Page 56 of The Laird's Secret Bairn

“Perhaps ye didnae realize ye were humming.”

Dougal leaned back in his chair. “Perhaps ye are imagining things. Ye are growing older, after all.”

“Dougal Grant, I’ll have ye ken that I am as sharp as I was thirty years ago!”

He chuckled. “Aye, I believe ye, Maither, but I believe chasing after Lily for the past seven years has aged us more than we realize.”

“That is true. Lily is a treasure, but she is a handful, especially with that goat she takes with her wherever she goes.”

Dougal pinched the bridge of his nose. “She’s brought the goat inside the castle?”

“Dougal, surely ye expected her to sneak the goat in at least once or twice.”

“Aye, but I didnae expect it so soon.”

“She’s seven, Dougal, nae a fool. Ye ken well enough that she’ll test every boundary ye set, same as ye did at her age.” Kenna’s eyes glinted with something between amusement and fond exasperation. “Do ye nae remember sneaking that half-wild pony into yer chambers when ye were little?”

“That was different.”

“Was it?”

“I was older.”

“Ye weresix.” Kenna snorted a laugh. “Yer faither nearly had an apoplexy finding hoof marks on the good rug.”

Dougal groaned, dragging a hand down his face. “Where is she now?”

“Last time I saw, she and the goat were headed toward the kitchens. Something about introducing it properly to Cook.” Kenna’s mouth twitched, fighting another laugh. “I believe Skye was meant to be supervising her, though I suspectsupervisinghas become something of a loose term where those two are concerned.”

Skye always found a way to make an adventure with Lily. Dougal didn’t know whether to be cross with her or not.

Then he thought of how Lily had been lately. She had been giggling more, excited to greet the day. She had always been a happy child, but more so now.

Skye was a breath of fresh air, filling the entire castle with her warmth in a way he had never expected when he had proposed the arrangement.

“Would ye go to the kitchens and check on them, Maither?”

Kenna smiled. “Of course. Though a goat in the kitchens isnae the worst thing that could happen.”

“Nay, but last I checked, Cook doesnae care for surprises before midday. He tolerates Lily running through only in the mornings, and a goat is a surprise he willnae like.”

“She does keep us on our toes.”

“That she does.”

His mother bid him farewell, closing the door behind her.

At some point, Lily’s giggles drifted into the study, followed by the sound of a goat’s hooves chasing behind. The kitten’s faint meows of protest were difficult to make out over the goat’s bleats, but Dougal had sharp hearing.

It was for his daughter’s sake.

Everything he did was for his daughter’s sake.

When he emerged from his study, he found Lily near the kitchens, the goat nowhere to be seen.

“Da!” she squealed, throwing her arms around him.

He lifted her and tossed her gently into the air. “Afternoon, lassie. Have ye behaved yerself today?”