Free Her Rebellious Heart: A Scottish Historical Romance by Marian McBride Page A

that?”
                  Bridget’s eyes were now shining with excitement at the thought of this golden opportunity. She smiled, saying, “Thank you so much, Miss Wallace, for your confidence in me. I think I shall try out for the job, and you will still have time to get someone else if I don’t work out to please you.”
                  The older woman laughed, transfiguring her usually austere face, “I am not afraid of that Bridget, and wouldn’t have asked you to do this, if I thought you were not capable of it. Off  you go now, it’s almost supper time.”
                  With a gentle push, she propelled Bridget towards the door.
     

 
     
     
    Chapter 6
     
                  On the same evening of this blustery March day, Robert and Aidan finished their evening meal and now sat at the table talking very casually, although both of them had the same thing on their mind: Bridget.
                  Although they had not discussed it, both men felt that Bridget, for some reason, was purposely staying away from the castle, much more than usual. Robert was concerned, but Aidan, thinking of his encounter with her the night after the Burns dinner, felt sure he was the reason for it. He kept quiet, knowing full well Robert might not like it and worrying that mentioning the events of that evening could jeopardize his job.
                  They sat quietly for a few moments each busy with his own thoughts. Sounds of rattling dishes same from the kitchen where Besse was busily washing up, preparatory to going out for the evening.
    It was evident Aidan was in a glum mood, and Robert now broke the silence with a question he had long wanted to ask. “How are you and Bridget getting along, lad?”
                  Aidan pushed back his chair and started to get up from the table before answering, “Not too well sir, seems every thing I say or do, just irritates her, and we usually wind up snapping at each other.”
                  He went over by the fireplace, took his pipe off its stand on the end table, and put fresh tobacco in it before continuing, “She seems to have something against me, has had form the start, and apparently doesn’t want my company or my attentions.”
                  Robert now by the fire savagely kicked a large lump of coal with the heel of his boot, breaking it into small pieces, causing the red sparks to fly up the chimney.
                  As he came and sat down in his chair across from Aidan he said, “I’m sorry to hear that, laddie, I thought she would be happy to have someone like you pay court to her. Have you any idea what the trouble might be?”
                  “No, sir, none whatever.”
                  “Well, give her time. She’s young yet and if she’s never had a lad before, she could be shy of you. She’ll come around.”
                  “Ach, she’s no shy by any means,” muttered Aidan, “and to tell you the truth she can be a little de’il when she wants to.”
                  Robert smiled good-naturedly at his words.  
                  Aidan went on, “Maybe she’s just too young to understand the ways of a man and a woman.  Just how old she is, sir?”
                  “Going on nineteen I think lad, eight years younger than yourself.”
                  He looked at Robert questioningly, “Do you think she might consider me too old for her?”
                  “No, my boy, I’m sure it’s not that. Must be some other reason.”
                  “Well, I don’t know. All Bridget thinks about at this point, is her precious music.”
                  “That’s understandable, Aidan. She has worked very hard to get where she is in that field and wants to make her parents proud of her. They are a very close, loving family.