The Master Of Strathburn by Amy Rose Bennett Read Free Book Online

someone. She wouldn’t survive this situation unscathed unless she had help. Taking a deep breath, she looked Mrs MacMillan in the eye, and proceeded to reveal the details of her recent encounter with Simon as well as all her fears about tonight and for the coming days. Try as she might, she couldn’t keep the quiver from her voice.
    Mrs MacMillan’s eyes flashed and her cheeks grew bright red with indignation as she listened. ‘Och, tha’ sorry excuse for a man needs castrating wi’ my meat cleaver,’ she blustered when Jessie had finished. ‘I’d do it meself but for the fact tha’ I’d end up swinging for it.’
    Despite her distress, Jessie smiled a little at the thought of unmanning Simon. Though she was also astounded he had the audacity to believe he could behave in such an abominable way and get away with it. Mrs MacMillan had warned her on her first day to be wary of him. But to go so far as to rape her under his parents’ roof—how could he even consider such a thing?
    She wondered if the earl and the countess knew how depraved their son really was. ‘Do you think Lord an’ Lady Strathburn know of Mr Grant’s … intentions?’
    Mrs MacMillan’s brows knitted together. ‘I would say tha’ there would be little tha’ escapes her ladyship’s notice. She knows aboot her son’s vices and does naught to stop him. As for the earl … I wouldna ken. He doesna ha’ much to do with Mr Grant, other than trying to limit his drinkin’ and spendin’ as much as he can.’
    Jessie was certain the earl would be appalled by his son’s behaviour, if he knew what was happening. It was a gamble, but she needed to consider entreating Lord Strathburn for aid as a course of action, if only to ensure Simon didn’t have a hand in having her father dismissed. ‘What if I spoke to Lord Strathburn? Do you think he might help?’
    Mrs MacMillan shrugged. ‘I dinna ken how he would react to be honest. His lordship has always been a man of honour. But if it were just yer word against Mr Grant’s … well I wonder if Lord Strathburn would think tha’ havin’ yer father and yerself here would be more trouble than it’s worth, when all is said and done.’
    And that was exactly what Jessie feared also. When it boiled down to it, they had only been at Lochrose for a few weeks. Lord Strathburn may simply see her as a troublemaker. In the end, it was a chance she was unwilling to take if it meant her father would lose his position.
    There was only one thing to do, as she’d known all along after Simon had threatened her at the loch. I have to leave.
    Mrs MacMillan obviously knew that too. ‘Right m’lass, enough of this speculatin’,’ she said, her expression grim. ‘There’s only one thing ye can do to protect yerself. Ye must go, at once.’
    Jessie knew Mrs MacMillan spoke sense but she was still torn between her sense of self-preservation and duty to her father. ‘I know I must, but how do I go about it without jeopardising my father’s position? Tha’ is still the question isn’t it? Mr Grant has threatened to have him dismissed if I do no’ …’ She stumbled, unable to complete the hideous thought.
    ‘Dinna ye worry aboot yer father, lassie. Lord Strathburn will have already seen how canny a manager he is, so whatever Mr Grant says to slight him, in the end it willna matter to his lordship. You must only think o’ yer own safety now. Do ye no’ have any other family or friends ye can turn to?’
    Jessie considered her question. ‘When we lost Dunraven Hall, my da initially thought about sending me to Edinburgh to stay with my cousin, Maggie Henderson. She is married to a tea merchant and has three young children wi’ another on the way. I am sure she wouldna mind if I came to stay, even for a wee while.’
    Mrs MacMillan’s face creased into a wry smile. ‘With that many bairns I’m sure she wouldna mind if ye stayed a long while.’ Her expression changed, became serious again and she