Page 62 of The Wrong Bride
Riona thought that their behavior was the best proof of Brendan’s paternity that she’d seen so far. Brendan excused himself to go back to work, and Lady McCallum turned and headed for the upper courtyard alone. Riona and Maggie followed behind.
Riona took a deep breath. “Were you here during Hugh’s recovery after the battle at Sheriffmuir?”
Maggie’s smile faded. “I was. ’Twas a terrible time in Scotland. Defeat is a bitter thing, and many of the redcoats were cruel in their victory.” She glanced hastily at Riona. “Forgive me. Ye have English relatives, I ken—”
“But I’m not a redcoat,” Riona said wryly.
“Are people here treating ye differently because of your English relations?”
“I’ve heard the word Sassenach a time or two, but not out of cruelty. Being . . . with Hugh makes people respectful, of course. They’re respectful to both of us, since heisthe new chief, but I think trust is harder to earn.”
Maggie nodded.
And I can’t trust you, Riona thought. “Hugh has implied to me that his time here during his recovery was when the final break with his father happened. Would you tell me about it?”
“He has not?” Maggie asked, a frown growing.
“He’s told me there was someone he wished to marry, but couldn’t because of the contract. I also know there was a woman named Agnes who died. Were they the same person?”
After a long moment, Maggie spoke apologetically. “I think ye should talk to Hugh about this.”
Riona sighed. “Of course. Forgive my curiosity.”
“I understand. Ye’re about to marry a man ye didn’t know a few weeks ago. But . . . ’tis Hugh’s story to tell.”
Maggie glanced over her shoulder back the way they’d come, and Riona wondered if she was looking for Brendan. Riona silently berated herself—she should have waited to initiate this discussion. Maggie didn’t know her at all. Or maybe she didn’t want to show her brother in such a poor light.
As Lady McCallum ascended the stairs to the entrance to the great hall, Maggie caught Riona’s arm. “Wait a moment, could ye? Let’s go sit in the kitchen garden and talk.”
Riona tried not to get her hopes up—Maggie had already ended the discussion about Hugh’s past. But once they were seated side by side on a little bench overlooking the greenery of carrots and turnips, she watched Hugh’s sister expectantly.
“I know this is a strange request,” Maggie began slowly, “but how is Owen?”
She didn’t use his honorary title as the heir, Viscount Duncraggan, which implied a familiarity that surprised Riona. Maggie thought Owen was Riona’s brother, of course, rather than her cousin, but still . . . “He is well, last I knew, cutting a dashing figure in London while still attending his favorite science lectures.”
Maggie nodded, but didn’t smile. “That makes sense,” she murmured.
“You know him? I did not think our families had intermingled much once the contract was agreed upon.”
Maggie gave her a piercing stare, and Riona wondered if she’d made a mistake.
“Well, there’s a little history to that,” Maggie explained. “When Hugh discovered at thirteen that his future was decided, he . . . had trouble with it.”
“I know. He told me about his reckless behavior, and the incident with the redcoats.”
Maggie’s tense shoulders relaxed. “Oh, good. Our mother was desperate to help him, and she decided to renew contact with Lady Aberfoyle, the better for our families to know each other. Though your mother never returned from England, as ye know, Owen and your father occasionally did. We had several dinners together. Very uneventful.”
Uneventful?Riona thought, her curiosity aroused. If it was so uneventful, she wondered why Maggie would be asking about Owen after all these years.
Maggie cleared her throat. “I just . . . wondered how he was doing. So he’s not married?”
The latter was said with such false brightness that Riona had to withhold a smile. “No, he’s still unspoken for.”
Maggie nodded and rose suddenly. “I hope he finds happiness soon.”
“Areyoustill unspoken for? Hugh hasn’t mentioned a betrothal for you.”
“I am yet quite the independent young lady of Edinburgh,” Maggie said with determination. “I possess a tocher and another small inheritance from my mother. I have time to decide my future.”
