Chapter Three

Camdyn sipped coffee and reviewed the reports and recommendations from his estate manager. He then blew out a sigh and checked his pocket watch to note the time, then glanced down the length of the dining room table to the entry. He did not normally work in this room, but it offered clear sight to just below the grand staircase and he did not want to miss Sheena trying to sneak from his house.

He had also already eaten, and once finished had gathered the reports, contracts, and accounting from his desk in the library and brought them to the dining room and worked while he kept vigil for her shadow to cross the threshold.

Oh, he had no doubt that was her intention—to be gone from here and him as soon as it was light enough to travel. That was also the reason he had his valet wake him just as dawn was breaking and then asked a maid to check on his guest to make certain she was still within and sleeping.

He was just thankful that when their wagon had gotten stuck that it was at dusk. In the light of day, Sheena would have never approached his home, but only when it was too much of a danger to remain out in the elements.

It had not been so very late when they retired, and he was surprised that Sheena still slept. Not that he minded, for she could remain in his household for as long as she liked, but it was nearing nine in the morning.

At the squeak of footsteps in the corridor he waited. Instead of Sheena, however, it was an upstairs maid who quickly bobbed a curtsey upon entering the dining room.

"She has awakened."

"What is her temperament?" he asked though Camdyn could already guess.

"She is not happy, from what I could hear through the door. She did not intend to sleep so late."

Camdyn bit back a smile. "Thank you. Please inform Cook that our guest will soon be breaking her fast."

The maid bobbed another curtsey and turned for the kitchens.

Camdyn returned to his reading, though he could no longer concentrate on the words before him as he listened for footfalls.

"Where is Ewan?" Sheena asked from just inside the entry to the dining room.

"He is gone." Ewan's departure had been a surprise to him and even though Camdyn had insisted that he wait until a reasonable hour to leave, Ewan had refused.

"Where did he go?"

Camdyn leaned back and removed the spectacles from the bridge of his nose and set them on top of the documents and studied his guest. Sheena was dressed in the same manner as the evening before: trousers, dirty boots, shirtsleeves, and a waistcoat. This morning she carried her coat and the floppy hat.

"He borrowed my horse to return home." Camdyn nearly held his breath waiting for her outrage to surface.

"Home?" Sheena demanded.

Camdyn remained calm. "He asked to borrow my horse so that he could return to Anagburn and inform MacGregor that your wagon is stuck and that you would not be returning right away."

Sheena stood there staring at him mouth agape. Camdyn could not blame her as it was a nonsensical excuse to leave her behind.

"Instead of tryin' to get the wagon free?"

Camdyn shrugged.

"Do you not have servants who could have helped us?"

"Yes, I do. But he did not want to be a bother."

"Ye should have insisted," Sheena nearly ordered, her voice rising.

"I did but your brother refused." Camdyn tried to keep his voice calm. "He claimed it was his responsibility to get the wagon unstuck and that he would return for you."

Again, she stared at him as if he were speaking a foreign language and she did not understand his words. Not that Camdyn could blame her. Ewan's reasoning had been very strange, and Camdyn had even questioned his decisions. But Sheena's brother was adamant that he go and leave her behind because the travel would be quicker.

Camdyn supposed he could have tried harder to make Ewan see the error in his planning, but had he been successful, Sheena may have left without Camdyn ever having a chance to explain what had truly occurred in London and then beg her forgiveness.

"Let me have a horse."

Camdyn had anticipated this request though hers was more of a demand.

"I am afraid I do not have one available for your use. Your brother took mine and there are no others."

"Ye only own one horse?"

"I have horses but with the exception of one, the horses currently in the stables are not for riding but for pulling carriages and wagons."

"Ye only have one more horse for riding?"

Camdyn understood her dismay given he was a titled gentleman, wealthy and owner of a large estate. Most similarly situated usually had several horses, but he found it impractical for his stables to be filled with such when he was but one man and could only ride one horse at a time. Though, he did keep a full stable, just not for pleasure. "One remains for me, and the others are in use."

Sheena frowned, her brows forming a V above her nose. "Then ye have one for me to borrow."

"The horses are being used by my workers. Some are riding the land to check on the sheep and cows. We are expecting several calves starting in January. Others are felling trees for next years' firewood, and some are hunting. The one waiting is for me if I need to go out into the fields to assist with the cattle or sheep, or if I am needed for another purpose."

"When will one be returning?"

"Later today," he answered.

"I will take one then," she decided with the lift of her chin.

"I am afraid that cannot be allowed for they will be needed tomorrow."

"All of them?"

Camdyn leaned forward. "Yes. Each horse is needed to run this estate. I cannot have one unavailable."

"Then I shall get the wagon unstuck myself and be on my way." At that, Sheena turned for the entry.

"At least break your fast first."

Sheena stood there for a moment and then her narrow shoulders rose and fell as if she sighed, and she slowly turned. "Very well but then I am leaving."

Camdyn nodded. "And I will help you get your wagon unstuck." And he hoped it was not that easy or he would have to come up with another excuse to keep her here until he earned her forgiveness.

He also hoped that she didn't remember that she had two horses in his stables that had been pulling that wagon and decide to ride them even without a saddle.

She'd changed since that Season in London. Then she'd been all sweetness and charm and he'd fallen under her spell. Sheena was tougher now, and independent and strong, stubborn and angry, and carried herself much like a lad. How much of the change was because of his duplicity?

Was he responsible for this bitter change?

Yes, he was; Camdyn answered his own question. If only he would have been given a chance to explain…though it still didn't change his original intent when he had first approached her.

Sheena was going to kill Ewan as soon as she found him. How dare he leave without her! Uncle Aiden may even kill him before she had a chance to.

