“Fine,” he cuts in before Davina can answer. “I will purchase one hour of your time for five pounds.”
Two passing male tourists stop abruptly and stare from Gray to me. Then they realize he was offering the money to Davina, and they stare more. Five pounds for an hour of her time? One shakes his head at the cost of sex workers in the big city, while the other eyes Davina with speculation, as if wondering what delightful tricks she must know for that price.
As usual, Gray notices nothing beyond the scope of his laser focus. “One sovereign now for twenty minutes, and the remainder after we have ascertained that you are telling the truth.”
“Telling the truth?” she huffs. “If it’s lies you’re looking for, Dr. Gray, I suggest you train your gaze in the direction of your pretty young ‘assistant.’ She’s the expert. And I do not want your money. I want the dog.”
“I am offering a sizable sum.”
She strokes her crucifix. “Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime. That is what the good book says.”
“The ‘good book’ says nothing of the sort,” Gray snaps. “Those are the words of a Chinese philosopher.”
“I want the dog,” she says. “It’s my golden goose, and I like having my eggs every day.”
Gray opens his mouth, and I know he’s going to increase the offer, because that’s Gray. This is a problem that needs solving, and it is most efficiently solved by money. He has little use for his family fortune, so it might as well solve problems.
“Dr. Gray,” I murmur. “Might I speak to you a moment?”
He hesitates. Then he nods abruptly and follows me.
Chapter Three
I lead Gray up the hill and toward the kirk, far from Davina. The dog follows so closely I nearly trip over it. I reach down to give it a reassuring pat. Reassurance that I’ll find it a safe and secure home . . . with someone else.
I can’t adopt a dog. The choice would be Isla’s, as lady of the house. However, we already have an animal in residence. Last month, our parlormaid helped rescue a litter of Scottish wildcats, and Isla let her adopt the three-legged kitten who can’t be rehabilitated. That’s enough pets for our housekeeper, Mrs. Wallace.
After giving the dog a good scratch, I turn to Gray. “I don’t need Davina’s information. Not at the price she’ll demand.”
“I will happily pay it for your peace of mind.”
I smile and touch his arm. “Thank you. But if she does accept money, it’ll be too much, and it’ll also tell her that she has a new golden goose, one who will give more if she ‘remembers’ anything else about Catriona.”
“Obviously, she cannot be trusted. But you are curious—and concerned—about Catriona’s past.”
I glance down the hill to where Davina is sashaying up behind an elderly couple dressed far too finely for this part of Edinburgh. Someone is about to get their pocket picked, but I can’t make that my problem. Not right now.
Do I want to know more about Catriona? Yes. I’m in this young woman’s body, feeling as if I stole her life, and I know next to nothing. Even to her employers, she was a cipher.
Isla hires staff in need of a second chance. Our parlormaid was a child pickpocket. Our housekeeper was a con artist. Simon was framed for murder. Isla didn’t ask where they came from—what mattered was where they were going.
That’s a fine philosophy, but it leaves me knowing nothing about the body I’m inhabiting. Did Catriona have family? Were they relying on her? I wouldn’t advise anyone to rely on Catriona for anything, but the thought still nags at me.
Who was Catriona Mitchell before she came to work for Isla? No one seems to know . . . except Davina.
A modern-day friend of mine once inadvertently moved into a former drug dealer’s apartment. She left after a few months because she couldn’t deal with the constant stream of visitors who didn’t believe her when she said he’d left. I can tell Catriona’s enemies that a head injury means I no longer am Catriona—I don’t even use that name—but they don’t believe me.
“For your safety,” Gray says. “It would be wise to know.”
“It would—but it’s hardly insurance.” I look up at him. “Davina can’t provide an exhaustive list of people Catriona betrayed. We’ve already had one encounter, and I handled it. That’s all I can do, sadly. Handle issues as they come up.”
When he doesn’t answer, I lower my voice. “I know this isn’t ideal, Duncan. Always needing to worry that I’ll attract trouble because of Catriona. Trouble that could affect you and Isla?—”
“It will not. It never has before. No matter who Isla has employed, we have never been personally threatened.” His lips twitch. “Apparently, the greatest danger was Catriona herself.”
Who is now gone. Where? I don’t know. She didn’t swap into my body. I know that for a fact, having briefly returned to my time last year.
Gray continues, “My concern is for you.”
