The usually stoic man smiled as she approached, picking her up easily. “How are ye, lass?” he asked, placing a small kiss on her forehead.
Violet felt her heart thud at the warm gesture and cleared her throat to rid herself of the lump forming there.
“Good day, Violet,” he greeted, as though finally seeing her.
“Good day, my Laird,” she returned. “What wonderful weather we’re having.”
“Aye,” he answered.
She was aware of Keira’s eyes darting between the two of them and the wide smile on her face.
“Where might ye two be off to?” he asked.
“We’re heading to the village to buy a few items,” she answered. “For my dress and also for the festivities.”
“Alone?” he asked with a raised eyebrow. “Ye’ve never been to the village, and ‘tis nae safe for two lasses such as ye to go alone.”
“We will hardly be alone, my Laird,” she told him with a frown. “We have each other, and Keira has offered to be my guide. After all, she has spent her whole life here, so she knows her way around. Besides, we won’t be carrying much. Some of the items will be delivered to the castle now and others afterward.”
“Keira is hardly a guide, Violet,” Ruaridh chided, as if she were a child. “What if ye were set upon by ruffians? Would ye be able to protect yerselves?”
She scoffed. “If there were any ruffians in the village bold enough to try to harm your daughter and fiancée, it stands to question if your people fear you or not.”
His nostrils flared at her insult. “They daenae need to fear me. I only need their loyalty.”
She tsked, placing her hands on her hips. “That doesn’t stop vagabonds from doing what they please. Loyalty doesn’t keep criminals from doing as they please.”
“And fear would?” he asked with a glare.
“Indeed,” she answered.
“Me people are better behaved,” he declared, voice tinged with pride. “’Tis others I worry about. Even those from a relativelycivilizedsociety act like barbarians.”
She couldn’t help but deduce he was referring to Lord Westall, and she grinned at the jab.
Not one to lose an attitude, she retorted, “Well, your people should be able to rise to the defense of two helpless ladies, shouldn’t they?”
He glared hotly at her, but she gave him the sweetest smile she could muster, which only seemed to infuriate him more.
She derived joy from seeing expressions on his face other than the blank look he typically wore, most especially the anger that crossed his features whenever they sparred verbally.
“Ah!” Keira cried suddenly. “I just remembered Grannie Ava asked me to accompany her to the kitchens this morning to select the pies we’ll be having at the cèilidh.”
She scrambled down from her father’s arms.
“Ye will have to take Violet to the village today, Da,” she added with a pointed look.
“But I have?—”
“Promise me ye will take her, Da,” she begged with a pout, taking his hands in her own. “’Tis the only time she has to buy fabrics for her new dresses. Ye want Violet to look bonny at the cèilidh, do ye nae?”
“Aye,” Ruaridh answered gruffly, clearly powerless to resist her.
Violet bit her lip to keep from smiling.
“Good,” Keira said. “And ye will show her all the nice shops?”
Ruaridh looked at his daughter, then at Violet, then back at his daughter, and nodded.
