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Angus shot Taffy a scowl. “I dinna need ye to tell me the lad loves us.”
“Then stop kickin’ up a fuss and help the puir man.”
“That’s why I came back to Kinglas in the first place, ye daft woman. To help with Tira.”
“Oh, is that what ye call it?”
As entertaining as it was to watch Angus get his well-earned comeuppance, Ainsley was increasingly impatient to see her husband. “You’ve been agreathelp, Angus, and if you could check on Tira right now, that would be lovely. I’ll go in and see Royal.”
“But I thought I’d go see the lad now,” Angus said. “He’ll no be easy until he sees me, I ken.”
Taffy shook her head. “Mr. Royal needs a rest, not visitors.”
“I’m no visitor. I’m his bloody grandfather.”
The housekeeper responded by dumping the pile of clothes into the old man’s arms. “Ye’ll oblige me by taking Mr. Royal’s dirty things down to the laundry. He landed in a mud puddle when he tumbled off that great beast of his.”
“Do you think I might be able to go in?” Ainsley asked. “I promise I won’t stay long.”
Taffy smiled at her. “Of course, my lady. I ken he’ll be happy to seeye.”
“Why doessheget to see the lad and I don’t?” Angus demanded.
Taffy rolled her eyes. “Because she’s his wife, ye daft old man. Now please be off with those things and take that scruffy dog with ye. I won’t have her muckin’ up my clean floors.”
“It wouldna make a difference if I did mind,” Angus grumbled.
“Angus, I’ll come find you and tell you how Royal is, if you check on Tira,” Ainsley said.
The old man gave her a tentative smile. “I’d appreciate that, lass.”
“You have my word.”
He clicked his tongue at his dog and headed off down the hall. Ainsley turned back to find Taffy shrewdly regarding her.
“What?” she asked.
“Have ye made yer peace with each other, then?”
Ainsley waggled a hand. “More like a truce for Royal’s sake, I imagine.”
“Mr. MacDonald is an old fool, but he means well, ye ken. And he’d do anything for Mr. Royal. We all would.”
“As would I.”
Taffy studied her a bit too long before nodding. “As ye say, my lady. Now, Brody is just makin’ Mr. Royal more comfortable. But the poor man is a bit . . .”
“Grumpy?”
“He’s always such when his leg troubles him. He hates to give in to it.”
“I promise not to fash him.”
Taffy flashed a brief smile. “And ye’ll no be keepin’ him up too late?”
“I promise.”
After bobbing a quick curtsy, the housekeeper went off down the corridor. Ainsley slowly walked to the bedroom door. For some silly reason, her heart was thudding like a hammer against her ribs.
