Blake frowned, inclined to believe Price made that last bit up to paint himself as an expert.
“Yes, well, a distant cousin took over the title. He tossed the girls out.”
Price gave a dramatic sigh. “I’d heard that bit too. Shame.”
Blake stopped in his tracks, Price running into his back. He didn’t move as the other man bounced off him. “Ye ken they were out on the streets?” He turned to look at the insufferable man.
Price shrugged, his cheeks growing red. “I’d only met them once. None of my business, really.”
Blake turned back and kept walking, rolling his shoulders to try and relax them. Price rubbed him the wrong way.
Colin continued. “They met my cousin, Fiona, and, being the lovely busybody that she is, she convinced me to transport them to Scotland. Of course, we didn’t ken that Rose had inherited all of this….” He waved his hand toward the entry as it came into view.
“You’re quite lucky,” Price replied. “If I had known…” He didn’t finish, but Blake’s teeth ground together. What an absolute git.
“Lily married a laird, from the land adjoining ours, and Daisy continues to explore her options. Which are many.” Colin chuckled. “Several lairds have tried to win her favor, but none have succeeded.”
Blake understood why. She exuded with the sort of energy and fire that could set a man to blaze.
Price rubbed his hands together, the scratching noise echoing in the large space. “She was a beauty the first time I met her. I’m sure she still is. It was difficult to tell with all the mud.” He chuckled as though he’d made a hilarious joke. No one joined him. “But I look forward to seeing her again. I remember her being an excellent dancer, and the way she molded to my—”
Blake stopped again and once again the man ran into his back. He had no use for whatever Price was about to say. “She’s a lady,” he muttered. “Mind yer tongue.”
Colin’s brows went up, but he said nothing as he opened the wide double doors that led out to the drive.
Blake was glad to see the conversation end. Now he could picture the woman who haunted this day.
Chapter Five
Daisy lay in bed listening for any movement in the darkness. Rose had kept a watchful eye all afternoon and evening so she’d been unable to get out of bed.
Hearing nothing, Daisy slowly pulled herself up to sitting and then swung her feet over the edge. She didn’t give a whit what the doctor said as she’d grown stiff just lying in bed and needed to move. With everyone in the house finally asleep, she could take a bit of a stretch.
Pressing her ear to the door, silence was the only sound she heard and so she reached for the knob, slowly unlatching the door and swinging the large wooden panel in. Peeking her head out, she looked left and then right. Seeing nothing, she stepped her first toe out of the room.
“What are ye doing?” a deep voice rumbled from the floor.
Daisy covered her mouth to keep a scream from erupting. She’d recognize that deep brogue anywhere. It was Laird Abbott. She could see his shadowy figure sitting on the floor, his torso propped casually against the wall. She quickly dropped her hand again. “What am I doing? What in God’s name are you doing outside my door? If I yell and Colin comes, he will shoot you.”
He gave the softest chuckle. “No need fer violence. I was honestly just worried about ye, lass. If ye cried out in the night, I—” He stopped. “But clearly yer fine if yer up and out of bed.”
She stepped a little further into the hall. While it was highly unusual for him to be on the floor outside her door, he’d helped her remove several items of clothing today and had remained a perfect gentleman. Well, she supposed perfect gentlemen didn’t take down a woman’s drawers, but it had been in the name of aiding her. “I can’t sleep and I’m stiff as a board from all my time in bed. I need to move and—”
“Didn’t take the laudanum?” He slowly pushed himself up to standing, stretching his back. “While I don’t like the stuff either, some sleep might help ye recover faster.”
She wrinkled her nose. “You sound like Rose.”
He stepped closer and she could make out his features. A small smile played at his lips. “Maybe Rose is right.”
Daisy clucked her tongue. “Never say that in front of her. She is as bossy as a sister can be.”
“Fair enough.” He held out his elbow to her. “I’ve had a bossy relative. They’re no fun at all.”
Daisy hesitated, taking a step back rather than threading her arm through his. First, Rose wasn’t here to chaperone. Second, it was the middle of the night. And third, she barely knew this man. “Perhaps you’re right. I should go back to bed.”
He straightened a bit. “Ye likely should. But if ye’ll permit me, I’ll walk ye up and down this hall first and then you can reconsider yer medicine.”
Daisy cocked her head, assessing him. Despite the highly inappropriate arrangement, she didn’t feel at all afraid. Rather, she was eager for the chance to talk with this man again without being covered in mud. “You swear you’ll be a gentleman?”
“On my father’s grave.” He held up a hand as though making a solemn vow. “And I also would like to add that I don’t normally lurk outside ladies’ doors. I am…” He stopped, his brow furrowing, “Responsible for yer injuries and I’d like to aid in yer recovery.”
She nodded, slipping a hand into his elbow. “Thank you. And after tonight you can cease feeling responsible. I expect to make a full recovery.”
He nodded then. “I’ll still feel responsible, but I appreciate the words.” They started down the hall, moving slowly. “If ye need me fer any sort of help, just say so.”
She looked
