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“I understand you are in one of Sam’s professor’s employment.” Aileen broke the tense silence.
Harriet managed a polite smile. “Yes, I am the governess and double as assistant for Professor Hayley and Samuel when I have time.”
“Your duties are not required at the moment?” came the Laird. Clearly asking what she was doing here.
“No.” she hoped the answer sounded natural. “The Hayleys will spend the summer in Bath.”
“Professor Hayley was in Cambridge these past weeks on an academic trip and one of his peers invited him,” Sam added innocently.
The father and his wife exchanged a look, a knowing look. Besides the suspicion in it, they also showed how attuned they were to each other.
A toddler burst into the room, followed by Roy. He was the very copy of his father, ringlets of black hair and green eyes, this must be Samuel’s youngest brother, Errol.
The child ran to Sam his oldest brother who promptly held him up on his lap. Errol babbled and smiled at his brother. “This is Errol,” he introduced proudly to Harriet. “Errol, meet my friend, Harriet.”
“Hello, Errol,” she greeted for lack of something else to say.
By the manner Samuel treated his brothers, it became clear he would be an exceptional father one day. An uncomfortable feeling squeezed her heart, and she preferred not to dwell on what it might be.
Aileen rested her empty cup on the table. “I’ll show you to your rooms, Harriet,” she said, “so that you can refresh for dinner.”
The lady showed her to a set of rooms triple the size she had at the Hayleys, and Harriet fought not to gape at the luxurious surroundings.
Feeling even more out of her depth, she twirled to Aileen. “I must be a half-wit not to have foreseen that my presence would cause discomfort,” she started, twisting her hands at her waist. “If you want, I can go back to Oxford at once.”
Lady McDougal caught her hands in hers. “I’m not denying that it came as a surprise,” she squeezed those hands. “But a friend of Sam’s is our friend, too.”
Harriet gave a grateful smile. “You’ll have to convince your husband of that.”
“That is a minor detail,” and winked at Harriet.
Harriet had to struggle not to laugh. Those two had an evidently strong bond. “It’s that…you know…Sam convinced me in a specific way.”
Aileen gave her a knowing glance. “Took after his father, then.” A mischievous smile drew her lips.
“We’re just…friends. Rest assured I’m not here…aiming high.” An embarrassed shrug moved her shoulder. “Besides, I’m older than he.”
“How old are you, if you don’t mind me asking?”
“Not at all. One and thirty.”
“I’m two and thirty,” she said, and Harriet wondered what this had to do with anything. “At first, Taran brought me here because he intended to match me with Sam.”
That made Harriet gape helplessly. “You?”
“Yes. I come from another powerful clan, The McKendricks,” she explained. The advantageous alliance clear.
“But he…?” her thoughts racing at the information.
“He preferred to meet the devil than to try a second marriage.”
“I see,” if what Samuel said was anything to go by, she did not blame his father.
“Then we…well...fell for each other,” the lady blushed and lowered her mahogany eyes.
Hard, by the looks of it. “It shows,” Harriet replied simply.
“So age means nothing in the circumstances,” she directed Harriet a meaningful look. “I’m leaving you to prepare for dinner,” she said and left.
