Page 72 of Ghost of the Ton

He shook his head.

“I’ll not believe ye if ye won’t say it.”

“For fuck’s sake, Iona!” he cried. “I dinnae love her—is that enough to satisfy ye?”

“Ye seem a little too eager to deny it.”

He opened his mouth to respond, then checked himself.

Devil’s…

“Ha!” Iona let out a laugh. “Look to yer own sins before accusing me.”

He continued along the path while she followed, issuing taunts, and he fisted his hands to control his temper. Then he stopped and turned to look at her.

“What were ye doing on this path, Iona?” he said. “It only leads to Riverside Cottage. Were ye going to see Euphramia?”

She colored, then shook her head. “Of course not. Why would I want to see that pockmarked—”

He raised his hand. “I’ve heard enough! If all ye’re going to speak is evil, I’d rather ye didnae speak at all.”

Triumph glittered in her eyes. “Are ye angry enough to strike me?”

“No,” he said. “Though ye may try yer damnedest, I’ll never be truly angry with ye—only disappointed.”

His softly spoken words, said with the weariness he felt, did more to deflate her than anger ever could. She opened her mouth to reply, then her lip wobbled and she closed it again. Her eyes glistened with tears, then, with a sob, she fled. He watched her retreating back until she turned a corner and disappeared.

What the devil was he going to do with Iona? She needed a firm hand that was also caring, nurturing, and efficient. And there was only one soul in the whole of Glenblath who had those qualities.

What a pity, then, that she was destined to leave.

Chapter Nineteen

As Mia finished her luncheon, she heard a knock on the front door.

“Is that you, Maisie? I wasn’t expecting you until later, but you can have a…”

Her voice trailed away as she opened the door to reveal a young man. She recognized him from the day she’d arrived at Glenblath, though she hadn’t seen him since. Only a handful of souls had visited Mia in the weeks she’d resided at Glenblath. Murdoch had come to issue taunts. Maisie had shooed him away the first time and he’d only returned once, though he fled when he saw Rory approach.

Had this young man come to taunt her? Perhaps Murdoch had sent him. Bullies often persuaded others to taunt their victims—poor Jamie was under the influence of that lad Billy, who, unsurprisingly, was Murdoch’s son.

Murdoch had a lot to answer for.

Mia folded her arms and met the young man’s gaze. “Is there something I can do for you, Mr.…?” She inclined her head and waited.

“B-Brodie, ma’am. Brodie MacLennan. I…I was wondering if ye’d take a look at my arm. Mrs. MacLennan said ye might be able to help.”

“Mrs. MacLennan?”

“Aileen MacLennan, her that teaches at the school. Her lass…Ada…comes to visit the horses. She said ye’d helped Ada after she hurt her shoulder. So I-I thought ye maybe might want to help me.”

“You look after the horses?”

“I’m head groom, ma’am.”

Mia ushered him inside.

“Oh,” he said, eyeing her half-eaten meal. “I-I’ll come back if ye’re busy.”