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She is here and dressed in a lovely gown.
“Good evenin’ to ye,” Jonan answered before turning back to his daughter. She smelled differen;: sweet and fresh like the mountain fields.
“What is this smell?” he asked his daughter. Leah did not answer. She was so ecstatic, smiling at him and running her oily palms against the sides of his face.
“We decided to make some soap and candles,” Amelia answered.
Why? Jonan was intrigued but decided not to ask. He didn't want to discourage his daughter, who was clearly excited to help. He realized it was probably a female thing that he didn't understand. He hadn't seen his daughter so happy in a long time, and it was all because of Amelia. He could tell that Leah was as taken with the lass as Amelia was with her.
“That is wonderful,” Jonan praised. He swung Leah around for a bit, making his daughter laugh before he put her back on the ground. “Did ye make a lot of soaps and candles?” he asked.
She nodded, proud of herself. “Amelia showed me how, but we are nae finished yet.” His daughter seemed to blossom in her presence.
What is it about ye? Jonan pondered as he gazed at the lovely Amelia. Are ye happy here? She seemed tobe every man's fantasy. She was not a woman who shied away from housework, which surprised Jonan given that she was the daughter of a wealthy lord.
Nonetheless, she exuded a sense of humility. Perhaps it is for this reason that people like her, he thought and staredat her longingly.
“We have a request.” The words came from Amelia.
“A request?” he asked curiously.
“Aye,” she seemed nervous.
“Ask then,” Jonan said the words lightly even though he knew he would go to any lengths to fulfill her wish.
But no one said anything. The dining room door creaked open behind him, and Jonan heard two maids enter. When he turned to face them, they simply curtsied quickly before moving on to the next piece of furniture to dust.
“If ye will pretend to clean, Flora, at least hold a rag,” he pointed out.
Flora gasped and smiled sheepishly at her empty hands.
Jonan took a look around. Something was definitely amiss. He turned to face Callan, who had stopped eating. His expression was amused.
“If ye will nae tell me what ye want, perhaps ye will tell me why ye have picked this moment to clean, Flora.”
“We thought to welcome ye home, milaird,” she said, grinning a bit too widely.
While Jonan appreciated the courtesy and respect shown by his family members, the luncheon felt strange.Though their lips did not move, he could tell they were holding words.
Why dae they wish to say to me? he wondered.
Amelia? he thought, believing only she could make his maids and guards quiet. I wonder what she has done.
He looked to Leah but even she wouldn’t meet his eyes. Her eyes were pinned on Amelia.
Finally, Jonan's gaze was drawn to his wife. Her eyes were filled with a childlike wonder, and hecould tell she was gathering the courage to ask him something for she had a pleading look.
Mae, along with two other maids who had been assisting Amelia and Leah with their soap and candle making, stood silently before him.
But Jonan's patience was wearing thin.
“Amelia?”
“We would like to clean the keep,” Amelia said, nervously meeting his eyes.
‘Twill be done as you wish, Jonan thought immediately. It was not until her request was made that Jonan realized how much more he would have been willing to grant her.
“We are well aware that we will need all the help we can get and that we would need quite a bit of water. But we feel—”
