Page 12 of Highland Jewel
“So now it’saffairs.” Morrigan placed both hands flat on the table and leaned toward her. “Don’t be stupid, Maisie. I saw the way you came home yesterday. And I don’t like it. No gentleman would—”
“I wasn’t with this man at the time. He is not in any way responsible for… for what you saw.”
“Very well. Then stop being mysterious.” She wasn’t giving up. “Tell me who he is. How do you know him?”
“I do not need to explainanythingto you. Stay away from me.” She turned sharply toward the door and inadvertently bumped a chair, knocking it over. She quickly straightened it.
“A temper. This is something we rarely see. I like it. Now direct it athim.”
Seething, Maisie marched out into the corridor. This prying, protective Morrigan was new and inconvenient.
She planned to reveal to her family the truth of what she was doing. She’d tell Isabella, Archibald, and Morrigan, but she’d do it when the time was right. When it suited her. If they objected, she didn’t particularly care. She was doing it for herself and for society, not for them.
Besides, this household was no stranger to politics and activism. Her sister’s husband led two lives. To the world, he was a respected doctor. A teacher at the medical college. But Maisie knew he had another life that was known only to a few. He was in league with the radical reformers in Edinburgh. Some of the material Maisie used in her flyers and spoke about in their small gatherings came from things she’d overheard duringmeetings that were being held here in the house. Archibald was knowledgeable and passionate. And Morrigan was just like her father.
The person who would be most upset was Isabella. She regularly voiced her concerns over the secrecy that surrounded their lives and the threat of danger Archibald’s crusading brought to their door. As a doctor, Isabella helped one and all. When it came to acts of goodwill, her talents and expertise were offered freely to many who didn’t have the means of ever paying her. But that was as far as she was willing to go. Making the authorities their enemy, in her opinion, was foolishness. In spite of the actions of Parliament and the local militias across Britain, Isabella couldn’t bring herself to believe that they were already the enemy.
The door to the drawing room had been left partially open. She tapped on it once and went in, only to find her sister speaking with their guest.
“Maisie.” Isabella’s tone conveyed her concern. “You didn’t say anything about yesterday.”
Fires of anger burned in her chest as she glanced at the man towering beside her sister. And to think, for a brief moment she’d thought him heroic. In fact, she tried to convince herself, he was far less handsome today.
Lieutenant Campbell bowed politely, his face expressionless.
“Yesterday?” she repeated, uncertain as to what he’d revealed.
“Yes, yesterday,” Isabella repeated.
“I must apologize, Miss Murray,” he interjected. “I had no idea you’d not disclosed anything to Dr. Drummond about yesterday.”
The trace of a challenge glinted in his eye. It occurred to Maisie that he was toying with her. He hadn’t been here long enough to reveal all that had happened. Whatever and whenever she decided to tell Isabella about her political activities, this was definitely not the time. She certainly wasn’t about to do it with the lieutenant standing and watching. Was the man actually gloating? One eyebrow raised, his head tilted to the side, he was pretending that at any moment, he was going to reveal all her secrets.
Maisie feigned puzzlement as she addressed her sister. “I was introduced to Lieutenant Campbell yesterday by his sister.” She turned to him, matching the challenge in his expression. “Was there something else you’re referring to?”
“You don’t recall?”
“I’m sure I don’t know what you mean.”
“Would you like me to refresh your memory?”
Maisie wasn’t giving in. “Pray, do. I’m anxious to hear.”
“As am I,” Isabella broke in, clearly mystified. “Something about some danger you were in?”
“Danger?” Maisie repeated.
“Danger,” Campbell repeated, nodding. Eyebrow raised. Head tilted. Shadow of a smirk. Obviously, his favorite expression.
Go ahead,she thought.If you dare.
She tsked at him as she broke out into a smile. “Lieutenant, you know perfectly well that your sister and I were in no danger at all.”
Maisie turned again to Isabella, lowering her voice to a confidential whisper, although she had no doubt he could hear every word. “My friend Fiona warned me that her brother has been absent from Edinburgh for too long. He’s no longer accustomed to the bustle and the crowds of the city. He sees danger on every street corner and in every wynd. He is quite driven by chivalry when it comes to the need to protect women.”
Isabella’s eyes narrowed, obviously not believing anyof this. She glanced again at the lieutenant and back at Maisie. “I’m getting the sense that there is more to yesterday than I’m hearing.”
When it came to the knowledge of healing, her sister was brilliant. But as far as being a disciplinarian, she was hopeless. Isabella hadn’t a mean bone in her body. Still, Maisie guessed there would be questions she’d have to answer later.
