What would his brother Blair say? Blair lived on the neighboring property. At some point, it was bound to come up. This mad idea could jeopardize his goal of living up to the Sinclair name forever. His brother would never forgive him for forcing a woman to work for him.
He shook those thoughts aside. He had to deal with what was right in front of him. A debt that needed to be paid and children that had to be cared for. “If ye steal anything in the house, I’ll turn ye in. No questions asked.”
Her jaw hardened and she dropped the covers, her back stiff. “You don’t know anything about me.”
“I ken ye steal horses. And I ken ye’ll leave a man near frozen.” He leaned down a little then. He understood her anger, he supposed. Hadn’t he been feeling guilty? But to hear her say that, made his chest tighten and his fists clench. Which was what he needed. He couldn’t allow Gemma to slip past his defenses as he’d nearly done yesterday. “Let me tell ye a little something about me. There are over a hundred crofts on this property. I need to oversee the seeding, the irrigation, find buyers for their barley, and then arrange for shipment of their product. Until it’s done, I’ve almost no time and no money. And that is with five hundred mouths to feed. I’ve cut every non-essential staff member I can and now I’ve got three more people who’ll need to eat.” He pointed at her. “I don’t have time to think about what’s fair tae ye or hear about how yer really a lovely person. What I need to ken is are ye honorable enough to work off yer debt?”
A tear slipped down her cheek then. He watched as it slid over her pale, high cheekbone down her quivering chin, following the smooth column of her neck.
“Yes, I am,” she said after swallowing hard and swiping the tear away.
He blinked, refocusing on her face. “Good.” He meant to turn and leave, but instead he sat back in the chair. His guilt and another emotion were rising back up, replacing his anger. “Are ye well enough to start today?”
She rubbed her arms with her hands. “Of course. How long will I need to stay to repay you?”
“A month,” he answered. “But ye’ll have room and board while ye stay.” He searched her face as she gave a stiff nod. Part of him wanted to take his offer back and just let her go. How was he going to stand a month in this woman’s company? Yes, she was a liar and a thief but she was an exceptionally pretty one. She was also smart and resourceful.
But just like her, he didn’t really have a choice.
“Fine,” she said. “And after a month. What then?”
“You go on about your business and I go on with mine.” He stood again. He should go. Start his tour of the crofts. Get away from red-haired thieves.
“It’s a deal, Mr. Sinclair.”
He gave a stiff nod as he tried to ignore the rise and fall of her chest. It highlighted the curve of her bosom, and his body clenched at the sight. How was he going to stay away from her when she’d be living under his roof?
* * *
The words left her mouth and she watched him give a quick jerk of his chin before he turned toward the door.
“Mr. Sinclair,” she called again. “Where are my clothes?”
He turned back around to her, surprise momentarily lighting his eyes. “Mrs. Cleary must have taken them to launder. Let me ask fer ye.”
“If she hasn’t touched them yet, I’d ask that she didn’t. They’re rather old and require special care,” she said, hating the trace of sadness in her voice.
He jerked his chin again and disappeared.
Gemma slumped back down into the bed. A month? It had taken her over two weeks to get here. Then again what did she have to go back to? She hadn’t spoken to her mother since she’d married Sean. She’d given up the cottage and most of the people who used her services would have found a new laundress.
There was no rush in returning, she supposed. She’d imagined that once she’d put her life with Sean to rest, she and her mother would reconcile. She’d moved away with Sean and she’d been too ashamed to go back after he left. She sighed, smoothing the wisps of hair falling into her face.
Her fingers trembled as they carefully tucked the hair. She’d been so lonely, fending for herself for so long. As much as she didn’t like how she’d been coerced into caring for the children, she’d enjoy being part of a family again.
As she brushed one last wayward hair back into place, two little faces peeked into the room.
“Hello,” she called, giving the children a smile. If she were to spend the day with them, she might as well learn a few things about what was happening here.
“Hello,” the girl called, giving a little wave.
“Come in.” Gemma beckoned them forward.
The little girl pulled her younger brother into the room. “I’m Fiona,” the child chirped. “And this is Ewan.”
“I’m Gemma.” She patted the end of the bed and then reached down for Ewan. As she lifted him, he held out his arms to her and then snuggled into hers. His soft little body was one of the sweetest things she’d ever felt. The pang that came more and more often whenever she looked at babies hit her chest. She rested her cheek on the top of his head.
“How come Mr. Sinclair is mad at you?” Fiona asked.