Edwina (9 page)

When at last her turn came, she spoke in a
clear, no- nonsense tone. “This is my sister. I have taken her
place. She was called to Italy because her father passed, and I
will be doing the tour.”

“No problem, miss,” came
the reply. Edwina’s heart nearly failed her.
No problem, miss?
Had she heard the
words correctly?

“Good, where do we meet?”

“Over there,” the clerk pointed and offered
to have someone carry her bag.

“Thank you, but I can handle it.” She sat in
a soft mauve chair in a lovely area, huge windows revealing a dark
blue sky with puffy white clouds. Her breath came out in one big
puff.

Exactly ten days, three blisters, and a
roaring headache later, Edwina arrived back at Holyrood in
Edinburgh. The tour was hardly relaxing, so rigorous was the
itinerary. She’d seen more castles than she could have imagined and
had more massages than a girl should have her entire life. Cecelia
had scheduled one almost every single night of the tour. She had
flatly refused all other treatments. Mud baths, saunas that made
you gasp for breath, and other such hardships.

Cecelia owed her big time.

Finally in her hotel room that she hadn’t had
to fight for—once on the tour, she was allowed all of Cecelia’s
privileges—she threw herself across the bed, not even bothering to
slip off her shoes, which were now worn so thin she could feel the
hard stone through them.

Dozing, the pain in her leg muscles finally
ebbed. The entire tour had been a study in How to Kill an American.
Perhaps Cecelia was right in one thing: Americans did not get
enough exercise. The others on the tour were not short of breath or
tired to the bone. And she was one of the younger set. On top of
that, she’d probably dropped five pounds since she’d left
home..

Edwina kicked off her shoes and turned,
stuffing a pillow behind her back for support. She slowly let her
body relax.

Sometime later, a soft knocking invaded her
senses. The door... someone was at the hotel door. Who could it be
at this hour? A quick check of the clock said it was only four
o’clock in the afternoon. How could she have slept so long?

Edwina looked through the peephole and opened
the door. “Miss Blair you have a visitor. He’s waiting in the
lobby.”

“He?” She pushed strands of hair from her
eyes.

“Aye, a man.” The young girl said with a
grin. “If I were you, I’d be getting meself down there.” She
winked.

Edwina’s eyes grew
large.
A man? Was it Reardon come to dress
her down for some error she’d made? Who else could it
be?

“I’ll be right down. Tell him ten
minutes.”

“Aye, miss.” And the girl was gone. Quickly
throwing off her travel clothes, for she had not bothered to remove
them. There was one casual outfit left that was clean. Her jeans
and pink button down shirt. But it would have to do, especially if
all she would receive is a dressing down from Reardon. Maybe she’d
forgotten some piece of luggage. Ten days had passed. How did they
know where to find her? Suddenly her tired mind began to wish she’d
asked the girl for a description of the man.

Best to find out for herself. She brushed her
hair, tucked it behind her ears and scooted out the door. She would
skim the lobby and look for a familiar face before presenting
herself.

Walking slowly, she cast her eyes from left
to right and seeing no one she knew, was about to head back to her
room when she saw him. A tall man, standing at a large window,
talking on his cell. It was Alex Dunnegin. She knew before he
turned.

What was he doing here? And how did he know
she was here? What could he possibly want with her?

Looking down at her worn jeans and pink
shirt, she shrugged. It couldn’t be that bad. After all she had
given him plenty of trouble, the least she could do was see the man
who’d taken her in. Duh... that was easy enough.

Smoothing her suddenly warm hands over her
jeans, she made her way toward him. He turned as she lifted her
hand to tap him on the shoulder. She dropped her hands and tried to
read his face as he snapped his phone shut.

“Miss Blair.” He greeted her formally, as a
gentleman would do.

Gazing into his face she knew this was not
going to be a pleasant visit.

“Mr. Dunnegin.”

“May I speak with you alone?”

Edwina’s eyes opened wider.

“Well yes, of course.”

