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“’Tis all quite innocent, I assure ye,” she said. “Titus is simply… helping me.”

Isadora began to sway back and forth as the infant in her arms grew fussy. “Titus helping someone other than himself?” she said, grinning. “I dinna know he was capable of such a thing.”

Esme wasn’t sure what to say to that, so she simply continued. “Like Titus was in the past, I am a ward of the Duke of Ayr,” she began, but then she stopped herself. “Nay – that is not entirely true. I am a hostage and Titus was, too. But Titus escaped his predicament, and when I saw him in Edinburgh yesterday, I knew he could help me escape and return home, so I sought him out. That is why I am here – because I need his help. I must earn money for passage back to Navarre.”

She held her breath, waiting for a reaction, but there was no judgment from the women gazing back at her. At least, not outwardly. They only seemed politely curious.

“I thought ye sounded different,” Isadora said. “Ye dunna speak like a Scots. Ye’re from Navarre?”

Esme nodded. “I am from Navarre,” she said. “Do you know of it?”

Isadora grinned, shaking her head. “I wish I did,” she said. “Ye said ye were a hostage of the Duke of… of…?”

“Ayr.”

“Aye, Ayr. Why were ye a hostage?”

Esme debated how much to tell her. Not knowing the woman, she didn’t want to tell her everything. She’d learned to be cautious over the years with the truth.

“Political reasons,” she said. “Suffice it to say that the duke betrayed my father and my only chance to return home is to escape. That is why I am here – I have asked Titus to help me.”

“What kind of help do ye need?”

Esme was honest. “Money,” she said. “As I said, I must earn it to pay for my passage. I can sew and I can read and write. I told Titus that I could help anyone who wanted to learn to read or write. I can do it in four languages.”

That drew a reaction. Isadora’s eyebrows lifted. “Impressive,” she said. “So ye want tae teach?”

Esme nodded. “If I can,” she said. “Titus can help me find men to teach, but I can also tend house. In fact, I was just tidying up Titus’ cottage and I’ve collected his dirty clothing. Men need someone to do things like that, things a wife would do. I could do that for a price.”

“Things a wife can do?” Isadora repeated hesitantly. “Eh… what more would ye do?”

Esme was oblivious to what Isadora was thinking. Lilia, too. They were both looking at Esme strangely.

Things a wife would do…

“As I said, I can sew,” Esme said. “I can also cook, just a little. I worked in the kitchens sometimes at Culroy Castle and I learned a great deal. I can ensure there is firewood and a fire in the hearth, and the floors are swept. Everything a wife can do.”

Isadora’s brow furrowed further. “Everything?”

It was in that moment that Esme realized what had Isadora’s focus. Everything a wife can do. Esme suddenly realized how it sounded.

Her cheeks flushed a bright red.

“Almost everything,” she said quickly. “Everything but… that. I’ll tend a man’s house, but I’ll not tend his bed.”

Both Isadora and Lilia appeared visibly relieved. “Not tae disparage ye, lass, but it sounds as if ye meant more than tending his house,” Isadora said, trailing off. “Ye said ye needed money, so…”

She couldn’t finish the statement, inferring the obvious, and Esme shook her head emphatically. Deeply embarrassed, she lowered her head.

“I am not that kind of a woman, I assure you,” she said. “I simply wish to earn money so I can return home. Home away from women who think I would…”

She couldn’t even finish. She was too ashamed. Turning away quickly, she headed towards Titus’ cottage, verging on tears. But a soft hand on her arm stopped her.

“Nay, lass,” Isadora said softly. “Dunna go. I’m sorry if we hurt yer feelings. But what ye said sounded as if… well, I’ll not repeat it. And given that Titus has more female companionship than he needs, it was easy tae think… but it was wrong of us. Forgive us.”

Esme didn’t try to pull away. In truth, she was surprised at the apology. “I am the one who made the mistake,” she said, sniffling. “I can see how I sounded as if I were willing to do anything at all, but that’s not the truth. I’ve never even been kissed, to be completely honest. I only came to Titus because I thought he could help me. I do not even really know the man.”

Isadora was pulling her back over to where Lilia was now standing up with an infant in her arms who was starting to wake up. The towheaded toddler in the dirt was also on his feet, running to Isadora and grabbing hold of her skirts as she walked.