Hearts In The Highlands. Ruth Axtell Morren

I should call your physician?”

      “No, don’t trouble yourself. I’ll be well if I just sit quietly.” She closed her eyes again, but kept her hold on her nephew’s hand, her gnarled fingers clutching it as if to a lifeline.

      “I worry about you, living so far away in a heathen land. I don’t know what I’d do if anything happened to you. You and Vera are my only relations.”

      Something flickered in the tall man’s eyes, as if he weren’t used to having any emotional ties. “You needn’t have worried. You see me here fit as always. Don’t upset yourself anymore thinking of it.”

      Lady Haversham reopened her eyes. “I can’t help it. Thank God you’re back on British soil. At least this incident caused your return, for which I am grateful. I hope you are home in England for good.”

      “I’m back for a few weeks, at any rate.” His tone betrayed no joy at the fact. “Until the two governments satisfy themselves that it’s safe to continue our work.”

      When it appeared his aunt had recovered, Mr. Gallagher slowly disengaged his hand from hers. “The situation as it stands now is that two bands of Bedouin presently think they own the Sinai. There are continual skirmishes between the two tribes. Our British party happened to be caught in the middle of this one. The Tuara who attacked our camp wanted to make sure we were hiding no Tiyaha among us.”

      Lady Haversham waved away his description. “Oh, it’s too confusing for me. All I know is my heart can’t take the thought of you among those savages.”

      “Well, you needn’t fear for now. The attack on our camp stopped all work while both the Egyptian and British authorities investigate things.” He moved back a pace and ran a hand through his hair, leaving the thick blond strands disheveled. Maddie could hear the frustration underlying the words, and she sensed he was a man who wouldn’t willingly endure enforced idleness.

      Lady Haversham continued to stroke Lilah’s long hair. “Well, I am thankful for that at least. Please ring for some tea, Madeleine. I’m sure we could all use some. This news has been most upsetting….” The old lady brought her lace-edged handkerchief up to her mouth and shook her head.

      “Of course.” Maddie headed for the bellpull.

      With a last look at his aunt, Mr. Gallagher returned to his chair. “I’m sorry, Aunt Millicent. I shouldn’t have been so blunt.”

      “It’s not your fault. You haven’t been back in a few years. It’s understandable you didn’t realize my frail condition. The least thing upsets me. It’s my heart, you see. Dr. Aldwin says I mustn’t have anything upset me.”

      “I didn’t realize how…delicate you’d become since I last saw you.” He gave an awkward laugh. “I’ve been so far from British society during that time, in the company of men, I’ve forgotten how to put things more gently for a lady’s ears.”

      “Good heavens, you mustn’t let yourself become uncivilized.” Lady Haversham sat straighter, letting the cushion fall to the floor and causing Lilah to let out a bark. “We shall have to remedy that now you’re back in London. Of course, I no longer entertain. My nerves can’t take crowds. But your sister and her husband can organize things.”

      He leaned forward, alarm in his blue eyes. “Aunt Millicent, you know I’m not interested in attending parties—”

      “Nonsense. Your friends and acquaintances want to know you’re back in town. It would be a disservice to deprive them of your company.”

      He scrubbed a large hand across his jaw, as if wanting to argue the point but afraid of upsetting his aunt further.

      Maddie resumed her own seat and took up her needlepoint.

      His aunt settled Lilah back down. “As I was saying, Vera will hold a few teas for you, perhaps a musicale one evening.”

      “I’m here only to cool my heels until the ambassador finds out what kind of trick the sultan is playing—”

      “I know you don’t like to socialize. But your friends will be hurt if you come stealing into town like a thief in the night, no one the wiser.”

      “I only came back because I was forced to….”

      Maddie wrenched her attention away from this interesting exchange when a black-clad maid with frilly white apron entered the room. Knowing exactly how Lady Haversham preferred her tea, Maddie set about pouring the older lady’s cup first. But her heart couldn’t help being moved by the man who so clearly felt out of his element in London. She remembered her own difficulty readjusting to England when she and her family had first returned from the Middle East.

      Maddie placed the cup and saucer beside Lady Haversham and took Lilah from her. “Give her a little platter of cake.”

      “Yes, my lady.” Maddie set the miniature dog on the carpet, knowing she’d probably have to clean up after her within the hour. As she approached Mr. Gallagher’s chair, the dog following at her heels, Maddie felt a tremor of nervousness at addressing him directly. “How do you take your tea?” she inquired above Lilah’s barking.

      “Just one lump and a wedge of lemon, thank you.” He spared Maddie only a glance then sat back, an elbow against the chair’s arm, his fingers idly smoothing his mustache, his thoughts clearly elsewhere.

      “Very good,” she said, stifling the desire to be noticed by this man. By now she should be used to being overlooked by Lady Haversham’s visitors like another piece of furniture in the room. Taking herself to task, she walked back to the tea cart. The terrier jumped onto the settee and leaned eagerly toward the loaded cart, barking her interest in its delicacies. With a grim sigh, Maddie cut her a sliver of cake and placed it on the flower-edged Limoges dessert plate. Lilah was ahead of her, already back on the ground and barking her impatience. Maddie set the treat down on the floor, where Lilah immediately began to devour it, her little body twitching in eagerness.

      Maddie proceeded to pour Mr. Gallagher his cup, hoping Lilah would hold down the cake at least until their guest had departed. When she returned to him, he reached for the cup before she had a chance to set it down.

      “Thank you. Perfect,” he added with a smile of approval at the wedge of lemon she had set beside the cup on its saucer.

      The sudden smile relieved the harshness of his features. Maddie felt a warmth steal over her. Dismayed by her own reaction, she stepped away from him. “Would you care for a slice of cake?”

      “That would be fine.” Again he gave her a smile, which affected her more than it should for such a brief, superficial exchange. A part of her yearned to prolong the conversation. Instead, she bowed her head and hurried back to the tea table.

      She scolded herself for the pleasure it gave her to fill his request. Knowing how good her employer’s appetite was, Maddie cut Lady Haversham a large slice.

      “I’ve brought back some pieces collected last year at a dig in Hawara,” Mr. Gallagher said to his aunt. “The British Museum was quite pleased with them. I’ll be doing a series of lectures while I’m here.”

      “Your Uncle George had quite a collection of artifacts himself from all his travels in the Orient.”

      He smiled, looking more relaxed than he had since he’d entered the overstuffed room. “Yes, I recall. He used to show me things every time I visited.”

      “He had countless items. I’ve kept everything carefully stored in boxes over the years.” She sighed. “If anything should happen to me, what is to become of all of it?”

      He cleared his throat, as if uncomfortable with the drift of the conversation.

      “There was a pyramid at the site of our dig.”

      She brightened. “How fascinating.”

      When Maddie had poured her own cup, she set it down to cool and took up her needlepoint. Under the guise of rethreading her needle,