Page 51 of Bond of a Bewitched Highlander

Brodie stuck his head in, his gorgeous presence not helping in the matter of her wild and speeding pulse. His gaze darted from Elsea to his mother. "Ma? What are you doing here?" His tone was deeply suspicious.

She sent him a sweet smile. "Only having a wee chat with Lady Elsea, my dear. You know I was always fond of her."

"Finnian needs to see her in his workroom." Brodie glared at his mother in warning. "He has a remedy for her head."

"Oh, Finnian is so helpful, is he not?" Agatha gushed.

Elsea studied the two, curious about their suppressed conflict. Agatha wanted to enlighten her, while Brodie preferred to keep her in the dark. Mayhap she should leave the room before they started shouting at each other. She rose and approached the door. "I'll return forthwith, m'lady... eh... Agatha, and we'll continue our talk." She strode past Brodie and headed toward Finnian's room where he had first examined her head.

"I'll be there in a minute," Brodie called after her.

***

WHEN ELSEA WAS OUT of earshot, Brodie entered the room and closed the door.

"Agatha?" he mimicked, scowling at his mother. Hardly anyone called her by her first name.

"Of course, dear. Elsea used to call me Agatha. Why not now?" Her lips quirked up. "I would ask her to call me Ma or Mother, but that might be overstepping."

"You think?" he growled.

She tilted her head, her smile widening.

"Do nay tell her anything about the past," he said in a low tone.

"Why? She deserves to know the truth. It might help her remember something."

He blew out a breath, imagining all the things his mother might enlighten Elsea about. "If you tell her I'm cursed, she might try to escape in the night and put herself in danger. She believes shapeshifters are evil. Wilona MacRae has already visited her in a dream and threatened to kill her."

His mother blanched and crossed herself, amusement fading. "Saints preserve us."

"Aye. 'Tis precarious. I prefer to let her remember in her own time. She was near traumatized earlier when she learned of her father's death."

"Oh. I hadn't considered that. Is she well?"

Brodie shrugged. "I suppose, though she wept as if it had just happened." And he'd hated that for her. "Cease your manipulations for a while. I must find out about the galley she fell from and who was on board."

His ma's brow furrowed. "That sounds dangerous, darling. Would it not be best if Torr and Gavin returned and helped you with it?"

"Nay. I refuse to put them in danger. They're both recently wed and enjoying life. 'Tis their honeymoon."

The smug amusement returned to his mother's eyes. "Well... you could be enjoying a honeymoon if only—"

"Nay! Hold your tongue."

Hiding a smile, she rolled her lips between her teeth.

"The lass needs to sleep. She's going to drink an elixir. So, do nay be upsetting her further." Brodie motioned for his ma to exit the room.

She smiled. "Oh, alright, dear. I'll talk to her tomorrow. By the way, she's just as lovely as ever, don't you think? Or maybe even more beautiful."

"Cease your maneuvering," he muttered. "'Twill nay work."

His mother chuckled and hurried away.

Blast her. He blew out a breath, slammed the door on his way out, and strode back toward Finnian's workroom.

When he entered, Elsea sat by the hearth, sipping the tisane while Finnian explained about the rowan cross and how it could protect her from the witch's evil.