Read Online Seduced by a Rogue by Amanda Scott - Free Book Online Page B

trouble they had living together for long periods, and
     would do all he could to keep her until her annual return to Dumfries for Easter. And, despite her
     ladyship’s independent nature, she doted on her son’s family and would miss them dreadfully if aught happened to prevent her
     visiting them.
    Thoughts of that mutually doting relationship brought Mairi’s image to mind, and Dunwythie’s. The odd connection spurred a
     tickling jolt in Rob’s train of thought as if his mind had jumped ahead of itself. Letting the wisp go, he returned his attention
     to Trailinghail and the new projects he wanted to begin there.
    His steward, Fin Walters, a sensible man in his mid-thirties, welcomed Gibby’s arrival. Walters had grown up in service to
     Rob’s grandfather and had a respect for Lady Kelso that bordered on worship.
    “If Herself commends ye to me care, lad, I’m sure ye’ll be a great help,” he said. “I’ve any number o’ things ye can do.”
    Gibby, who had been eyeing him askance, straightened noticeably and said he could do aught that anyone asked of him. “Except
     for herding carnaptious wee cats,” he added stoutly with a sidelong look at Rob.
    Suppressing a smile, Rob said, “You will do whatever Fin Walters tells you to do or suffer unpleasant consequences.”
    “Aye, sure, I said so, didn’t I?” Gibby said, his demeanor wide-eyed and earnest. “Just
not
cats.”
    Grunting, and avoiding Fin’s twinkling eyes, Rob left them to get acquainted and went inside to stow his gear.
    He soon realized he had acquired an orange-and-white shadow.
    Amused by the kitten’s curiosity and its antics as it explored his bedchamber, he otherwise ignored it. He was certain it
     would soon find its way to the kitchen. As soon as someone down there fed it, it would forget all about him.
    He had stripped off his jack and his shirt, and was scrubbing himself at the washstand, when a now-familiar voice spoke from
     the open doorway.
    “Fin Walters did say I should ask d’ye ha’ aught ye’d like me to do for ye.”
    Reaching blindly for a towel, Rob blotted his face as he turned to face Gibby. “Have you annoyed
him
already, then?”
    “Nay, I just tellt him I’d served Herself mostly inside and rode with her when she went out, and such. So
he
said I should tend to things in the tower for a time, till I learn me way about and get to know the men. I expect he wants
     them to ken more about me afore he gives me to one o’ them to train,” he added sagely. “He said ye dinna ha’ a man to look
     after ye, though. So I might make m’self useful.”
    “I don’t need much looking after,” Rob said. Noting Gibby’s disappointment, he added, “You can clear up those things I carried
     up here if you like. The shirts and my netherstocks will need laundering, so take them downstairs when you go. You may also
     brush my breeks and boots if you think you can. And put those other things away in the two kists you see against yon wall.”
    Gibby soon tidied the chamber. As he rose from stowing things in a kist set in the east-facing window’s embrasure, he moved
     to look outside, standing on tiptoe.
    “Coo,” he said. “Ye can see forever from up here.”
    “Not quite as far as that,” Rob said. “You can see even more from the next level, and more yet from the ramparts. The large
     chamber above this one has a window looking over the Firth as well as one like that one overlooking the bay.”
    “Then why d’ye no take the two-windowed one?”
    “Too many stairs,” Rob said with a grin. When the boy shook his head, he added, “This chamber was my grandfather’s whenever
     he stayed here. But I’m thinking that when Herself comes to visit, she’ll want to use the great chamber.”
    “Aye, she would,” Gibby agreed. “I could help ye get it ready for her.”
    What had been only a wispy tickle of an idea earlier took form as he considered how comfortable the upper chamber could be.
     As her