The serving maid brought in a tray containing bowls of porridge and trenchers of bacon, sausage, scones and eggs. She placed one before each of them.
"I thank you," she told the maid.
"M'lady." She curtsied and hastened out again.
With her small knife, Mairiana cut off a bite of warm bacon, took it into her mouth and chewed the delicious morsel. She hadn't realized how hungry she was. After swallowing, she said, "Well, now that you have the brooch, which you will return to its rightful owner, what will we do about paying for the ship fare?"
"I'm not a pauper." He sent her another of those hard looks.
"I didn’t say you were. I meant no insult. After all, I'm near penniless at the moment, myself. I left everything I own back at Lenor Castle. I hope Alec doesn't burn all my possessions for leaving him at the altar."
"I'm sure your brother will buy you more fine gowns, direct from Paris," Darack said with a bitter undertone.
"Aye, no doubt he will," she said in a defensive tone meant to strike back at him. She understood that he and his clan had no wealth since they'd been outlawed, but did that mean he had to snip at her every time money and possessions were mentioned? "Being resentful of Dugald's wealth will not make you wealthy."
Darack clenched his jaw, his glare turning more hostile.
"I ken that's why you dislike me as well," she said. "But I have little at the moment. Not a pound to my name."
"I don't dislike you." His tone softened but his frown remained. "And no doubt your dowry is worth a king's ransom."
"What of it?" she demanded. "'Tis not mine to use or spend as I see fit. It was going to be Alec's. But now Dugald will keep it until he can use it to pay some old laird to take me off his hands." Above all, she craved happiness, not material possessions. And she'd thought Alec would make her happy. She was but a fool.
Darack frowned down at his food for a long moment and stirred absently at his porridge. "Do not fash," he said in a subdued tone. "I have enough for the ship. Since you've so generously returned the brooch to me, I'll make certain you arrive at Rornoch safely and I'll cover the expenses until my coins run out. You've saved me from having to return to Lenor and continue my search."
What had changed his mood so quickly? He was a mystery to her, and she wished she could read his mind. Regardless of what had caused the shift, relief flowed through her for a few seconds.
"I thank you," she said. 'Haps she'd paid him for his services, then. Good. Hopefully he was a man of his word. If not, no doubt her brothers would have something nasty to say—or do—about it. What would they do to Alec? Good lord, she hoped this didn't spark a clan war.
"What is it?" Darack asked, drawing her from her tragic thoughts. "You are pale as a fine linen sheet."
"I was just thinking… I hope my brothers won't attack the Lindsays over this, or vice versa. I would never wish any bloodshed or violence because of me."
"If I know Dugald, he will be furious and determined to seek justice for the dagger's theft. As for the way Alec is hunting you down now, I couldn't say. 'Haps Dugald would want revenge for Alec's deception."
Her skin chilled. "Aye, I fear you're right. Dugald has an irrational temper, and he will feel that Alec duped him into agreeing to the betrothal." She prayed her brother didn't get himself killed because of her.