She was a miss in the home of a bachelor without a chaperone.

It was bad enough that she'd nearly been ruined by him in London, this was so much worse. Her stomach tightened. Uncle Aiden would not take lightly to the situation. He may force the issue whether she or Walsingham wanted it or not.

After setting her coat and hat at the end of the table, Sheena plunked down in a chair, not the one that would have her facing him, but at the side so she could look out the window. The last thing she wanted was to dine across from Walsingham, even if there was the expanse of a long dining table between them because she could not think straight looking at him. Aye, she was still very angry and embarrassed at her own foolishness in trusting him, but it also wasn't so simple.

She was also still very exhausted. Sheena had assumed that she'd be asleep as soon as her body sank into the comfortable warm bed, but her mind was of a different matter and returned to the question that had haunted her for the past year and a half. It was the "but".

Those last words to her could still be heard as if he had just said them. Yes. That was my intent. Then he reached out to her. But… Sheena hadn't given him an opportunity to continue and as she marched away from him, his Sheena wait, still echoed in her mind.

What came after the but? Honeyed words from his silver tongue to beg for forgiveness and thinking her na?ve enough to do so? Or did he intend to confess his love again thinking she'd believe him? Did he call out for her because he really did not want her to leave him?

She shook the memories from her mind. It did no good to worry or wonder, for likely whatever words may have passed his lips would have been a lie. As soon as she was finished eating, Sheena intended to get her wagon unstuck and then travel home. Once there she would blister Ewan's ears for leaving her behind and then ask her other brother and cousins to beat him to teach him a lesson.

Sheena tilted her head and glanced at Walsingham out of the corner of her eye because she could feel his gaze upon her. He lounged back in the chair, coffee cup in hand, and watched her. There was no plate of food before him, only his beverage and several documents, inkwell, and quills. On top of the stack of papers was a pair of wirerimmed spectacles. He had never worn them before, which was a curiosity. But even more so was wondering if he conducted his business in the dining room instead of at a desk in the library or office like most gentlemen.

It was none of her concern, nor did she care, and with those thoughts, averted her eyes to look out the window and over the snowy landscape, for she did not want him to think she was the least bit curious about him even if he was staring at her. What they shared in the past was over and all because of his perfidy.

"Do you still hate me, Sheena?"

His voice was low and remorseful, but she would not be moved. She could not afford to be no matter how much she wished matters had turned out differently or how much she wondered what came after the but.

"I hate no one, Lord Walsingham," she answered. "Though I willna dispute extreme dislike for your person."

"I understand," he answered, tone still filled with regret. "I would as well if I were lacking as many facts as you."

She slid a side glance to him and then looked away. "I have all the facts that I need. Ye admitted as much."

"Except you did not let me explain before you slapped me."

"You are lucky that is all I did."

She had slapped him right after his but…was Walsingham able to read her mind?

Impossible! He only wished to clear his conscious.

She knew the truth, as did he. "I would rather not speak of the past."

"Then shall we discuss the future?"

"Whatever future there may be will not involve me ever encountering you, so I see no need."

Before Walsingham could respond, two footmen entered. One carried a teapot and cup and saucer. Another a plate of food and utensils. All were placed before her, and one footman poured her a cup of tea then stepped back to stand against the wall near her in the event she needed anything else while the other footman disappeared.

Sheena stared at the breakfast, which included tattie scone, sausage, fried eggs, beans, and toast. The food overflowed the plate and she glanced at her host once again. Did he instruct the cook to make so much food or did he believe she could eat all this. Yes, they were her favorite foods to start the day, but the amount on her plate was more suited for her brothers than herself.

Regardless, she set her mind to the food, knowing that it would likely be the only meal she ate before she reached home, and tried to ignore her host.

He said nothing, but Sheena could feel him watching and did her best to ignore him.

"Is that how you always dress when traveling?"

Sheena looked at Walsingham from the corner of her eye.

"Or is that clothing only reserved for smuggling whisky?"

"I was not smuggling."

"As your wagon got stuck crossing the border, I assume the smuggling portion of your trip had been concluded."

"This manner of clothing is more comfortable when traveling by wagon."

"Where did you and your brother travel?"

His tone was conversational, but she was no fool. She had not confessed to smuggling when she was in love with him, and she certainly was not going to now.

Whenever she or one of her family left home to carry whisky across the border, they always knew what the story would be if anyone asked. "Ewan and I traveled to Carlisle to do a bit of shopping." They had not been near Carlisle, but she certainly would not give him the true direction.

"Carlisle?"

"Aye."

"Do you also shop while in men's clothing?"

"It depends on the manner of shopping being done and who we might encounter."

"Then you have dresses with you?"

"That is none of your concern, Lord Walsingham. Nor is it your concern how I dress on any day for any reason."

"You are correct," he agreed. "It is simply a curiosity, and I cannot help but wonder if it is because you hope to pass as a man when coming into England?"

Sheena set her fork down, no longer interested in eating or having a discussion with Walsingham. With one last sip of tea, she stood.

"The only reason I make such a remark is because while you are dressed as a man, your curves are not what one of my sex would possess."

Sheena gasped, turned, and stomped from the dining room, taking her hat and coat with her. How dare he remark upon her form!

"Though I do enjoy seeing your bum in trousers."

"Please refrain from looking at or commenting on my person." Sheena marched out of the manor and did not look back as she shrugged on her coat and made certain her hat was in place. She then turned down the drive and walked until she came to the path that she believed she and Ewan had taken the night before. It'd been so dark she was not certain which direction they had come from.

"Sheena," Walsingham called.

She stopped but did not turn.

"The path is in this direction."

With growing irritation, she turned around and followed.