had died. The longer Craig had thought on it—and granted, thinking wasn’t his strong suit—the more he decided that Elspeth’s husband had been murdered.
With the Earl murdered, the next step would be for the villain to murder the heir. And who had the most to gain? The previous Earl’s younger brother, Roger.
No matter if he didn’tseemthe type prone to murder.
Craig vowed to taste every dish of tonight’s meal afore Robbie could eat.
A fanfare at the bottom of the stairs caused Craig to straighten. The couple sweeping toward the raised dais must be Roger and his wife, Agnes. They moved as if they owned the castle…
And he had to admit, Elspeth was right.
At first glance, Roger didn’tseemlike the type who could murder anyone, even his brother.
The man was significantly shorter than his wife—not too much taller than Robbie, in fact—and carried a book. Not a scroll or a folio, but a genuinebook…and he appeared to be reading it.
Aye, the book was open and he was peering at it, bent closer, his nose almost to the papers as he read. But when he saw Elspeth, what appeared to be genuinejoysplit his face into a grin, and he greeted her like a long-lost child.
