The Bairn of Brianag

His pallid cheeks went even more pale; his eyes darkened with some emotion. "I am sorry, as I said to Mrs. Belden," he said. "I made assumption . . . I was overcome by my admiration of her. I explained this to her. I begged her to forgive me."

"Your behavior was unforgivable, sir."

He stared at me; I stared back. "Indeed, it was," he said at last. "Forgive me, Miss Maclaine, for speaking to you." He bowed. "Your servant." Then he turned and walked out of the room.

Kevin was at my elbow; I looked at him, realizing that my heart was pounding.

"Jessie?" he said. "Are you well?"

I took a gulp from my cup. "Yes, Kevin, I am well," I snapped; "I just do not wish to be accosted by a despicable redcoat with no more manners than a field hand."

"What!" he said, looking toward the door, in the direction of which I had been staring. "Who?"

"Oh, never mind," I said. "It is nothing. An old acquaintance of Cathy's."

"Ah, I see." He looked at me again. "Do you require anything, Jessie? May I fetch you some food?"

"No, thank you, Kevin, dear," I said, patting his arm. "I am quite content."

He went to ask someone else to dance.

The rest of the evening was much more pleasant; I did not see Freddie again. I danced with Kevin and with William Belden, John's brother, and with several other young men; at times I saw my mother watching me, and my stomach would constrict uncomfortably.

I tried not to think about Robbie; tried not to think about my mother, and did my best to enjoy the evening.

The rest of the visit to town passed in a similar fashion; we shopped and visited during the day, and danced and ate and drank during the night. Kevin and I played cards after our mother had gone to bed, engaging in light conversation; we did not talk about our mother, nor about Robbie, and I took comfort in his presence. On the fourth day we returned to Gillean, our carriage packed with the things we had bought. I was glad when my mother slept almost all the way home.

The next day I spent in preparation for the journey to Grant's Hill. August and I had exchanged letters; she would come to Gillean we would travel together, she and I, with Kevin and Robbie riding along with us. Robbie would come for supper; he would stay the night at Gillean, and we would all depart after breakfast the next morning.