“Yes.” Niall scowled at his brother.
Greer knit her brows. “Which is it?”
Charlotte studiously kept her eyes on her plate of eggs and sausage, hoping Greer wasn’t going to question her next. After the altercation, Simon had stomped off, giving her a dire look that meant he still wanted an answer to his question. Niall had escorted her back inside without saying much. It didn’t seem like a good time to tell him Simon wasn’t going to back down since she could practically feel the anger still rolling off him. Once they got inside, he’d left her and didn’t return. Since they were both sitting at the table now, the best thing to do was to stay silent and hope one of them would change the subject.
That hope didn’t last long as Greer leaned over to touch her hand. “Do ye ken anything about this, Charlotte?”
“Well, I—”
“Niall and I had a misunderstanding over something,” Simon told Greer. “’Tis nothing to concern yourself about.”
“’Twas nae a misunderstanding,” Niall countered.
Greer’s eyes widened. “The two of ye fought each other?”
Simon glowered. “He attacked me.”
“Ye deserved it.”
“I didna do anything wrong.”
“Ye did and ye ken it.”
Simon shoved his chair away from the table. “Do ye want to finish it, then, brother?”
“If it will finish the matter, aye.” Niall pushed back his chair too.
“Enough. Both of you.” Greer landed a fist on the table for emphasis and then glanced at Charlotte. “I suspect they had a disagreement about ye, nae?”
She felt her cheeks flame. “It really—”
“—is nae your business, sister,” Simon cut in. “Niall and I will handle it.”
Greer was not about to be deterred. “Handle what?”
Neither Niall nor Simon answered. Instead, they glared at each other, each looking ready to spring at the other. Charlotte sighed.
“Simon does not believe I am who I say I am. He took me outside last night to talk.”
Greer frowned at Simon. “We agreed to ask nae more questions.”
“Ye and Niall agreed. I didna.” Simon stared at Charlotte with his good eye. “I still want answers.”
“Ye will just have to wait then,” Greer said, “for we’ve more pressing matters.”
“Like what?”
“A messenger arrived late last night. Da looked for both of ye, but couldn’t find either of ye.” She looked from one to the other. “Ye’d better come up with a good excuse for your bruises because Da is nae happy. His temper will worsen if he finds out ye were acting like lads in a schoolyard.”
“Never mind that,” Niall said. “What was so important about the message?”
“He didna let me read it.” Greer grimaced in exasperation. “But he said the Duke of Cumberland is moving his troops to Aberdeen.”
Charlotte looked down at her food once more, although she could feel Niall’s penetrating look. She dared not return it in Simon’s presence.
So far, the history books had been correct. It was not a positive thought.
****
