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Inappropriate. Yer faither would be ashamed.
Wouldn’t he? It had been such a long time that Alexander didn’t even have an answer for sure.
When Cicilia let go, her cheeks were fiery red. “I’m sorry, Laird. I’m just so grateful that—”
He cleared his throat. “Alexander,” he said, and then stood and walked out of the room, his thoughts threatening to overwhelm him if he stayed.
Before the door swung shut, he heard her voice, more robust now, call, “Thank ye, Alexander.”
It was well past the usual bedtime for the farm when Nathair returned, minus Jeanie, who he said had taken her grandfather home after they’d questioned him. “Old Ewan said he saw somethin’ last night. Still, his eyes couldn’ae make out anythin’ more than a blurry figure,” Nathair told them, obviously frustrated.
Cicilia tried not to groan at this. Of all the people on her land that night, why only Ewan? She loved the old man, but could it not have been his daughter instead? One of the farmhands? “Did ye find out anythin’ in town?” she pressed.
Nathair shook his head and frowned. “Nay, lass, much to me chagrin. I’m sorry, but nae body we questioned seemed to stick out in particular. We couldn’ae pick up a trail or anythin’. I dinnae ken how somebody could vanish like that.”
Alexander frowned deeply. “None o’ this makes any sense,” he declared. “But I suppose the first step will be to be practical. Nathair, I need ye to do me a favor an’ play escort on the morrow.”
Cicilia raised her eyebrows. “Oh, aye? Who’s he escortin’?”
“Ye,” Alexander told her simply. “He’ll go wi’ ye to the market an’ ensure ye get the best prices for the replacement animals, an’ help ye pick out an excellent pet for the bairns.”
Automatically, Cicilia opened her mouth to argue.
Does he think me incompetent? Does he think I cannae handle me own farm?!
But before she could express those thoughts at all, he spoke again, as though he’d read her mind.
“Be realistic, Cicilia,” he told her a little disapprovingly. “Ye ken that as a lassie ye’ll be swindled by unruly merchants if they get half a chance. Men have more power to bargain.”
She scowled. “An’ ye dinnae think I’ve bargained at all in the last year?” she asked. “Ye dinnae think—”
“And more importantly,” Alexander interrupted, “It is nae safe for ye to go without a man. Or are ye tellin’ me ye’re in the habit o’ travelin’ without an escort?”
“When I need to be,” Cicilia said sullenly, though she knew he had a point. She did do most of her bargaining on her own…but she usually had one of the farmhands accompany her. She wasn’t a fool. She was small, shapely, and passing bonny. She knew the workings of the minds of lesser men.
Alexander sighed. “I’m nae tryin’ to be condescendin’ to ye. I ken ye’re capable—more than capable. But there’s nae harm in lettin’ someone take care o’ ye a little. It is nae right, but it’s how things are. A male escort will keep ye safe.”
“Well, I think that’s ridiculous,” Cicilia huffed.
“Ridiculous or nae, it’s a fact. An’ it’s me penny ye’ll be takin’. Will ye let Nathair take ye?” Alexander asked her.
She hesitated.
Alexander rolled his eyes. “Or do ye want the whole world to ken ye’re a lassie wi’ neither husband nor faither before I’ve had a chance to do anythin’ about it?”
“I’ve been managin’ just fine,” she protested, though more out of stubbornness than an actual argument. “I think ye’re bein’ ridiculous.”
“Ridiculous I may be, but will ye do as ye’re asked?” Alexander said calmly.
Cicilia glanced at Nathair, who winked at her. She let out a long sigh. “Aye. Aye, fine. An’ what’ll ye be doin’ while me an’ Nathair are gettin' acquainted?”
To her extreme amusement, she saw a flash of something like annoyance in Alexander’s blue eyes.
He is nae…he cannae be jealous?
But then it was gone, and he said, “I need to have another look around the place meself. If I’m gonnae get this place sorted properly, I need to ken everythin’ about it. An’ I guess the bairns can help me if they want to.”
Cicilia’s heart fluttered at that. She couldn’t help but love the way the twins had taken to Alexander—and, frankly, the way he had taken to them, whether he’d admit it or not. Aye, he was a grumpy excuse for a man, but he seemed to make the bairns happy.
