He’d also had reasonable explanations for why he’d done so.
“I like him,” Aunt Leah was saying as Elspeth dragged herself from the distraction of thinking of Tavish. Rather, Lord bloody Strathclyde. “It seems you do too. Also, that he likes you in return. Would I be wrong to hope for a match? I admit I would hate for you to move to Glasgow, but it would be so lovely to see you wed. My brother—your father, that is—would think so too.”
Oh dear, Elspeth wasn’t sure how she felt about Aunt Leah trying to marry her off to Tavish—Lord Strathclyde. “I think it’s too soon to think of such things, let alone discuss them.” Sharing kisses was one thing, but Elspeth couldn’t see where a lord would marry someone like her. Surely, he’d wed a daughter of an earl or someone similar.
And yet, if that were the case, why would he be kissing her? A seed of hope burrowed itself into her chest. Then she promptly thrust the thought from her mind in favor of something far more important: finding Lann Dhearg.
“Would you like some tea, Aunt?” Elspeth asked.
“Why yes, that would be lovely.”
“I’ll go and ask Carrie.” Elspeth went downstairs in search of the innkeeper’s daughter.
Upon entering the common room, she saw Balthazar himself perched on a stool behind the bar, brushing his beard. She didn’t particularly want to interrupt his toilet, so she ducked behind the stairs and found a narrow corridor that presumably led to the rooms where Balthazar and Carrie lived.
“Miss Marshall,” Carrie said with a touch of surprise as she came from the kitchen. She wiped her hands on her apron. “Do ye need something?”
“Yes, please. My aunt would like some tea.”
Carrie nodded. “Ye’re back from visiting Dougal, then?”
“I am.”
“Did ye get the story ye wanted?”
Not even close. Elspeth recalled her conversation with Carrie that morning. It seemed she might know Neil Kerr. Perhaps she had information that could help them find him. “Partially,” Elspeth answered. “I would love to speak with his brother.”
Carrie looked away, as she’d done that morning. She also fidgeted with her apron. “I dinna ken where he is.”
Elspeth hadn’t even asked, which made her wonder if Carrie did in fact know where Neil was. Perhaps if she knew Tavish wanted to help him, she might reveal his location. Before Elspeth could think of how to tell Carrie about Tavish, Carrie said she’d fetch the tea for Aunt Leah and took herself off.
Frowning after the redhead, Elspeth considered following her to the kitchen. Except the woman was nervous, perhaps even frightened. If she feared Neil would be captured, that would make sense.
Elspeth turned and went back toward the stairs. She wanted to tell Tavish what she’d learned. Perhaps together they could talk to Carrie.
But where was Tavish now? Pausing at the bottom of the stairs, Elspeth considered looking for him outside. Surely he’d come in by now? His room was on the second floor… She’d try there first.
After climbing two flights of stairs, she emerged onto a small landing. There were only two doors, one to her right and one straight ahead at the end of the narrow corridor. Which one was his?
Taking a deep breath, she went to the door on the right. She lifted her hand to knock, but didn’t. Looking at the positions of the doors and taking her knowledge of the inn’s layout into account, she surmised this room was probably about the same size as hers, whereas the one at the end of the corridor would be quite large. What if that wasn’t a single room at all, but a door to more rooms?
She didn’t have time to dither. She was going to try this chamber first. Before she could knock, the door creaked open. Tavish stood on the other side, his eyes widening with surprise. “Elspeth.”
She exhaled with relief. “This is your room.”
“It is indeed. I heard a creak outside the door and thought someone must be here. Come in.”
Elspeth swept inside and surveyed the chamber. There was a narrow bed and small table with a single chair situated in front of the hearth. The pitched roof and dormer window made the room seem cramped. “Do you have to crouch in here?”
“Somewhat. I mostly stick to the taller side of the room. It’s not as if I’ve spent much time here.”
“You could probably move downstairs. The inn isn’t full as it was last night.” In addition to the