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“And do you plan to tell me some time this morning?”
Still, nothing.
“I saw your husband,” she finally blurted. “But not really! The door to his chamber burst open, and when I looked . . . but I spun around so quickly, I really didn’t see much at all.”
Gillian was about to tell Morgan not to be so silly, that she’d done nothing wrong, of course. But she decided to tease her maid instead.
“Are you sure you saw nothing at all?”
Morgan swallowed but didn’t move otherwise.
“I know my husband does not sleep with any clothing. Did you perhaps—”
“I saw it! But ’twas so quick, I did not get a good look, I swear. I couldn’t help it.”
Gillian burst out laughing. She just couldn’t keep it in. “Your face. I’m so sorry, Morgan. I should not have done that to you.”
In truth, she was glad she had. It had given her a moment of pure amusement amidst all the stress and pressure of the last several days.
“Oh, you are evil,” Morgan said, shaking her head.
“Come and help me dress. That very fine man you got a peek of is the same one I must now speak to.”
Morgan made a quite unladylike sound. “If I had a man as such, I’d not be talkin’ to him, and that is the truth.”
Gillian chuckled, feeling much better than she had in quite some time. Avoiding Graeme only made her feel worse. It was time for a new strategy, one she should have tried from the start.
26
He was nowhere to be found.
Gillian broke her fast alone, joined by neither Graeme nor Aidan. Finally, spying Fiona at the other end of the hall, she made her way toward her.
“Fiona,” she called out, “have you seen Graeme this morn?”
Gillian could not have been happier with how well Morgan and Fiona were getting along. In fact, the two had become practically inseparable. Yesterday, when a stableboy was overheard saying that Highgate had become overrun with English, Fiona had taken care of the matter herself. Insisted on it, actually. Gillian wasn’t sure what she’d said to the boy, but he’d apologized to both her and Morgan. Begged her not to mention the incident to the chief and promised never to say another bad word against his lady, or her maid, “until the day I die.” A long time for such a young lad.
So she wasn’t surprised to see Morgan just behind the older woman.
Fiona looked into the air, her nose scrunched in concentration. “I don’t believe I have, my lady. Were they not at the morning meal?”
Gillian shook her head. “Nay, they were not.”
So much for her idea. It would be difficult to make things right with Graeme if she could not talk to him.
Her shoulders sagged.
“Have you forgotten about Master Timothy, my lady?”
“Who?”
“The merchant I mentioned. He usually stays just a few days, so I thought perhaps—”
She’d nearly forgotten. What a treat it would be to visit him. “Oh aye, Fiona. ’Tis just what I need. Would you two care to accompany me?”
“You youngins go. These old bones don’t take kindly to the saddle any longer.”
“Then ’tis you and I, Morgan. Come.”
