"Of course." Blast him. Why did each of his questions have an insulting slant?
He placed the candleholder on the mantle, then turned to her. "Have you been having financial difficulties?"
Annoyance jabbed at her. "Not that it is any of your concern, but nay, I have not. And I don't appreciate you treating me as if I'm daft."
He lifted his brows as if taken aback at her response. "I meant no offense. I'm trying to get to the bottom of your troubles."
"But you hardly know me, and you ask very prying and personal questions."
"You're not a stranger. Rebbie is my friend. Rose is your friend. They're cousins, so we know each other." Cyrus shrugged.
They had only met a few days before, and she could not fathom his insistence on being her champion. She knew of no other titled laird who would do such a thing… unless he had hidden motives. Did he intend to seduce her? She doubted it, given his continual slurs to her intelligence.
"What about Lady Lily? Won't assisting me put your betrothal in jeopardy?"
"Nay, she'll understand. She would want you to be safe and protected. Your guard has been clouted on the head and we must find the knave responsible. They could easily break in again and kill you, especially now that you have no protection outside of me and my clansmen."
With that harsh and traumatic image, a chill shivered through her. Most men would not speak so plainly to a lady, but she appreciated Cyrus's forthright honesty.
He sat on a straight chair beside the hearth, then motioned to the chair opposite. "Would you join me?"
"Very well." Her mind was in such a state of turmoil, she had not thought to offer him a seat earlier. "I'm glad you started the fire." It made the room more comfortable and brighter. A bit of heat already radiated outward toward her knees.
Remembering the reason they'd entered this room, she asked, "Why do you mistrust my staff?"
"While you were upstairs earlier, I examined the broken lock from the postern gate. Given its positioning, it might have been smashed by someone on the inside of the walls."
His words boggled her mind and fear clutched at her stomach. "In truth?"
"Aye. 'Tis impossible to tell for certain. But now that I've had time to think about it, 'twould have been more difficult to smash the lock from the outside, given the amount of force needed and the angle."
"Why would anyone on the inside break it? The guards had the keys."
"Trying to mislead you into thinking it was done by a stranger outside. Did all of your guards have a key?"
"Three of them did. That way, at least one guard on watch would have a key at all times. Along with the front gate key."
"So, 'twas either a guard who didn't possess a key, or one who did have one but wished to defer the blame."
"It could've been one of the guards who disappeared," she admitted.
"Most likely. Question is… would those guards act on their own, or has someone else hired them to do this?" He stared at her pointedly. "I ask you again… who are your enemies?"
The very idea mystified her. Did she have any enemies? She shook her head. "Maybe my guards broke the lock and stole my jewels to split the profits. And 'haps Stillman wouldn't go along with the rest of them, so they bashed him on the head."
"Could be. How long have they worked for you?"
"Some of them have worked here for five years. Others, like MacGuire, a lot less time."
"Where did you find them?"
"I—" She snapped her mouth closed. She'd almost revealed that she hadn't found them herself. The Earl of Dalacroy had hired most of them, but she didn't wish Cyrus to know anything about the man.
"Go on." Cyrus's disturbing and intelligent gaze delved into hers.
She glanced away, trying to think of something logical to say. "I found them in town."
"Where? On the street?" He sounded baffled. The frown deepening on his handsome face, he scrutinized her. "What are you not telling me?"
