"And Alexander Garth?" said Robbie. "Is he too stupid for you as well?"
"I do not find him in any way appealing," I said.
"Indeed?" said Robbie. "Perhaps he does not find you appealing."
"That is well," I said. I was growing angrier by the second. "We shall in that case both of us be quite happy."
"Indeed, every man in the district shall be quite happy as long as Jessie Maclaine remains a spinster," said Robbie. "And when she marries, all those remaining will draw deep sighs, and thank God that they have eluded her."
By this time I was blind with rage. "I pity the girl who falls in love with you, Robbie Stewart!" I said. "For she shall find her heart trod into the mud!"
"Come now, that will do, you two!" said Kevin. "Let us continue our game."
"Never mind!" I threw down my cards and stood up. "I shall retire at once."
"Oh, do not go, lass!" said Robbie, laughing, reaching for my hand. "I am only in jest!"
I jerked away from him and rushed out of the room.
I held my tears until Lily had helped me undress, and when she left me alone, I fell onto my bed, sobbing into my pillow. How could he! How dare he! He was so cruel! Oh, I hated him! I would tell Kevin how he had used me, and Kevin would kill him, for I wanted him dead!
When my weeping was spent, I composed my thoughts. Robbie had always teased me, and Kevin and Sean had always abetted him. He was behaving as if nothing had changed between us. He did not wish to draw attention to us with any change in his demeanor toward me. I wiped my face on the sheet.
Robbie was waiting for the right time to speak.
At Grant's Hill, there would be time. We would have an opportunity to discuss our future. We would make plans, and then Robbie would speak to my father. Then, we could reveal our love.