Page 35 of A Bonny Pretender
Chapter Ten
The Devil’s Own Scrape
Several days later
Franklins’ home
“Aletter arrivedin the post for you, Miss MacNaughton.” The butler held out a small silver tray.
“Thank ye.” Brigid took the envelope and recognized her brother’s handwriting. Her brows furrowed. “It’s from Lachlan in Glasgow.”
She broke the seal, foreboding slithering into her stomach. Her brothers didn’t write unless the sky was falling. Casual correspondence was unheard of by any of the MacNaughton men.
Sister,
Dinna panic because I am writing. There is bad news, but we are all fine. There was a fire on 1 April at the mill. Fenella and our cousin Colin were working at the time and helped get the employees out of the building.
Aunt Maeve, Gideon, and Lissie arrived the morning of the fire for reasons I’ll share later. Lissie rescued two of the children working that day and is now ailing from the smoke. The physician said for her to rest here a good month. Knowing the two of ye are close, we thought ye should be advised. Please pass the news on to Fenella’s sister. A letter from my wife will follow.
Lachlan
Evie gasped. “How horrible.”
“Och, our poor Lissie has been through so much.”
Lissie had been part of the bargain that ended the feud between the MacNaughtons and the Craiggs. The marriage of Brigid’s grandparents, binding Calum MacNaughton and Peigi Craigg, had been the initial peace. To ensure the oath was kept, the newly married couple pledged one of their sons to marry a woman from the Craigg clan. But the couple only had two daughters, so they postponed the marriage for one generation and betrothed their grandson, Ian, to Lissie when they were but bairns.
The butler appeared again. “Lord Raines has arrived.”
Frank entered the drawing room, handsome in a soft gray riding coat and breeches. He handed his hat off to the butler. “Good day, beautiful ladies.”
“We’ve had the most dreadful news.” Brigid ran to him, her fingers gripping his sleeve. Just having him near calmed her nerves. The three sat down, and she told of him of the letter.
“How bad is the damage?” he asked, concern etched in the lines around his eyes.
“I have no idea. As ye can see, my brother is a mon of few words.” Brigid waved the paper. “I can read between the lines, though. Lissie needs her kin there.”
“Your aunt and cousin are there, correct?” Frank narrowed his brows. “Are they not family?”
“No’ like I am. They never visited the castle while my English uncle was alive.” She shook her head. “He didna like the Highlands. So, Lissie didna meet them until after my brother’s death last summer when they came to mourn. They got along so well, Lissie returned to England with Aunt Maeve as a companion.”
Brigid stood and began pacing. “I need to go to Glasgow.”
“Have you been exiled from London?” asked Lord Brecken from the doorway. “And I thought you were behaving so well.”
“Shush,” said Evie, then told him of the fire.
“I see a plot in your eyes, wife,” Brecken said. “The answer is no.”
“Pish and petunias!” she exclaimed. “As a married woman, I can accompany Brigid to Glasgowandsee my sister Fenella.”
“If I could escort you, it would be different. Unfortunately, I must return to Wales.” Brecken frowned at his wife. “I was hoping you would accompany me.”
Evie’s brown eyes narrowed. “Lord Raines…”
“He does not want to traipse across the country with two obstinate women.” The earl crossed his arms over his broad chest. “I wouldn’t ask it of my enemy, let alone a friend.”
Brigid saw the slight flush and pleasure in Lord Raine’s silver eyes at the other man’s mention of friend. “He could meet my brother and Scots cousin. We’d have an easier time getting acquainted without the crowds of London.”
