Page 21 of The Highlander's Twisted Deal
Ava wasn’t sure she could handle hearing the story of the rest of the Keep in such minute detail.
“And up here is one of me favorite rooms—the Gallery,” Moira continued, leading Ava towards a narrow set of about half a dozen stairs, leading up to another room.
She winced as she climbed, her knees creaking audibly.
Ava paused, frowning. “Moira, yer knees. Are ye in pain?”
The woman cast her a tired smile. “Oh, aye. Damp, cold weather plays havoc with me joints. Me maither and her maither had it.”
“Do ye take apple blossom tea and Indian saffron for it?”
Moira paused, glancing back. “No, I dinnae. Should I?”
“Oh, aye. It does wonders for the pain, and ye will notice better movement afterwards. Indian saffron is expensive and difficult to find, but I ken where to buy it. I’ll make ye a tea as soon as I can.”
Moira paused at the stop of the staircase. “Well, that’s kind of ye, lassie. I wouldnae say nay to a little pain relief. Come on up and take a look at these paintings. Now, I’ve done nothing but chat all morning. Were there any questions ye wanted to ask me?”
Ava climbed up the short staircase and found herself in a long, narrow room with a high ceiling and portraits clustered along both walls.
“Actually, I did,” she admitted. “What happened to Callum’s parents?”
Moira sighed. “Ah, that was a real tragedy. I remember…”
“I think perhaps we should let Callum answer that question himself.”
Ava and Moira both flinched at the interruption. A curtained alcove by the stairs rustled, the curtain twitching aside, and Duncan stepped out. He smiled at Ava, showing no teeth. The smile didn’t reach his eyes.
“If Callum hasnae told Ava what happened, I’m sure we ought to mind our business, Ma,” he said pleasantly.
Ava felt her cheeks reddening. Perhaps she had been too inquisitive. Duncan obviously thought so.
Moira winced. “Aye, perhaps so. Oh, would ye look at the cobweb over there! Just a moment, Ava, love.”
Without waiting for a reply, she scuttled across the room to do battle with a long, silvery strand of spiderweb, leaving Ava and Duncan alone.
Feeling ill at ease all of a sudden, Ava went to wander across the room and look at a painting. A firm grip around her upper arm halted her.
“I remember ye,” Duncan said pleasantly, his voice low so that Moira would not hear. “I couldnae think of where I’d seen ye before, but it came to me.”
Ava clenched her jaw, forcing herself to meet his eyes. “Oh, aye?”
“I travel often for Keep business. I passed by a nice wee pub not long ago.The Sinner.”
The color drained from Ava’s face. He knew, then. He’d seen her plying her trade, working at a pub, apparently taking men home.
“And what have ye to say about that, I wonder?” she heard herself ask, her voice steady.
He smiled thinly. “Oh, dinnae worry. What ye had to do to survive is nay business of mine. Judge not, that ye be not judged, as me ma would say.”
“Ye sound like yearejudging me,” she responded sharply before she could stop herself. “Let go of me.”
Shooting a quick look over at Moira, who was still batting furiously at a now non-existent spiderweb, Duncan released Ava. His fingers hadn’t dug in, but Ava rubbed at the place where he’d gripped her anyway. He had the grace to look ashamed.
“I dinnae ken what arrangement ye and Callum have,” he continued in a low, quick voice, “and it’s frankly none of me business. I willnae be telling me parents what ye are. They willnae be so understanding as me, I can tell ye that.”
Ava flashed him a quick, clipped smile. “How gracious of ye.”
He rolled his eyes. “I’m nae yer enemy, Ava. Does Callum ken about ye andthe Sinner?”
