Page 45 of Discovering Her Earl

He laughed and she joined him. She had not thought he could do any of this when he’d first asked to join the expedition. She’d been wrong and didn’t mind one bit.

“I’m sorry for my…”

She shook her head. “You’re not the first person to be overcome by the gravity of unearthing something of value. It is a great responsibility.”

He nodded. “It is.”

She recalled the first artifact she’d been charged with uncovering. She’d been only thirteen and it had been a tattered scroll. It seemed to take forever and she worried the whole thing would blow away in the breeze, but eventually it was freed and she’d felt relieved and not a little triumphant.

Julian’s experience seemed to be more than just nerves.

Once the crate was packed in the wagon they rode home quietly. He seemed exhausted, but she didn’t say anything.

He dropped her off as he took the team back to the stable.

Inside she sought out the housekeeper.

“Mrs. MacGregor, might I bother you?”

“You’re no bother, miss. What can I do for you?”

“Do you speak Gaelic?”

The woman nodded, her lips pulled together as if expecting this to be a bad thing.

“I wonder, can you tell me what gun luach means?”

The woman’s eyes went wide and Lainey worried she’d said a curse. But the woman nodded and spoke.

“It means worthless.”

“Worthless?” Lainey repeated and frowned.

“Aye.”

Lainey thanked the woman and headed for the back of the house, heading off Julian as he came inside.

“You were not just nervous about the artifact, were you?” she asked when what she wanted to ask him was why he would ever think himself worthless.

He shrugged.

“I might as well tell you all of it. I can’t make a bigger fool of myself in front of you at this point.”

She waited as he blew out a breath.

“Often when I feel pressure to do something difficult, I remember the things my father used to say. How I bungled up everything I touched. How I couldn’t do anything right.”

“Worthless?”

His eyes went wide. “Ye know Gaelic?”

“No.” She shook her head and looked away.

“Ah. Mrs. MacGregor. Did she—”

“She told me nothing else. Forgive me for saying so, my lord, but your father was a right arse.”

He chuckled, which then turned into a laugh before evolving into full on hilarity.