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This strategy was something the two women had perfected over the three years of Adaira’s and the laird’s marriage. When she could take absolutely no more of the laird’s attention, Adaira would hide in her armoire, the privy, or even under the maid’s bed. They were all easy places to find, but strangely enough, the laird had never done so, and she always had a plausible story ready for him in the morning.
“I will hold you to your promise, Keira,” Adaira said earnestly.
“I will not fail you,” Keira assured her. “I might even join you.”
* * *
“Moira!” Keira called as she entered the bedroom. “I need my clothes.”
She was frowning, and every one of her movements was quick and aggressive as she sat on the bed and began to undress. She took off her boots and threw them across the room, pretending that she was aiming for her father’s head.
Moira, who had known Keira since she was a tot, frowned and shook her head at her mistress. She knew that she could always speak her mind, and now she took advantage of that privilege.
“Are ye all right, hen?” she asked anxiously. “Because that hair o’ yours looks as if a rat has made a nest in it.”
Keira sighed in exasperation. She had a bad habit of running her fingers through her long red hair when she was upset, as she very definitely was now! Moira had been with Keira since she was five years old. She was the closest person she had to a mother and knew every one of Keira’s secrets, so Keira was not afraid to tell her anything. As well as that, she was the only one of the servants who was allowed to call Keira by her given name.
“I wish I could kill him!” she said through gritted teeth as she reached out to circle an imaginary neck with her hands in an imitation of a strangling motion. “I would be doing the world, and especially this estate, a favor!”
She stripped off her blouse, taking so little care that she tore a few of the buttons off and they flew off like little missiles.
Moira shook her head. “I think somebody else will dae that soon for ye, darlin’,” she observed. “He is pilin’ up enemies faster than I can fold up laundry. But dinnae strike against him, Keira, because they would imprison a man but hang a woman for the same crime. Is it worth losing yer life for a wicked creature like that?”
Keira put her hands over her face and thought for a moment. “When you say it like that, Moira, no, it is not.” Then she banged her fist on the table and growled. “But the way he makes poor Adaira’s life a misery should be avenged. He is a cruel father and an even crueler husband. Adaira has asked me to help her run away, and I have agreed.”
Moira frowned as she helped Keira take off her dress. “Are ye sure that is wise, Keira?” she asked. “Yer father has spies everywhere an’ little escapes him, an’ as ye say, he is cruel. I know that I cannae change yer mind once ye have made it up, but I would ask ye to think twice. He may have killed yer mother an’ his second wife, but it strikes me that he would have no conscience about killin’ ye too.”
Her blue eyes were earnest as she gazed at the young woman she treasured so dearly.
“Why have you never left us, Moira?” Keira asked suddenly. “You could walk out any time now that I am a grown woman who can look after herself.”
Moira was astonished. Keira had never asked her such a thing before. Was she trying to tell her something?
“Keira,” she said, her voice husky as tears sprang to her eyes, “the only reason I would ever leave yer side is if ye sent me away. Are ye goin’ tae do that?”
Keira was horrified. “No!” she cried as she rushed forward to embrace Moira. “Not in a million years! I love you, Moira. I would never send you away.”
Moira breathed a huge sigh of relief. “I am such a silly woman,” she said, but she was wiping tears from her eyes as she spoke.