He motioned to a set of chairs in a corner.
He waited

until she was seated then immediately sat in
the chair next to her.

“I would like to speak to you about a
position.” He ran his hands through his hair.

“Position?” Edwina tried not to cringe.

“Yes, you see I have a situation that needs a
person with a sense of duty – in confidence.” He added.

“Duty? Confidence?” She repeated giving
herself time to digest his words.

“Yes, it is the utmost trust that I require
of you.”

“Mr. Dunnegin. Today is the last day here in
Scotland. I don’t see how I could help you.”

“That is the...” he stopped when several
people came and sat nearby.

“May I take you to dinner?” He stood.

Edwina followed his lead and stood. She was
hungry. Then remembered what she was wearing. “I’m not
dressed...”

“Go upstairs and make yourself presentable. I
ask for precisely two hours of your time. When we are finished, you
may make your decision.”

Edwina nearly cringed. What in the world
could he possibly want from her? She saw from his body language
that he was prepared to wait.

“I’ll go upstairs and change then.” She said
and was off. Her fingers tingled.

In her room, she tossed clothing aside as
unsuitable. Besides that, most of her things were ready for the
laundry. What did one wear when they were? What? In a meeting?
Frustration sent her in dizzying circles. When in doubt dress in
what you feel good in. That was what she had always done. This was
no different, she kept telling herself.

A pair of dark brown dress pants and white
long-sleeved blouse was the only choice. The one formal outfit
she’d not had occasion to wear during the tour was still
presentable. They would be out in the evening. She combed her hair
once again and pulled it together with a wide barrette behind her
neck. That would add a bit of formality to her look—since this was
to be some sort of a dinner meeting.

Snatching a tan sweater and
throwing it over her arm, she grabbed her small purse, smoothed the
wrinkles from her pants and opened the door.
What did he expect on such short notice?
Pulling in a deep breath, she walked down the
hall.

She caught sight of him. He was on the phone
again. There was something amiss. She could feel it in her
bones.

Chapter 16

H
e
turned and she saw his ashen face. Had something bad happened while
she was away? As she drew closer slowly, he changed his countenance
and smiled rather sadly.

“Reardon will drop us. Do you have a
preference?”

“You mean about food?”

“Aye.”

“No. I am at your beck and call.” She said
hoping to raise his spirits a bit. He did not seem to notice her
comment for when they reached the car, Reardon put them in and they
were dashing down the busy streets of downtown Edinburgh.

“Ralph’s” The Scot had said.

The car pulled up under a
burgundy canopy with the word
Ralph’s
written in gold.

“Oh dear.” Popped out of her mouth.

“What?” The Scot turned.

“Well, as you see, I’m not property dressed
for... .for... such...”

“Too formal?” He said with a side glance.

“Much too formal.” She found strength from
somewhere inside.

“
Ah... I see.” A slight
smile rested on his face.

A smile? Hmmm... perhaps he was in need of
some encouragement. She could do that.

“If we’re just to talk we could swing into a
fish and chips place and find a good corner.” She offered.

“A good corner...” he said considering her
idea. Edwina gazed out the window.

“You know it’s been a long time since I’ve
had fish and chips. Reardon, do you know of a place?”

“Ah, Sir, indeed I do not know of such a
place.”

“I do. It’s right down on Walter Street, near
the Pop and Top Restaurant. I went there a couple of times.” She
said quietly.

“Reardon, do you know where the Pop and Top
is located?”

“I do, Sir.”

“Well, then take us there.” Reardon drove
around the streets until they arrived.

“Seems nice enough.” The Scot said. “Reardon,
you may do your duties and come for us when I call.”

Edwina noticed Reardon’s face as he stepped
out to open the door. He seemed pleased. The Scot led the way
opening the door for her as Reardon drove away.

“I hope you like it here.” She was a bit
worried it may be below his taste in food.

“There in the corner. There’s a nice table
and we won’t be bothered.” She offered.

