I couldn’t argue with him. Grace needed to accept some help, but I knew her well enough to know that no one could ever convince her of that until she came to the same conclusion herself. Questionable mood aside, perhaps my request would be enough to distract Eoghanan from his worries over Grace for a little while and allow him to feel that he was at least helping someone.
“She does, but there’s not much you can do about it save drugging her so she’ll be forced to get some sleep. I don’t think she’d appreciate that very much.” I ignored his horrified expression and continued. “There is, however, something that you can do to help me out.”
“Is there? Well, ask and I will be at yer service, Jane.”
I grinned and moved to stand across from him, leaning against the opposite wall. “Are you sure? You may not want to ‘be at my service’ after I ask it.”
He crossed his arms and his brows pulled together. “I doona doubt that but aye, Jane, whatever ye ask, I’ll assist ye.”
“You swear? Anything?”
“For the last time, aye. Ye are family, Jane. ’Tis nothing I wouldna do for ye. Now get on with it.”
It was taking advantage of his chivalry to get him to give me his word before I told him what I needed but, truthfully, I didn’t care. I wasn’t sure he’d agree to help me otherwise.
“I need to get a job and I need your help to do it.”
He groaned, exhaling as he rubbed his palms over his face. It was a look of exasperation, one that allowed me to hear exactly what he was thinking–something along the lines of, I knew better than to agree to help this crazy fool.
“But ye doona need a job, Jane. ’Tis nothing that isna provided for ye here. Baodan makes sure of that. He wouldna allow it.”
“Which is exactly why I didn’t ask Baodan. And I might not need a job financially, but I do need a job in order to keep my sanity. Surely, you can understand that. I have nothing to do here. None of the castle help will allow me to help with anything. At least Grace and Mitsy busy themselves with the running of the castle and with their children. And Jeffrey allows Kathleen to help him all of the time. He’s not as absurdly backward as the rest of you. But me…there’s nothing to keep me occupied here.”
I stopped, realizing that my voice had escalated and I’d started pacing around the corridor rather restlessly. My chest ached with how badly I wanted to be out of these stone walls. My frustrated rant exhausted me so I returned to my place against the wall opposite Eoghanan. He stared hard in my direction, saying nothing until I quieted completely.
“Did ye just call me backwards, lass? That doesna seem wise if ye wish me to help ye.”
My mouth could get me in trouble quicker than almost anything so I did my best to backtrack. “I didn’t mean you, in particular. You’re better than most. It’s just men of this time all seem to think that women shouldn’t do anything other than make babies and look pretty.”
“I doona think that at all, ’tis only that there are certain appearances that should be kept up since Baodan is laird. I am no so verra concerned with them myself, but we must make sure they are kept for his sake.”
Excitement replaced my frustration and I stepped toward him to speak in an elated whisper. “Does that mean that you’ll help?”
Eoghanan turned away from the window and took off at a brisk pace down the hallway. I lifted the bottom of my dress so that I could run to keep up.
“Aye, mayhap, if the man I have in mind is willing. Go and find yerself a warm coat and meet me at the stables.”
CHAPTER 3
Eoghanan waited until we were far away from the castle to explain anything. While I appreciated his discretion, I couldn’t help but find his behavior a bit overly cautious. I didn’t imagine that the same little fairies that Cooper believed took his socks would snitch to anyone in or around the castle.
Eventually, once we’d ridden into the trees and were well along the trail that would lead us into the village, he spoke.
“Have ye ever eaten at the inn here, Jane?”
Since travelling into the seventeenth century and deciding to stay, I’d only been into the village a grand total of once.
“No. The only other time I’ve been through the village was when we were headed to Cagair Castle with Jeffrey and Kathleen.”
His horse rode ahead of mine but he twisted so that he could look back at me, disbelief in his eyes.
“That’s truly the only time, lass? No wonder ye feel ye may go mad. Ye should have said something before now. Ye are no a prisoner.”
I said nothing, giving him a moment to continue his explanation.
“There is a man there that I grew up with. His mother worked at the castle when we were young lads. He owns and runs the inn with his wife now. Only she’s fallen ill and is no able to help as much as she once could. I know he can use someone else to help, especially if the help comes from someone willing to work for verra little pay.”
The matter of payment hadn’t really even crossed my mind. “Oh, that’s fine. He doesn’t have to pay me at all if he doesn’t want to.”