retribution if Katey could help it.
She approached the woman from behind. “Mrs. Cameron?”
The Scotswoman swung around immediately. Katey almost laughed at how quickly the fruit seller took off in the opposite direction to escape any further harassment. And Katey had no trouble recognizing her now. Her hair was still in wild disarray, and her eyes had a wild look to them as well.
“How’d ye know my name, eh?” she demanded in the same belligerent tone she’d been using with the fruit seller. “From the inn? We paid for that room, though we should’ve got our money back. Bluidy lock was broken on the door!”
Katey realized the woman didn’t recognize her, but that didn’t surprise her. Her clothes soaked and disheveled, her hair wet and windblown, Katey looked nothing like she did that morning, and in fact, she probably looked as wildly unkempt as the Scotswoman.
“I’m not from the inn.”
Katey didn’t point out who she was, though. She needed to detain the woman until the constable arrived, and engaging her in a conversation seemed to be the best way to do that.
Mrs. Cameron squinted her eyes at Katey. “Then where do I know ye from? Ye seem familiar tae me—never mind. If ye can tell me which way tae the nearest docks, I’ll be thanking ye. Otherwise I’ll be finding someone who can.”
Common sense would suggest heading to the nearest coast, but Katey merely said, “I’m afraid I can’t help you there. I’m not all that familiar with this part of the country.”
The Scotswoman snorted with impatience. “Then I dinna hae time tae waste chatting at ye. Good day.”
Interesting how she’d put that, as if her words were the only ones that mattered. And she was already glancing around for someone else to accost with her demand for directions. But Katey needed to keep her talking. She’d rather wait to accuse her until the constable was there to arrest her.
“What’s your hurry?”
“None of—”
Katey cut her off, “Did I actually hear you tell the fruit merchant you were running away from a husband determined to kill you? That was quite an exaggeration.”
“That was the bluidy truth, womon. He took a beating that’s made him dafty in the head. I barely recognized him. And now he wants tae take it oout on me.”
“Take what out?”
“That he got blamed for what I did. Chased me down the road, he did, swearing he was going tae kill me afore the Mal—er, afore they got their hands on me like they did him. But here now, this isna any of yer business and I’m oout of time. Geordie will be riding intae town any minute.”
She started to walk away. Katey glanced anxiously behind her, but there was no sign of the constable yet, or the boy that she’d sent for him.
“Wait, Mrs. Cameron. I look familiar to you because you stopped me on the road earlier today. You were looking for your daughter, which we both know was a lie. You don’t have a daughter any more than I do.”
Mrs. Cameron swung back around. Her expression was momentarily surprised, but quickly turned angry as she poked a finger at Katey’s shoulder. “Sae ye did steal her from me? I’d hae my fortune now if no’ for ye. Where is she?”
“She’s back with her family, where you won’t be getting your greedy hands on her again. The constable is on his way to apprehend you. Did you really think you’d get away with this?”
Katey braced herself to stop the woman from taking flight, but Mrs. Cameron actually looked thoughtful, then amazed Katey by saying, “Aye, that’s no’ a bad idea. Gaol will be a safe place tae hide from Geordie, I’m thinking.”
Katey was thinking that Geordie Cameron might be daft for marrying this woman, but if anyone was really crazy, it was her.
“Come on then,” Mrs. Cameron continued, and she even grabbed Katey’s arm to take her with her. “Let’s find yer constable, eh? I’ll be needing ye tae say I’m guilty. They’re no’ likely tae believe me if I’m the
She approached the woman from behind. “Mrs. Cameron?”
The Scotswoman swung around immediately. Katey almost laughed at how quickly the fruit seller took off in the opposite direction to escape any further harassment. And Katey had no trouble recognizing her now. Her hair was still in wild disarray, and her eyes had a wild look to them as well.
“How’d ye know my name, eh?” she demanded in the same belligerent tone she’d been using with the fruit seller. “From the inn? We paid for that room, though we should’ve got our money back. Bluidy lock was broken on the door!”
Katey realized the woman didn’t recognize her, but that didn’t surprise her. Her clothes soaked and disheveled, her hair wet and windblown, Katey looked nothing like she did that morning, and in fact, she probably looked as wildly unkempt as the Scotswoman.
“I’m not from the inn.”
Katey didn’t point out who she was, though. She needed to detain the woman until the constable arrived, and engaging her in a conversation seemed to be the best way to do that.
Mrs. Cameron squinted her eyes at Katey. “Then where do I know ye from? Ye seem familiar tae me—never mind. If ye can tell me which way tae the nearest docks, I’ll be thanking ye. Otherwise I’ll be finding someone who can.”
Common sense would suggest heading to the nearest coast, but Katey merely said, “I’m afraid I can’t help you there. I’m not all that familiar with this part of the country.”
The Scotswoman snorted with impatience. “Then I dinna hae time tae waste chatting at ye. Good day.”
Interesting how she’d put that, as if her words were the only ones that mattered. And she was already glancing around for someone else to accost with her demand for directions. But Katey needed to keep her talking. She’d rather wait to accuse her until the constable was there to arrest her.
“What’s your hurry?”
“None of—”
Katey cut her off, “Did I actually hear you tell the fruit merchant you were running away from a husband determined to kill you? That was quite an exaggeration.”
“That was the bluidy truth, womon. He took a beating that’s made him dafty in the head. I barely recognized him. And now he wants tae take it oout on me.”
“Take what out?”
“That he got blamed for what I did. Chased me down the road, he did, swearing he was going tae kill me afore the Mal—er, afore they got their hands on me like they did him. But here now, this isna any of yer business and I’m oout of time. Geordie will be riding intae town any minute.”
She started to walk away. Katey glanced anxiously behind her, but there was no sign of the constable yet, or the boy that she’d sent for him.
“Wait, Mrs. Cameron. I look familiar to you because you stopped me on the road earlier today. You were looking for your daughter, which we both know was a lie. You don’t have a daughter any more than I do.”
Mrs. Cameron swung back around. Her expression was momentarily surprised, but quickly turned angry as she poked a finger at Katey’s shoulder. “Sae ye did steal her from me? I’d hae my fortune now if no’ for ye. Where is she?”
“She’s back with her family, where you won’t be getting your greedy hands on her again. The constable is on his way to apprehend you. Did you really think you’d get away with this?”
Katey braced herself to stop the woman from taking flight, but Mrs. Cameron actually looked thoughtful, then amazed Katey by saying, “Aye, that’s no’ a bad idea. Gaol will be a safe place tae hide from Geordie, I’m thinking.”
Katey was thinking that Geordie Cameron might be daft for marrying this woman, but if anyone was really crazy, it was her.
“Come on then,” Mrs. Cameron continued, and she even grabbed Katey’s arm to take her with her. “Let’s find yer constable, eh? I’ll be needing ye tae say I’m guilty. They’re no’ likely tae believe me if I’m the
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