By the time Rebbie returned toDraughonin a few days, hopefully everyone would have calmed down and he could tell Barclay, in a reasonable tone that the betrothal to his daughter was off. He didn't want to tell him now because once he did, they would leave, taking Calla with them.
***
"How could you have done such a thing?" Calla asked Elena. "Slipping out after I fell asleep and going to LairdRebbinglen'sroom?" She was indeed surprised at the girl's courage but not as shocked as her mother had been. After all, Calla had done worse, but she wouldn't think of that now. Without doubt, Rebbie had been furious.
"I am sorry, Calla!" Elena paced from one side of their chamber to the other. "I couldn't sleep for wondering what it would be like if he kissed me. 'Twouldbe a dream come true, surely."
"You cannot force the man to marry you."
"'Tisnot the reason I did it!" Elena cried.
"Well, no matter your reasoning, your father is now trying to force Rebbie to marry you soon, and I fear that won't work. He's left, and who kens when he will be back, orifhe will be back?"
"He will return soon." Elena blinked rapidly at the sheen of moisture in her eyes. "Won't he?" she asked in a meek voice.
"I know not," Calla said gently. The lass was so naïve she probably had no inkling what took place in the marriage bed. "I heard angry shouts coming from the courtyard this morn and one of them sounded like his."
"Oh, Calla. I could make him so happy. I love him."
Calla forced a sympathetic smile. Maybe the lass wasn't simply naïve, but truly daft. Or maybe 'twas because Calla knew Rebbie far better than Elena did. She could never make him happy. He looked bored beyond bearing every time she saw them talking. "'Tissimply the first time you've been smitten," Calla said gently.
"Nay, 'tis not. I was smitten with Hardwick. What I feel for Rebbie is… is so much more. I simply must find a way to convince him to like me."
Calla wanted to shake her head. If he didn't like her already, chances were he never would. She turned away to finish readying herself for breakfast. Where had Rebbie gone? Wherever it was, she doubted he would return. Men like him valued their freedom more than anything. Had he ripped up the contract before he'd gone? She didn't know the details of what had transpired between him and Barclay, but it couldn't have been good.
For a certainty, she would miss Rebbie and the way his mysterious dark gaze lingered upon her in a curious manner. As if questions always waited on the tip of his tongue. Questions she definitely didn't want to answer. Maybe 'twas best for all of them that he'd gone.
After she and Elena finished dressing, they descended the steps to break their fast with the others in the great hall.Rebbie'sfather and Lachlan talked quietly in one corner of the large room while the others gathered around the high table. Soon, everyone was seated and the meal was served.
The normally boisterous group was near silent this morn and some of them eyed Elena in an inquiring manner, but she seemed not to notice. She picked at her food, appearing lost in her own misery. Barclay was red-faced, his glare searing everything in its path. She would be certain to avoid him. Though he was her father's cousin, she was not close to him.
Once Calla and Elena left the great hall and returned to their chamber, Lady Barclay entered, her face pale and her disproving mouth pinched. Calla expected the lady to give her daughter a scathing speech, but Lady Barclay turned her attention to Calla. "How could you let this happen?" she demanded.
Chapter Five
"What?" Calla took a step back from the militant expression on the normally reserved woman's face. She couldn't believe Elena's mother had barged into their bedchamber to verbally attack her for something Elena had done.
"You heard me," Lady Barclay snapped, her green eyes flashing with ire. "Now, if that scoundrel does not marry my daughter, what are we to do? Her reputation will be ruined."
"She slipped out while I was asleep," Calla said, aghast that the woman would blame her.
"We don't pay you to sleep. We pay you to keep a close, watchful eye on Elena at all times, day and night."
"I am sorry. I had no inkling she would do something so bold and reckless as to go to a man's bedchamber in the middle of the night."Aye, bold, reckless and stupid.
Lady Barclay's face flushed red. "'Tisbecause ofyou," she seethed.
"What do you mean?" Calla asked, guilt and shame niggling at her conscience just as it did every time she feared someone knew her secret.
"Without doubt, you put the idea into her head."
"I didnot," Calla said firmly in as calm a tone as she could muster. If she didn't need the employment desperately, she would give the stodgy lady a piece of her mind.
"My daughter is an innocent. She knows naught about men or the sinful ways of the world." She eyed Calla accusingly.
"I'm a widow. That doesn't make me sinful. Your daughter has a mind of her own, and she was the one who decided to approach Laird Rebbinglen."
"Humph." Lady Barclay's gaze darted to Elena, then back to Calla again. "I have my eye on you, Lady Stanbury. If you do not improve your work performance, you will find yourself seeking employment elsewhere." She turned and quit the room, slamming the door in her wake.
