That’s a relief. God, I wish it only were me silly old father.
“I’m worried about Effie,” she admitted, her voice coming out small.
Leo tensed up, his expression hardening. “What’s the matter with me daughter?”
“I’m worried about her being hurt by all of this,” Beatrice said. “I care about her deeply, Leo.”
Leo got up and closed the distance between them. He put his hands on her shoulders, and she felt her blood heat until it was simmering in her veins.
“Do ye think I daenae care about that too?”
Daenae lose yerself just yet.
Her focus was slipping. His hands on her fired up her nerve endings, lighting up every inch of her. She felt warmth pool between her thighs, and it took everything she had to not press herself against him.
“Do ye ken what I think every time I see ye with her?” he growled, bringing his face close to hers.
“Nay.”
Leo swallowed, a pain so powerful sluicing through his face. It knocked the air right out of her lungs. “I think to meself that me poor little lassie is going to be destroyed if ye leave. I think what a terrible father I am for letting a stranger bring that kind of hurt into her life.”
“Leo—” Beatrice tried, but he released her and turned away.
“Aye, we all are.” His anger had faded. All that was left was a man living with what he had brought into his child’s life. “Ye can leave now, Beatrice. There’s nothin' more either of us can say.”
Beatrice nodded and stepped out into the hallway without another word.
She couldn’t believe how distracted she had been just by being in his presence. Her concern for Effie hadn’t abated, but Leo gripping her, leaning close to her, his breath mingling with hers, was lodged in the forefront of her mind.
Aye, lass, ye’re a lost cause.
She hurried back to her chambers, her breathing heavy and her body thrumming.
“It’s such a nice day,” Effie said the next morning when only Beatrice and Leo were around. “Let’s take Beatrice to the glen.”
Leo grunted in agreement.
Better than being in the castle with everyone hoverin’ around me.
He noticed that Beatrice had brightened at the suggestion as well.
She probably wants to leave as much as I do.
Effie led the pack, talking exclusively to Beatrice as she braided Effie’s hair and they watched the sheep scatter across the hillside.
The sight of the two of them tore at his conscience. Whatever reservations he had about Effie becoming attached to Beatrice, it was too late. He could see the utter adoration in the girl’s eyes whenever Beatrice was nearby.
“How do ye bring them back?” Beatrice asked, watching the sheep roam out of sight. Effie had taken off running after them, leaving Leo and Beatrice alone in the glen.
Leo shot her a sideways glance, then pressed two fingers to his mouth and whistled a long, shrill note. In a flash, a wave of fluffy white bodies on short stubby legs came stampeding back over the crest.
Beatrice gasped in delight. “It’s like magic. Like a flute in a fairytale.”
“Would ye like to learn?” Leo asked.
Beatrice nodded earnestly.
“Put two fingers here”—Leo pressed two fingers into his lower lip—“and make yer mouth into a slit. Then blow through the slit but nae too hard, or it willnae come out right.”
