Page 29 of Highlander’s Lesser Evil

“None of what?” a new voice asked.

At the sight of Graeme, Jillian gasped and whirled around. She would have fallen in the tub had he not reached out and steadied her. “Easy, lass,” he said in a low voice.

As Jillian paled, Gemma quickly reached out and put a reassuring hand on her shoulder. Around them, the other women had stopped and straightened, all keeping a close eye on what was happenning.

Graeme released her and looked around with a wry smile. “I apologize for interrupting ye, ladies. I simply wanted to have a word with Jillian.”

“In private?” Gemma challenged as she crossed her arms over her chest.

“No, ‘tis not necessary, unless she would like to answer my questions in private.”

“What questions?” Jillian asked quietly.

“Ye are seeking sanctuary from the MacSeavers. I wish to know the details.”

“I...” She looked at Gemma, who realized that Jillian was embarrassed and did want to speak to him alone.

Elizabeth, having watched the scene quietly, now quickly elbowed her way into the thick of things. That was Elizabeth, boldly acting with little fear.

“Has it occurred to ye that she might not want to talk to a MacSeaver, especially one that is to be heir?” she demanded.

Graeme frowned. “I havenae been there recently—”

“Nay!” Elizabeth snapped. “Ye havenae. Ye have been here when yer own people might have need of ye!”

“Elizabeth,” Jillian said quickly, paling. The young woman was challenging Graeme’s leadership skills, and no good would come of that. She glanced at Gemma.

“It is all right,” Gemma told her. “We will be right here if you need us.” The sooner Graeme was mollified, the sooner he might leave them alone.

Jillian and Graeme walked a little further away, and Gemma stared the whole time. She knew what it was like to be harassed by a man when others were still so close. At the insufferable parties in London, she could be dancing with someone in the middle of a crowd while he tormented her with lewd suggestions or threats if she didn’t take his hand in marriage.

None had worked on her, but then, she hadn’t been exposed to months and months of harassment.

From what she could see, Graeme didn’t say a word as he listened but nodded from time to time. Finally, he scowled, murmured something to her, and walked away.

Quickly, Gemma and Elizabeth hurried to their friend. “Are you all right?” Gemma asked anxiously.

“Graeme MacSeaver is just like the rest of the MacSeavers,” Jillian snarled, “but he assures me that he wilnae interfere with my quest for sanctuary so long as Fletcher doesnae ask him too. I think ‘tis more likely that he doesnae want me telling his uncle that he is here rather than looking for a bride.”

“Are you worried that he will bother you while he is here?” Elizabeth turned and glared at the man’s retreating back. “Honestly, laundry day is sacred. What was he thinking interrupting us?”

“Nay. Graeme is likely to ignore me. He blames me for what happened to my husband, and that is fine. I prefer the ignoring to the harassment, but he likes to throw his weight around. ‘Twould have been better for him not to realize that I was here at all. He would have forgotten me in time, but that could still be the case. How long is he going to be here?”

“That I doonae know, but Theo wilnae suffer his presence for long.” Gemma sighed. “Come, once we finish the washing, we can take a break and walk through the flower fields near the loch. The sun is sure to help us forget our troubles.”

“And what troubles are ye having?”

A flush bloomed on her cheeks, and Jillian chuckled. “Bedroom problems?”

Elizabeth gasped and clapped her hands. She was such a romantic, and desperately wanted Gemma and Theo to live happily ever after.

“Shhh! I don’t want everyone to know!” Looking furtively around, Gemma assured herself that no one was looking at them. “It’s not that there isn’t interest, but when we first...had an intimate moment, I did not realize quite how intimate it might be. I feel almost foolish about how I acted, and how I feel around him.”

“Men can be brutes,” Jillian said quietly. “Has he hurt ye?”

“No, he just hasnae...erm...taken his pleasure yet. He wants me to be more comfortable.”

The widow’s eyes widened. “Really? That doesnae sound like the man I heard so much about. There was a time when the stories that came from MacDougal lands were terrifying. He was burning houses when they couldnae offer a portion of their crops that the laird deemed acceptable.”