She was surprised he admitted to any pain. "I have more whisky in the cellar if you should need it."
"This will suffice for tonight." Cyrus held up the bottle. "Unless Fraser decides to become sotted."
"Nay." Fraser waited just inside the doorway. "I'm going to turn in early, then get up in the wee hours and help the guards keep watch."
Cyrus nodded. "I appreciate it. Have a care and keep an eye on the walls. The archer could return."
"Aye." Fraser headed out the door. "Goodnight."
When Cyrus frowned after his brother, she could see the worry written on his face. Clearly, he cared deeply for Fraser and, she was certain, all his other siblings as well. Just as she had found she would do anything to help her own younger brother and sister.
"Well, I think I'll retire for the night." Elspeth blew out all of the candles on the table except for the two they could use to light the way to their chambers. "If you should need anything, do not hesitate to let me or one of the servants know."
"Could we talk first… in private?"
"Of course." Finding—strangely—that she looked forward to talking to him this time, she closed the door. Too late, she realized the room was far too cozy with the warm fire in the hearth. And with the memories of his sculpted nude torso lingering in her mind's eye… 'haps she shouldn't be completely alone with him. Saints! She had to shift her focus to the topic at hand. "If the guilty party is Henry, why would he shoot at you?"
"'Tis what I would like to know." Cyrus poured two wee drams of whisky and surprised her by handing her one. "Have you talked to him or received any missives from him?"
"Nay." Though she didn't normally imbibe whisky, she accepted the drink, then added some water to it from a pitcher on the side table.
"'Tis likely he wants this manor house and estate. 'Haps to sell it. Who owned it before you?"
She hesitated, realizing she hadn't given him that tidbit of information earlier because she hadn't wanted him to know about her scandalous arrangement. Would he be angry about the omission? "'Twas Alexander's mother's dower estate."
"Aha. You didn't mention that before. It makes perfect sense now. Young Dalacroy wants Darby Hall back in the family."
"Well, fortunately for me, I own it free and clear. All the deeds were signed years ago." Elspeth sipped the watered-down whisky, finding it tolerable, though not her favorite. However, she didn't want to insult him by not joining him for a drink.
"I'm assuming he knows that, which is why he's using nefarious means to try to regain it. Plus, he is likely low on funds, as we talked about earlier."
She nodded, wishing she knew more about Henry. Was he a philanderer as his father had been? "If Henry wants something from me, why doesn't he simply show up at the gate and ask for it?"
Cyrus pitched two sticks of wood onto the low-burning fire. "He knows you won't give him your property. So, he wants to frighten you and leave you unprotected so you'll be forced to do whatever he says."
"Bastard." She pressed her lips together as her face heated. The whisky had loosed her tongue. She eyed Cyrus to see if he was shocked at her unladylike words.
Appearing not to notice, he stared into the fire. "I'm certain he stole your jewels."
She nodded. "He would assume his father gifted them to me."
"He may be slipping around to all the former mistresses stealing back his father's expensive gifts, or anything he can find, in order to refill his coffers."
Anger twisted in her chest. "We're not to blame."
"Of course not." Cyrus surprised her by giving her a sympathetic glance.
"We're just trying to survive as best we can."
She acknowledged that Alexander should've been faithful to his wife. But if he had been, Elspeth would've needed to find another husband or protector to help regain her and her son's properties or provide food and shelter. 'Twould have been impossible for a woman alone to earn enough to maintain adequate housing, food, and clothing for four people regardless of how hard she worked.
Feeling as though she'd had too much to drink, she set her glass on the small table by her chair. "I feel terrible for putting you to so much trouble."
He quirked a dark brow. "Think naught of it. I enjoy a challenge."
"I doubt you enjoyed getting shot with an arrow."
"Grazed." He shrugged his uninjured shoulder. "And 'twas not so terrible. I've sustained far worse injuries."
