Niall looked over at her with a sunny smile, but then he froze for a second, and Heather remembered that she only wore the thin shift.
He stood up abruptly. “Er, I’ll just step out for a moment, shall I? Not that you’re not a fine sight to a man first thing in the morning,” Niall added in a lower voice, hastily walking to the door.
Heather leapt out of bed and pulled on her dress.A fine sight?Lord, she was getting far too comfortable with him.
She washed her face and ran her fingers through her hair, getting out the worst of the tangles. When she got dressed and looked more or less presentable, she opened the door to the main passageway. Niall was leaning against a wall, one leg bent with his foot tapping against the plaster.
“You can return to the room,” she announced grandly, and then spun on her heel to walk back to the table, where she sat down in front of the tray.
Her breakfast consisted of warm bacon, crusty bread, and stewed apples. A small brown, clay teapot stood at one corner, and Heather poured herself a cup.
“May I?” Niall asked, indicating the other chair.
Heather nodded assent while trying not to scald her tongue. When she could speak again, she said, “I hope your sleep was not too uncomfortable.”
“Oh, I’ve had worse, believe me. It was better than getting soaked in the stable.”
Heather smiled as she buttered her bread.
“By the way,” he said, “Thank you for not killing me in my sleep last night.”
“Well, you didn’t give me a reason.”
“You could have just murdered me and stolen the money I had, then gone on your way.”
“That sounds both morally wrong andveryimpolite. Mrs. Bloomfield would not approve.”
“Who?”
“My old headmistress. She believes girls benefit from studying ethics, if only to realize how few people have them. I should write to her once I actually know where I’ll be staying.” Heather moved to the bacon, saving the apples for last. She loved anything sweet.
Then, there was a loud knock on the door.
“MacNair, sir?” a voice called.
Niall straightened up in his chair. “Tavish, that you? Get in here.”
The door opened, and Niall’s driver from the day before walked in. He sighed in relief on seeing his employer.
“Had a hell of time finding you, sir.”
“The system worked, didn’t it? You did find me. Us, that is.”
Tavish looked at Heather in astonishment, then back to Niall. “The madwoman from the village, sir?”
“I’m not mad,” Heather said, crossing her arms and frowning at Tavish. “I’m strong-minded.”
“Aye, that she is,” Niall agreed.
“A word, sir?” Tavish tilted his head, clearly hoping to speak without Heather overhearing.
Thankfully, Niall didn’t indulge him. “Just spit it out, Tavish. She’s not going to reveal any deep dark secrets you share.”
“Well, I suppose it doesn’t matter since it’s about her. The man after your little friend there, he’s still on the trail.”
“He is?” Heather asked, alarmed.
“Aye, miss. He rode around all the inns and villages to ask about you. I’m lucky I got far enough ahead of him this morning. But he’ll be here soon enough.”
