“Ach, I daenae believe it’s our duty to understand it,” the other man said. “It’s our duty to make them feel like they daenae need to defend themselves around us. It’s much more difficult than understandin’.”
“Ye’re right about that,” Darragh huffed, shaking his head. “But she will be fine. I will see to it.” Amelia’s eye caught his from across the courtyard, almost as if she sensed that she was being spoken about. “Me staff will take ye to yer quarters. There will be a feast tonight after sunset.”
“I appreciate yer attentiveness,” Laird MacLeod said, but Darragh was already crossing through the throng of people and merriment to get to Amelia.
“Can we help ye, Me Laird?” Isla said, standing up straighter.
I daenae think I will ever meet another child that behaves in such a bizarre manner.
“That’s what I was comin’ to ask the two of ye,” he replied, though his eyes never left Amelia’s. “I noticed that ye seem to be quite occupied with somethin’.”
“Aye,” Amelia said, her voice cracking slightly from disuse. She cleared her throat slightly then added, “Isla has discovered that a delivery for the healin’ room is a wee bit late. She’s… ensurin’ that we daenae miss its arrival.”
The groom closest to Isla looked exasperated. Darragh thought that a more apt description of what the child was doing would be accosting the staff. He wouldn’t do a thing to stop it, though. Not when there was a hint of amusement in the way Amelia spoke about her antics.
“If the stores arenae stocked, we willnae be able to treat any potential injuries,” Isla insisted. “And Mrs. Rowan told me that she needed more herbs to restock her tinctures. It’s imperative we receive the delivery.”
“I can do a bit of investigatin’ for ye,” Darragh offered, carefully keeping his face a mask of seriousness. “I wouldnae want anythin’ important gettin’ misplaced in this chaos.”
Palpable relief went through the child, and a genuine giggle escaped Amelia’s lips before she was able to stop it. She covered the noise with a cough, holding her fist over her mouth to keep Isla from seeing her laughter. Her voice muffled, she said, “Saints, it’s terribly dusty out here.”
“It’s from all the horses,” Isla observed, her eyes narrowing as she glanced around at all the sources of filth in the air. “I dinnae consider how this may irritate yer injuries.” She looked at Amelia, sharply determined. “I’m givin’ ye orders to get back into the castle and rest.”
Amelia shook her head stubbornly. “Nay. I’ve been tasked with assistin’ ye. I will rest after we get the healin’ supplies.”
“Laird Fraser can assist me,” Isla declared, her expression informing him that he was not to argue. “Ye care about Amelia’s recovery, aye?”
“I do,” he replied gravely, crossing his arms. He watched Amelia carefully, wanting to ensure she was listening to his next words.“Her recovery and well-bein’ are the most important things to me.”
The easy smile on Amelia’s face faltered for a moment before being replaced with a shy turn of her lips. She ducked her head, her face flaming. The behavior was so unlike the normal challenges that she raised with him that he nearly grabbed hold of her and kissed her right there.
“Then I suppose I should return to me chambers for a bit,” Amelia said after a beat, her usual confidence firmly back in place. “I’m sure that Laird Fraser will be a great help to ye, Isla.”
“Aye,” Isla replied, eyeing Darragh curiously as Amelia began walking toward the front doors. “Ye ken how to accept orders, daenae ye?”
“Of course, I do,” he replied, finally looking down at Isla after Amelia made it inside. “I’m the Laird after all.”
“I ken ye’re the Laird,” Isla said, sounding a bit exasperated. “But that doesnae mean ye ken how to do the tasks of yer servants. If ye’re nae sure how to oversee a delivery, I can show ye how. I’ve gotten quite skilled at it.”
He couldn’t help but smirk at the genuine offer. Deciding that humoring the girl was likely the easiest route, he said, “Then I’d like ye to show me precisely how ye oversee deliveries. I’m sure ye’ll get it done much faster than I would.”
“Ye’re right,” she agreed, narrowing her eyes as she scanned the carts and carriages arriving.
“I’m goin’ to keep helpin’ ye,” Darragh said, nodding at a laird who was approaching the two of them. “But I’ve also got to greet our guests. Perhaps ye could watch and learn a bit.”
Isla looked at him as though he’d just said something incredibly stupid. Then, slowly, she said, “Why would I need to learn how to greet anyone?”
* * *
As soon as Amelia stepped into the castle, she had to tuck herself into an alcove. It had been a long time since she’d experienced a laird’s hunt, and her last experience with the sport had been horrifying. Her father had stopped hosting them nearly two years before she’d been sold.
Andhecould arrive at any moment.
With her hand on her chest, she forced herself to breathe. She couldn’t lose her composure here. There were far too many people here. If there was one thing that she believed, it was that she couldn’t show anyone weakness.
“All I have to do is get to me chambers,” she whispered to herself.
Giving herself the command verbally seemed to force the directive to take hold. Her heart, while still pounding wildly, mellowed. The chatter around her lost its sharp edge, and she was able to pick out laughter and joy. There wasn’t a single sound that gave her reason to believe the anxiety in her head.
