Page 19 of Return to Wildsyde

“I’ve not married these many years, what would I do such a fool thing for now? I’ve the respect of a married lady and addressed as ‘Mrs,’ seeing as I’m his lordship’s housekeeper, I’ve nae desire to have some fellow tell me what I may and may not do.”

Lady Morven burst out laughing, and Mrs Baillie turned with an indignant frown.

“Well, really,” the lady said, spluttering. “The idea of Willy Murray telling you what to do! He is the sweetest man, and you have had his heart on a string these past ten years. Put him out of his misery, Sheenagh, I beg you.”

“Hmph,” was all the answer the woman gave.

They both looked up as Luella walked in.

“Good morning, Lady Morven, Mrs Baillie.”

“Good morning, Luella, I’ve been waiting for you,” the countess said with a smile. “It is about time we took you into town, I think. We cannot have you living under our roof dressed like that. You must have some new clothes.”

Luella started in surprise, not having expected that. She had assumed the housekeeper would find her some casts offs or something of the sort. That the countess might take her on a shopping trip to buy new things had never entered her mind.

“I beg you will not trouble yourself,” she said stiffly. “I have determined I shall not incur any costs that I cannot repay. Though if I knew how much my father has left to us, I might be a little easier in my mind.”

Though Luella held the countess’ gaze, she thought perhaps Mrs Baillie gave her an approving nod. Lady Morven’s enigmatic countenance was harder to read.

“A noble gesture,” she replied steadily, though whether she believed it was a genuine one, Luella could not tell. “But sadly, one that will reflect badly on the family. Lyall is your guardian and therefore responsible for you. He has asked me to ensure you are properly outfitted while I am still here. There’s rain due, I suspect, but I don’t think it will be too heavy, so we ought to get to Wick and return with no trouble. It’s a fair distance, I’m afraid, an hour and a half if we have a good trip. So we had better leave at once, for I would prefer to be back before dark.”

“But my lady,” Luella objected.

The countess looked a little impatient. “We are going, Miss Fulbright. I suggest you make yourself ready. I shall go to the stables and measure Jack whilst you fetch your coat and hat. I know how boys hate shopping for clothes, so we will not subject him to that misery. If he is anything like my boys were, he’ll be growing a mile a minute and will need new things again in a few months, in any case.”

The countess left the kitchen, leaving Luella dithering and uncertain.

Mrs Baillie tsked and waved a spoon at her. “Well, go on, then! Do as her ladyship tells ye, lass.”

“But—” Luella began.

“There’s nae point in fighting her, believe me, I know. She’ll have her own way and she’s right besides. It would look bad for Lord Buchanan if ye go around dressed like that and there’s enough gossip doing the rounds as it is. Don’t make things worse for him.”

“Oh, very well,” Luella said in frustration, for she had to concede the point. When she’d lived on Tottenham Court Road, her dress had been no less shabby, but it had not stood out so much, for most people looked the same. Here, though, and especially in the presence of Lady Morven, her clothes looked old and dismal and worn beyond repair, a fact of which she was becoming increasingly aware, especially when Lord Buchanan’s critical gaze was cast her way. “But we shall just have to do it on a budget. I refuse to be beholden to anyone, least of all him!” she said furiously, and with that last word, she strode out.

Luella hurried out of the castle to find a carriage awaiting her. She climbed the steps inside and then froze as she came face-to-face not only with Lady Morven, but also Lord Buchanan. Glowering, whisky-coloured eyes met hers for a moment, then they both turned accusing expressions upon the countess.

“What the devil is she doing here?” he demanded before Luella could be so ungracious as to ask the same thing.

Lady Morven shrugged. “You wished me to see her properly outfitted. What did you expect me to do?”

“You did not tell me you meant to take her with you today. If you had—”

“If I had, you would have ridden into Wick when it will certainly rain, which is ridiculous. Besides which, I would like your company. You must live under the same roof for the foreseeable future. So, if you cannot endure a carriage ride, things will be hard indeed.”

“Wildsyde is a big place, but there is nae a place to hide in a carriage, Ma,” he said grimly, folding his arms and glowering out of the window.

“No, well, perhaps that is for the best. Luella, do sit down and stop wavering in the doorway like that. You’ll fall out if you’re not careful.”

Luella did as she told, sitting beside the countess, and wishing fervently she was making Cullen Skink with Mrs Baillie.

“I suppose I must also find you a suitable chaperone,” Lady Morven said with a sigh as the carriage moved forward. “I cannot think who would do best for you. I must give it serious consideration.”

“Whatever for?” Luella asked in surprise.

Lady Morven turned to her and shook her head. “You cannot remain under the same roof as an unmarried man without a chaperone. All the time I am here, it is not a problem, but I cannot stay indefinitely, so we must think of something, or rather, someone else.”

“Aye, someone else I dinnae want under my roof,” his lordship muttered irritably, glaring at Luella, his expression one of intense frustration. “If it isn’t bad enough that I must endure having ye living in my home, a constant reminder to all around here of what Lilith did, keeping the gossips tattling about me, but now I’ve to have a damned nursemaid, too.”