Page 50 of The Highlander's Alluring Spy
She shrugged. “As ye like. Ye were always more stubborn than was good for ye, even as a lad.” Eilidh glanced around the garden, then smiled. “Dae ye remember when ye and Catrina visited after Michael and I were wed?”
Nathair smiled fondly. “Aye. Aye. The two of ye were non-stop gossipin’. Michael and I were both scared out o’ our wits.”
Eilidh snorted. “As ye rightly should have been.”
Nathair laughed too, relaxing a little. They spent perhaps an hour like that, talking about old times–about Michael, about Catrina–and about new times also. Eilidh told him about Leonard and commiserated over Tony, and in return, Nathair told her all about Elaine.
Neither of them mentioned Magnolia, for which Nathair was extremely grateful.
Eventually, he stood and yawned. “Forgive me, but I need to turn in. Elaine will be wakin’ me first thing in the mornin’, sleep or nae sleep.”
Eilidh smiled. “Aye indeed. I should be getting’ back to me chambers as well. I think I’ll enjoy the air a wee bit longer, though.”
He nodded. “Goodnight, Eilidh,” he told her. He started to walk back towards the archway.
“Nathair?”
He turned his head. “Hm?”
Eilidh was giving him that scrutinizing look once more. “Dae ye
still talk to her?”
He went still. “Dae I still talk to who?”
The Lady snorted. “Ye ken what I’m askin’. Dae ye still talk wi’ Catrina? Lord kens I still have a word wi’ my Michael now an’ again.”
Nathair’s mouth tightened. He wasn’t angry that she asked–how could he be? She was one of the few people who truly knew what he felt. But he did feel a faint sliver of embarrassment, nonetheless. A man near thirty, talking to imaginary ghosts!
“Aye,” he admitted, “aye, sometimes.”
More often than I’d like to admit.
Eilidh didn’t look surprised. “Dae me a favor, Nathair?” He waited, saying nothing.
She gave him a sad smile. “Next time Cat talks to ye, actually listen, will ye? For yer own sake.”
A cold shiver ran down his spine, and he stared at her for what seemed like an eternity. Then he grunted because he didn’t have a response that would cover any of the emotions she’d evoked in him.
“G’night, Eilidh,” he said gruffly. He turned away again and headed back inside.
Listen to her. But what use is there in listenin’ to the dead?
14
The Dream
Eilidh and Anthony could not supply storable food. Still, they promised to send along what farmhands they could spare as soon as time permitted. More importantly, Eilidh took Magnolia aside before the carriage left and told her quietly that word of Nathair’s visit had definitely reached Laird MacCullen by this point.
Magnolia had only been a little surprised. “You knew what we were doing this whole time,” she said.
Eilidh had just winked and bid her visit again soon.
Now Elaine, Magnolia, and Nathair–along with Laird Softpaws and Sir Spindrift–traveled back to Clan MacFoihl as fast as the carriage would take them. Magnolia was more than aware that every night and dawn that passed drew her month to a close.
Choose carefully, Eilidh told me. But what choices do I have?
Sir Spindrift nudged his head under her hand, clearly sick of her thinking rather than paying him attention. She smiled and scratched him behind the ear. “At least I can be sure of you, pup,” she whispered to him.
