Mad for the Plaid Read Free

known then what I know now, I would never have been so charitable.”
    â€œAnd what do you know now— Ah! Has Lord Hamilton come to care for Her Grace?”
    â€œDon’t make me laugh!” Lady Edana said sharply. “He’s been playing a part, that is all. And at my request. It’s Natasha who’s made the mistake of caring, not Hamilton.”
    â€œReally?” Ailsa considered this. “It seems much more than that to me. He sat near her at dinner last night, dinnae he?” Ailsa squinted at the ceiling, trying to remember all the places she’d seen Lord Hamilton with Her Grace. “And at the picnic and at the musicale and at—”
    â€œYes, yes.” Edana drew herself up, a firm smile now plastered on her lips, although it didn’t reach her eyes. “Naturally Hamilton went beyond my request, but only because he knew how much I was suffering from Her Grace’s moods. He’s been in love with me for so many years—I truly feel sorry for him.”
    â€œI know all aboot Lord Hamilton. He eats dinner here so many nights of the week that he has his own bedchamber.”
    â€œThen you don’t need me to tell you how concerned I was when it dawned on me that Natasha was beginning to believe Hamilton’s kindness as something more. Naturally, I warned her not to mistake Daffyd’sattention as anything other than politeness. You’d think she would have thanked me for taking the time, but no!” Edana’s jaw firmed. “She laughed and said I was jealous. Me! Jealous of an old woman like her!”
    â€œI see. Did you mention your concerns to Lord Hamilton?”
    â€œOf course. I warned him he was in dire danger of being put upon by Her Grace and that her feelings were unnaturally strong. He was much struck by my observations, and asked me several times why I thought such a thing. It’s laughable, I know—Daffyd and Natasha!”
    Ailsa wisely didn’t say a word.
    Her grandmother gave a hearty laugh that sounded oddly hollow. “Why would any man pay attention to her ? She cannot be bothered with keeping out of the sun to prevent freckles, or with wearing something that fits. Like you, she refuses to maintain her appearan—” Edana closed her lips over the rest of her sentence. “You know my feelings on the subject.”
    â€œOch aye, I know them well. Too well, many might say. When did you tell Lord Hamilton your suspicions aboot Her Grace?”
    â€œâ€‰â€˜About,’ not—” Edana caught Ailsa’s expression and hurried to add, “Yesterday after lunch. He said he would speak with her immediately. Poor Natasha must have been devastated: two men in a row rejecting her. I fear she just up and left us, unable to bear the thought of facing such embarrassment.”
    â€œBut none of our coaches are missing.” Ailsa tapped her fingers on the desk. “When you asked MacGill if any of the coaches and carriages were missing, did youinquire after Lord Hamilton’s coach and horses, or just our own?”
    Edana stiffened. “You cannot be suggesting that Daffyd and Natasha have— No. I will not believe it.”
    â€œWe must find oot.” Ailsa turned to the long, fringed bell pull and tugged it firmly.
    â€œYou are wasting your time.” Lady Edana sniffed.
    An awkward silence filled the room until a soft knock heralded the entry of the housekeeper, Mrs. Attnee. A plump, motherly woman, she wore a beaming smile that dimmed on seeing the Dowager Countess. “Guid morning, my lady.” The housekeeper dipped a quick curtsy, her expression softening as she turned to Ailsa. “Lady Ailsa, you rang?”
    â€œI understand you assisted in the search for Her Grace.”
    Concern creased Mrs. Attnee’s forehead. “Aye. She is nae to be found. We searched the house top to bottom, too.”
    â€œAnd Lord Hamilton? Do you perchance know where he