The conclusion would be obvious.
Then again, for the next few weeks, did it matter? He wanted people to think him well married. Then Brenna could move back home and resume her life, rather than waiting for a wedding that would never happen. And his father would perhaps stop grousing about Niall making a decision he didn’t personally approve of ahead of time.
Niall turned to go to his own room, only a short way down the hall. But then he saw Maeve coming up the stairs, and quickly changed his objective.
His sister saw him approaching and waited, her expression outwardly pleasant, though he could sense some apprehension there. And sheshouldfeel apprehensive, because Niall was not pleased with her.
“What the hell was that about?” he demanded when he reached her. “I know what you did before dinner. Trying to embarrass Heather by getting her drunk, hoping she’ll make a fool of herself?”
“I did not!”
“She told me who offered her the mead I found in her room.”
“Niall, I didn’t want to embarrass her. I only wanted to…soften her up.”
“So you could interrogate her? Maeve, you’re ruthless.”
“Well, you’re maddening! There’s something very odd going on and I’ll be damned if I let it catch me by surprise! Do you think it’s been easy to manage the household and manage Father at the same time?”
“You’ve done brilliantly.”
“But I’d rather just be done,” she said. “And yet your little wife refused to take the keys from me. Says she’s not ready to be chatelaine and she needs time. About a month.”
“Sounds fair.”
“Sounds fishy! Both you and her mentioned a month. What happens then? My God, are you waiting to find out if she’s with child?”
“What? No!”
“Well, how was I to know? That’s why I wanted to take her back to her room tonight, so I could have a little chat with her. But then you stepped in, and I couldn’t very well tell a husband not to walk his wife upstairs.”
“Little sister, you are not to pry or wheedle anything out of Heather. I forbid it. Do you understand?”
“Aye,” she said grudgingly. “But if she wishes to talk, I’ll be there to listen, and you can’t stop that, Niall MacNair.”
“No, no one can stop Heather from doing what she wants,” he said.
And that would probably be his undoing.
Chapter 11
The next morning, Heather wokewith a dull headache and a dry mouth. Getting out of bed seemed too great a task to manage, so she curled up on her side, reliving every moment of the previous night, most especially the final kiss, and Niall leaving her. God, she’d been a clown.
At the knock on the door, Heather called for whoever it was to enter. She expected the maid, but it was Maeve who walked in, bearing a tray.
“I thought you might not feel up to taking breakfast downstairs,” she said, placing the tray down.
“You thought correctly,” Heather groaned.
“Our drinks seem to be stronger than you’re used to,” said Maeve, fussing with the breakfast tray, and not looking at Heather. “But I’ve made some tea that will go far to restoring your good humor. And it will knock any pain out of your head, I promise.”
“Then by all means, bring it to me.”
Maeve offered her a cup of tea. “I hoped we could get to know each other. Your arrival was surprising to say the least. But that’s Niall, never thinking more than a few moments ahead. He’s always been driven by impulse.”
As someone driven by impulse the night before, Heather could sympathize. Aloud, she said, “I’m afraid I took advantage of that, because I never should have allowed him to get involved in my life.”
“Well, he’s a major part of your life now. What will your parents say when they find out you married at Gretna Green?”
