Page 11 of Highlander's Caged Rose
“What will you do?” Glennie asked.
Moira was gratified to see that she was genuinely interested.
“I thought I might be a lady’s companion, a children’s governess, something like that.”
Glennie smiled. “You can be my companion,” she suggested. “I could do with a friend.”
Moira laughed, knowing she was not serious. Even if she had been, she thought, how could she possibly stay in this place where the Laird was the most beautiful man she had ever seen?She would have to watch him marry and have children, while she had no chance of ever having any of her own. Granted, she was not in love with him, but there was something about Laird Niall McPhee that drew her to him, something which she could not fathom.
As well as that, they were not too far away from her former home, and any visitors could recognise her, although somehow she thought that Laird McPhee did not entertain much. She was sure that a man who looked like him would have been snapped up by an eager young bride a long time before if he had.
“Thank you for the compliment,” she answered.
Glennie laughed. “It was not a compliment, Moira,” she replied. “That is not work I would wish on anyone!”
Moira giggled, and before long the two young women had become involved in an amiable conversation about Glennie’s friends and all kinds of other subjects that did not interest the Laird in the slightest. What astonished him, however, was how well they were getting on together.
Glennie had more to say, he noticed, while Moira listened, interjected occasionally and laughed. She seemed to be interested in absolutely everything Glennie had to say, and he noticed that their sense of humour was very similar; dry, satirical and merciless. It looked as though the two young women had hit it off immediately. While it would be foolish to say they were good friends—after all, they had only just met—it seemed that they soon would be if Moira stayed.
Occasionally, Glennie made a joke at Niall’s expense, and both of them dissolved into giggles like little girls. Despite his scorn for this kind of frivolous behaviour, Niall loved to watch the smile on Moira’s expressive face. Her laughter was musical; her eyes twinkled and dimples appeared on her cheeks. He simply could not stop looking at her.
Yet, he was still puzzled, and no matter how attractive he thought she was, had an elusive feeling that Moira was still not telling him the truth. He ate his food steadily, listening all the time, and when he had finished, he looked up at both Glennie and Moira.
“Glennie, it’s best you do not speak about friendship and companionship. Moira no doubt has other duties to attend to and people to see; she will be leaving us soon.”
Glennie looked outraged. “Let her stay for a while longer, Niall,” she begged. “I would value the company of another woman for at least a little while. It is so tedious being surrounded by men all the time.”
Brother and sister glared at each other for another moment, while Moira tried to ignore the palpable tension in the room. She looked down at her hands, seeing the long white scar that had bled for days after one of her “accidents”, remembering how she had had to treat it herself. Still, she reasoned, it was not serious now, although it had been painful at the time, and it was useful in its own way. Every time she looked at it, she was reminded of her husband and why she was running away, and it spurred her on.
Moira heard her name mentioned again and looked up. Glennie’s face was furious as she shouted at Niall and poked him in the chest with her forefinger.
“She is now my friend!” she yelled. “And I am the mistress of this castle. I too have a right to say who can stay here and who cannot. You will not bully me!”
Niall laughed at her scornfully. “You may be Lady McPhee, but I am the Laird, and I have the power to throwyouout if I want to.”
Moira could tell he would never do any such thing. She bet that Glennie knew it too, but she was furious nonetheless. He was treating her like a servant who had neglected her duties.
“And how can she be your friend when you only met her an hour ago?”
“Do not threaten me, Niall.” Her voice was menacing. “Or I might just oblige you and leave. You know that I have had proposals of marriage?—”
“From men I despise!” Niall shot back.
“You do not control me!” Glennie spat, then pointed to Moira. “Neither can you order Moira to do your will. We are both free to do as we wish.”
“I agree,” Niall said, nodding. “Moira will do anything to be free, even resort to lying.”
His green eyes were dark with anger as he turned to look at her, and Moira suddenly felt fury boiling up inside her. She resented the way both Glennie and Niall were talking about her as if she were not even present, and now the conversation was making assumptions about her that had no proof to back them up.
“I’d kindly ask ye not to speak about me that way,” she said, her voice throbbing with rage. “You have no idea what my life was like before I came here, so do not presume to know me. Since you have assumed the worst about me, I will stay out of your sight until my leg is no longer in pain and I can ride. Believe me, My Laird, that day cannot come soon enough!”
She gave him one last venomous glare then rose to her feet, marched to the door and opened it, and left, slamming it behind her with all the force she could muster.
5
Moira was furious with Niall and with herself. He had been blunt and truthful, but also very hurtful, making it seem as though she had taken advantage of him when she had never had any such intention. He had called her a liar to her face, and insinuated that her injuries were somehow her own fault for running away from her betrothed.
She had been treated very well, Moira had to admit, but she could not stay here forever. Her leg was getting better by the day, even though she was still limping. She had yet to try riding, of course, but if she was determined enough, she knew she would manage it somehow.
