Page 84 of The Laird's Secret Bairn

Freyea listened, intrigued and horrified at some parts. Skye left out the intimate details. Some things were best left private.

“He killed a man in the courtyard in front of ye?”

Skye winced. “Aye, but he was protecting me, Freya. The man had grabbed me arm, and Dougal was afraid he would hurt me.”

Freya shook her head, pressing her fingers to her temples. “Skye, do ye hear yerself? Ye speak as if a man running another through with a blade right before yer eyes is the most natural thing in the world.”

“It wasnae natural at all, Freya. I found it terrifying.” Skye twisted her hands in her lap. “But he didnae do it without good cause. Dougal wasnae sure what would happen after the guard grabbed hold of me.”

“And poor Lily was poisoned?”

Skye nodded sadly.

“I didnae ken ye had to deal with all of this, but ye daenae sound frightened at all.”

She hesitated. “The truth is, I am very frightened, but I need to be brave for Lily. Her faither is away from the castle, and she’s never needed me more.”

“It almost sounds as if ye daenae want to come back home,” Freya accused gently.

“I never said anything of the sort, Freya.” But Skye had thought about it multiple times over the past few days.

Freya sighed. “All right, I suppose I can drop it for now. But daenae ye think ye will get away with nae telling me. Remember, I am asking as yer sister and nae as yer keeper, Skye. I’ve seen how ye blush like a summer rose whenever the man’s name is mentioned. Ye are taken with him.”

The words hit Skye hard. Her breath caught in her throat. She had a response prepared, but after what Freya had said, she didn’t think she was capable of saying anything.

“Freya, let us speak of other things,” she suggested weakly. “Will ye stay for the cèilidh?”

Freya nodded. “Aye, I will. Do ye think I would rush off so soon after seeing me little sister again after so long?”

“It’s only been a few weeks,” Skye reminded her.

Freya frowned. “So? Ye havenae been away from home for so long since ye were born. It’s been an adjustment. Kaden agrees with me.”

Skye wished her brother and Emily could be here, but she knew she would see them soon. The month would end before she knew it, and she’d go back home, where she belonged.

But the voice in her head told her that she belonged here with Dougal, Lily, and Kenna. And it was proving hard to ignore.

30

The planning continued.

As she had promised, Freya gave Lily the dance lessons she so desperately wanted.

“Like this.” She demonstrated the step slowly, her skirts swaying with an ease Skye had never managed to match in her entire life. She had tried, but her feet were always injured in the process. “One, two, turn. See?”

Lily copied her almost flawlessly on the first try.

Freya laughed. “Ye’re a natural, Lily. Far more than Skye, I’m afraid.”

Skye huffed. “I am right here, ye ken.”

“We arenae saying ye are bad, but—” Freya began.

“But ye arenae as good as Freya. Though ye are good at so many other things, like telling stories!” Lily interrupted with a grin.

“Aye, me sister is quite the storyteller,” Freya agreed.

Skye frowned. “I can dance. Let me show ye.”