He led the way and since he couldn’t pull out
her chair, went to stand by it until she sat. Boy was he trained
well. But something inside her stomach twitched. She could get used
to this.

“We order from the counter.” He said and
asked her what she preferred. She told him and he went up to order.
He was the only one with a dark suit and tie.

Edwina knew the feeling. She was always
properly dressed. But since she’d come to Scotland, she’d learned
to be more casual. Why was that? She was pondering those thoughts
when he returned with the tray.

He set it down and she waited as he took off
his suit jacket, folded it exactly in half and draped it over the
extra chair. Then he removed his tie and smoothed it over the
jacket.

“There now isn’t that better? We won’t have
to worry so much if we’re offending anyone by our dress.” Edwina
couldn’t believe she’d said that. But this arena was much more to
her liking than it was to his, she realized.

He looked up and passed her a drink and then
a basket of fish and chips. Then took his off the tray.

Edwina paused for a quick mental prayer and
felt her face warm. How did one talk to a Scottish Laird? She took
the plastic fork and began to eat.

Before he took a bite, he rolled up his
perfectly white sleeves.

A minute or two passed. Edwina noticed his
strong hands and muscular forearms. Geesh, wasn’t he going to start
the conversation? Wasn’t he the one who wanted to talk?

When he didn’t she could barely stand the
quiet. “Do you always eat in silence?”

He looked up. “No, I was just thinking.” He
said by way of apology.

“That’s okay.” She shrugged.

“I am interested in offering you...” he
hesitated. “A position.”

Edwina picked up her fork again so her hand
would shop shaking.

“Miss Blair, do you like children?”

“Oh yes, I like children. I read to them at
the library every Thursday night and Saturday mornings.”

“
I see.” He pondered. “I
will get down to the matter, but I need your word that you will not
speak of this conversation to anyone. Not my staff, nor anyone
else.”

“Are you sure you want
someone like me to be in
that
kind of position? I mean...” her thoughts were
flying in all directions.
Did he want her
to do something illegal. No... he wasn’t that kind of man, she
scolded herself. Yet she’d only known him two days...

The deep voice interrupted, “Believe me, I
know about you, Miss Blair. I do not make this offer
carelessly.”

“What do you mean?” She put her fork
down.

“I have checked your background and find you
suitable.”

“Suitable for what?” her stomach flip-flopped
again.

The man took another bite of food and
seemingly ignored her question.

Edwina turned her head giving him her ear,
waiting, her hands squeezed together in her lap.

After he swallowed his food, like a gentleman
would before speaking, she felt her face turn warm again.

“Miss Blair, you are serious in your
endeavors. Have you attachments at home?

“What do you mean?” Her food forgotten.

“I know that you are unmarried, your position
at the Michigan Library is secure, and that your sister is well
suited to her life.”

“Yes.”

“I’ve observed your demeanor. And I find it
to be...”

Edwina waited.

“Truthful, fresh and, well, you have a bit of
fun in ye.”

“Me? Fun? Really?” She could not help
herself.

“Aye. I saw you walking the hills with your
pad.”

“You did?” Edwina felt her face warm up a
degree.

“Aye. I was about my business.” He pulled in
the reins on the conversation.

“
Mr. Dunnegin, I have a job
back home... I couldn’t possibly... stay.” She was too tired to
think about such things. Not to mention she was leaving
tomorrow.

“The position is offered for one year and
then you will be free to continue your life as you wish. I’ll pay
you triple what you make at your current assignment.” He tapped the
table with two fingers.

Edwina could not think of a single thing to
say. That would be a substantial amount.

“I need assistance in the office and ...
other household duties.”

Edwina nodded, thoughts tittering on the edge
of reason and insanity. How could she possibly fulfill such a
request?

“It may seem untoward for you to be about the
castle, an unmarried woman—as it is you would live at my farm. The
Gillespie’s are the caretakers and they know the circumstances.
They will be there while I am away. You may count on them.”