Page 11 of Defy the Highlander

“When was that?”

The boy scratched his head. “Two winters, I think,” he said. “She came tae Laird Currie after her da died.”

That sounded curious to Brody. “Why would she come tae Laird Currie?”

The boy plopped down on the ground in front of him as if settling in for a nice, long chat. “I heard my mam say it was a debt,” he said. Then, he whispered loudly. “Her da owed Laird Currie money and Lilia came tae pay it.”

He said it as if it were a secret, but more than likely, a well-known one if a child knew of it. The entire manse probably knew of it. But something now made sense to Brody; when he asked Lilia what her duties were for Lady Currie, she had told him whatever the lady wished. Now, he understood that comment.

She was working off her dead father’s debt, any way she could.

Which was rather sad considering the woman’s beauty. She should have been married years ago to a fine husband, but instead, she found herself a servant in a wealthy home. It was little wonder that Lilia didn’t want to talk about herself.

No doubt, it was a sensitive subject.

“I see,” he said. “Is the debt almost paid now?”

Tynan shrugged. “I dunna know. Lady Currie likes Lilia as a companion. She makes her sit with her for hours.”

“Do ye know where Lilia used tae live?”

“SelBrody. Her family name is Galston. I heard her tell my mam that.”

Lilia Galston. As Brody pulled the tunic over his head, his focus was on the boy who seemed to be a wealth of information.

“Tell me everything ye know about her.”

Tynan did.

CHAPTER FOUR

The slap had sent her reeling.

Lilia stumbled into the wall, catching herself from falling, as Lady Currie’s nurse went in for another blow. Lady Currie had kept her nurse from childhood, a bully of a woman who liked to slap around all of Lady Currie’s servants, but as she came in for another strike, Lilia lashed out a foot and caught the woman in the knee.

She went down like a rock.

“Enough!” Lady Currie cried. “Stop fighting! I will not tolerate it!”

The nurse, old and heavy as she was, was sitting on the floor struggling to breath, as Lilia stood against the wall, preparing to kick the woman again if she came at her.

“I willna let her beat me, m’lady,” she said, angry and fearful. “I’m sorry for the sausages. I beg yer forgiveness that they were stolen. But there were three men against me and I couldna stop them. I willna let Colly strike me for something I couldna help.”

The former Lady Blanche Ireby, now Lady Currie, rose from her dressing table to stand between her nurse and Lilia, holding out her hands to prevent them from moving against one another. She was only a few years older than Lilia, plump and pretty, married to a man who was old enough to be her grandfather. She was also English and spoke in the Sassenach fashion.

“I am sorry you were set upon,” she said. “Were you injured in the attack?”

Lilia was still against the wall in a defensive position. “Nay, m’lady,” she said. “They pushed and grabbed, but I was not injured. I am very sorry for yer sausages. If ye wish for me tae go back and get more, I will.”

Lady Currie shook her head. “Nay,” she said. “It would take too long. Next time, I will send a male servant.”

“That is wise, m’lady. I am sorry tae have failed ye.”

Lady Currie looked Lilia over before dropping her hands and turning back to her dressing table. “You did not, not really,” she said, picking up the cup of wine on the table. “I should not have sent you so far away for the sausages without an escort.”

“May I work off the cost, m’lady?”

“That is not necessary,” she said, draining the cup and licking her lips. “But please do not kick Colly again. She will understand not to strike you again, but I do not wish to see her injured. She is old and damages easily.”