Page 73 of The Laird's Secret Bairn

“Am I?” Skye forced a smile.

She had not realized how much Kenna had learned by simply observing her.

“Aye, ye are. Ye have that same faraway look ye had this morning at breakfast.” Kenna’s eyes were kind but knowing. “Thinking of yesterday, are ye? Nae that I blame ye. It’s quite a troublesome mess we’ve found ourselves in.”

“Perhaps.”

“Skye?” Lily tugged at her sleeve, oblivious to the tension in the room. “Ye’ve gone all far away again. Are ye all right?”

Even the little girl was picking up on the changes in her mood.

The last thing Skye wanted was to worry her. Lily did not need that burden. She was far too young and innocent.

“Forgive me, sweetling. What were ye saying?”

“I was saying that Blossom wants a story. She likes it best when ye tell them, nae Grandmaither, though daenae tell her I said that,” Lily admitted. “But I still love Grandmaither’s stories. They are always fun!”

“I heard that,” Kenna said mildly, not looking up from her needlework. “But I would also like to hear Skye tell us a story. Is it nae what ye have been doing for the past few weeks?”

Skye blushed, unsure of what to say.

Lily giggled, burrowing deeper into her side. “Tell us the one about the selkie again. The one who left her skin on the rocks. I like it.”

“I’ve told ye that one three times this week. Do ye nae want to hear another?”

The second Skye said those words, a stubborn expression came over Lily’s face. There was no convincing the little girl that she should hear another story.

“It’s a good one. Please, Skye?” she begged, pushing out her bottom lip.

The pout was very effective at melting even the most hardened of hearts. It often worked on Dougal, even though he would never admit it to anyone. She had him wrapped around her little finger. Stephen, too. Nowhemight be more willing to admit it.

“Very well, but only because ye asked so nicely.”

“I’m always nice.”

“Ye are when it suits ye,” Kenna drawled, and Lily gasped in mock offense, though she was smiling too wide to sustain it. “Daenae deny it, little one. It doesnae mean I daenae love ye.”

Lily giggled.

Skye began the familiar tale, and only by the time the selkie found her way back to the sea did Lily’s eyes grow heavy, her breathing slow and even against Skye’s arm. She had indeed remained awake the entire time, as she had insisted.

It was truly something.

“She’s asleep,” Kenna murmured. “She always falls asleep so easily to that story. Ye must tell it to her more often. Perhaps then she’ll go to bed at a reasonable time.”

“Aye, it seems so.” Skye smoothed a stray curl back from the girl’s forehead, careful not to wake her. “She looks so peaceful when she sleeps. Like an angel.”

Kenna smiled softly. “She tires quickly after mornings with that goat.” She set her needlework aside, studying Skye with open attention. “Ye’re good with her, lass. Better than I think ye realize. Ye said ye daenae have much experience with children, but ye are a natural, I can assure ye of that.”

“She makes it easy to be good with her,” Skye whispered, tucking another curl behind Lily’s ear.

The girl shifted, mumbling something about Blossom and the still-unnamed baby goat under her breath.

She was determined to wait until her father helped her name it. She didn’t want anyone else to help her name the goat. Skye had offered, but Lily had her mind set. No one could convince her otherwise.

“Nae every lass would think so. Some would find a child underfoot a burden, nae a joy.” Kenna’s voice gentled further. “I’ve watched ye with her these past days. Ye’ve a gift for it, whatever ye tell yerself about only being here for a month. Have ye thought about that?”

Skye’s cheeks warmed. “I’m only trying to bring her some happiness after everything. She was born into this world so violently. All I want to do is give her the best of everything. Though it is obvious that her faither does that enough on his own. Ye too, Lady Kenna. Both of ye have Lily’s best interests at heart. That is never up for debate.”