The door opened and the subject of his thoughts walked in. “Good afternoon, Gunn.”
Not ready to let Theodore ken he was on to his scheme, Gunn nodded in greeting. “What brings ye around?” It still wasn’t his day to work. And surely he had better places to be.
“Was that Lady Kennedy out there with your new ward?”
He sighed, annoyed at the question. “Aye, and she isna my ward.”
“Isna she?” he asked smartly, his eyes narrowing. “I see she is still here as I predicted.”
Gunn ignored the jab. “She is under my employment now. What do ye need?” he asked again.
Theodore’s eyes widened as he looked around the pub. “With what funds?”
Was he trying to figure out what Jocelyn was doing? Certainly he would never guess what her job entailed. And Gunn was not about to divulge that information.
“’Tis none of your concern.” Gunn was growing tired of Theodore’s presence. “Again, I ask is there something ye need?”
“Naught really. Just seeing how the pub was faring today.”
Gunn pressed his lips into a thin line to keep from saying something he may regret later. Taking a deep breath, he blew it out slowly. “We have just opened, as ye ken. So no one yet.”
He nodded. Gunn got the sense he was fishing for something. Information? He didn’t ken, but whatever it was Gunn had no interest in offering him aught.
Theodore smiled. “Well,” he bowed his head and tipped his hat. “I shall be on my way then.”
With his arms crossed at his chest, Gunn watched him walk to the door.
Hand on the door, he paused. “Do let me ken if ye need me for aught,” he called out nonchalantly and slipped through the door.
“Arsehole,” Gunn muttered. He was up to something. He just didn’t ken what. “Are ye set?” he asked Thomas.
The man nodded and Gunn dropped the cloth he’d been using to wipe everything down into a hamper behind the bar. “I’ll be back later,” he said and walked outside.
He was ready to walk with Jocelyn as he promised. He found her and Lizzie sitting on the bench outside the inn, watching the people pass by. He wished they would stop inside the pub for a drink, but that was a matter to think on later.
For now, he wanted to focus all his attention on Jocelyn.
“Ladies,” he greeted, bowing deeply.
Jocelyn greeted him with a smile while Lizzie giggled.
He ignored her.
“Jocelyn, Lizzie. Would ye care to join me for a walk?”
Lizzie jumped up from the bench. “I actually have something that I need to do. I completely let it slip my mind. I’ll leave ye two alone.” When Jocelyn looked away from her, she waggled her eyes at Gunn.
The liar. She had naught to do, but he appreciated her lie.
They watched her walk into the inn.
“That was not so subtle,” Jocelyn giggled.
Gunn couldn’t help but laugh along with her. “No’ at all.” He offered his arm. “Would ye care for a stroll?”
For a moment she stared at his outstretched arm and he wondered if she would reject his offer. Finally, she smiled, and slipped her hand into the crook of his elbow.
“I would like that.”
