The Legend of a Rogue - Darcy Burke Page 0,11

aunt. Children and even some adults asked her to tell them, but no one asked to read them.

“Nearly all of them are at home in Dunkeld. I do have one that I finished in Inverness. It was told to me by a man who lives near my cousin. Her husband was at Culloden. He didn’t fight. He was there to help care for anyone who was wounded.”

“Is he a physician like your father?” Tavish—since he’d asked her to call him that, she would—knew from their first meeting that her father was a doctor and that her mother had died. At the time, it had been only six years since her mother had been gone. Elspeth’s grief had lessened, but the sense of loss, especially at this time of year, was still keen. She, on the other hand, knew very little about him. She realized in retrospect that she’d done much more sharing during their time together in Dunkeld. Probably because he’d been hiding who he really was.

Elspeth returned her focus to their conversation and replied to his question. “No, he isn’t, but he’d like to be. I think my father is going to help him get to the University of Edinburgh to study.” She shuffled through the parchment and found the few pieces that held the story she’d recorded.

“Is that it?” Tavish asked, coming toward her from the hearth.

She held the papers in one hand up to her chest. “Yes. However, you’ll have to trade me for it.”

He stopped and arched a brow. “What do you want?”

“Information. You know I collect that, and I am especially interested in people I know—or those who have misrepresented themselves.” She hardened her gaze at him for a moment. “I told you a great many things about myself when we met, while you revealed next to nothing, not even your true name.”

“I’ve told you my name,” he said slowly.

She shook her head. “Not good enough. I want more. I require more if you want to read my story.” She lifted her shoulder and gave him a saucy look before setting the papers back on the table—facedown—and sitting in one of the pair of chairs.

“You drive a steep bargain, Miss Marshall.”

“Is it so hard to reveal something about yourself?” She looked up at him expectantly.

Exhaling, he sat opposite her. “When you are going about clandestine activities such as supporting Jacobites, saving them, or hiding them, yes.”

“Why do you do that?”

“That is where things become difficult.” A fleeting smile dashed across his mouth, then his eyes narrowed as he frowned at the table. “My father was not a Jacobite. My mother’s family was. She angered them when she married my father.”

“The cousins are your mother’s family?”

He nodded. “After my father died—that was fifteen years ago—I finally got to meet my mother’s family. Without any siblings, I was rather thrilled to meet my cousins. We became close. That’s why I supported them in their endeavors. It gave me a sense of belonging.”

“Of family,” she whispered. “I understand. I don’t have any siblings either.”

“Then of course you understand.” He smiled at her. “Do I get my story now?”

She laughed softy. “Yes, but I do hope you’ll tell me more about yourself. If not now, then…later.” She handed him the papers.

He took them from her, his fingers grazing hers. “Does that mean you forgive me.”

“It means I’m giving you another opportunity.” She gave him a dark, direct stare. “Don’t squander it.”

“I won’t. Not this time.” He touched the papers to his chest. “Thank you.” He rose and she did the same.

“I don’t suppose we’ll be leaving tomorrow,” she said, glancing toward the window, not that she could see anything in the dark night outside. “The snow looked quite thick.”

“I went out not too long ago, and you are correct. If you want to leave, you must do it on horseback or foot. I imagine you have a coach.”

“Yes.” She hesitated to say more, but ultimately said, “I can’t say I’m disappointed for the extra day here. Unless you are on horseback?”

“I am. However, I think I’d rather stay too.” He rattled the papers gently. “As it happens, I have reading to do.” He grinned at her.

She walked with him to the door. “I will hope to see you at breakfast.”

“Count on it. And I mean that most sincerely.” His blue eyes gleamed with promise before she closed the door behind him.

Pressing her back to the wood, Elspeth took a deep breath to try to calm the racing of her