AllFreeNovel
Share Us
His grin widened, and he slowly walked closer until Amelia’s backside bumped up against the kitchen table. “Well?” He laid a hand next to her on the table. “Who were these delicious items baked for?”
Being so close to him, Amelia could smell rosemary, and peppermint, and soap, and it filled her senses. Gone was the smell of smoke and whiskey, which had made her stomach clench, but the mesmerizing pools of green remained. After a pause, Amelia shook off her surprise and once again regained her composure. She was a reserved English lady after all.
She raised one eyebrow and cleared her throat. “’Tis not my tongue that’s in a twist, but perhaps I can’t quite comprehend the roughness of yer Scottish brogue. And, if you must know, your mother had them baked for my mother, as I’m headed to visit her today.” She moved out of Jamie’s sphere, and turned to grab the basket and started to head for the kitchen door.
Jamie turned and leaned against the kitchen table where Amelia’s backside had just been. He crossed his arms and chuckled. “My roughness, eh? Still haven’t lost yer ire from the other day, have ye? Och, come now, we both made mistakes in identity haven’t we?”
Amelia could feel her flush of embarrassment returning, and she turned back to him just as she’d reached the door. “So we have. But my mistake did not involve groping another person.”
Jamie could see redness begin to climb up her neck, and his wide smile matched the idea that just popped into his head. He walked towards the door and moved beside her to exit first. But, before he continued through, he stood behind her, lingering for a moment before reaching down to her basket, snatching up a warm tart, and whispering, “Well, I’d be happy tae remedy that, Sassenach. Ye just let me know.” And he left the kitchen leaving a bewildered Amelia behind to storm off angrily out of the castle.
* * *
Amelia rushed out of the castle doors, basket in hand, to be faced with a much-needed rush of cold winter air. It helped subdue the most heated parts of her anger.
“Oh! That man is insufferable!” She huffed, as she began the journey to her mother’s cottage.
“How can such a lovely woman have birthed such an ogre of a man? Why he’s positively impish! He must be used to women falling over him. He seems to think he’s God’s bloody gift to womankind!” Amelia wasn’t normally disposed to swearing, but this man pushed her over the edge.
Amelia’s pace and breath matched her furious attitude. She felt Laird Jamie had ruined any sort of peace or inspiration she could have found in this morning walk.Just like a man to ruin everything. And wasn’t it just like a man to make her insides feel like melted butter when he looked at her?Amelia was further enraged by this new thought. She remembered with indignance the tingling warmth that crept up her stomach when he whispered close to her ear. She brushed it aside and waved a hand in the air.It was nothing! A physical response to closeness. I detest the man! And I will be sure he knows it.
Amelia stomped off down the path, shivering in the cold wind, preparing how to take her revenge, forgetting her need for poetical inspiration.
* * *
Henrietta greeted Amelia warmly at the cottage door, hugging her daughter tightly, and her face was flushed with excitement. “Oh, do come in out of the cold, my dear! My goodness, you’ve walked a long way! Come in, come in! You must tell me everything!” Henrietta led her shivering daughter inside and placed her in front of the fireplace. “Sophie will bring us some tea directly. She’s a lovely girl and has been such a help to me.”
Amelia put her basket down and looked worriedly into her mother’s face. “Mother, tell me, are you well?” Henrietta appeared to have gained in strength, but the tired eyes remained, and Amelia knew her mother may be well in body, but not in mind and spirit.
“Of course, dear! All is well. Each night, with a fire going, I’ve been able to sleep, and I try to write letters during the day. The ground is yet too hard for gardening, unfortunately.
Amelia passed her the book she’d brought her. “Here, Mother, I know these Scottish nights can get a bit lonely.”
“Thank you, dear! I always say you’re never alone if you have books!” Her smiled faded for a moment. “Your father always said it too.”
Amelia tried to soothe her mother’s pain. “Well, I hope it will give you some company and warmth. Tell me of your garden plans.
“Well, dear, I would love to cordon off sections for an herb garden. Sophie and I have been discussing it. Apparently there’s a need for certain herbs, and I could be of assistance to the Brechin healer. And, we could have our own medicine here. But enough about me. Tell me about your time at the castle! How is the lady? And the lord? Are you being treated well?
Sophie entered with two cups of tea, and Amelia opened up the basket of rolls and tarts. Amelia wasn’t sure how much to reveal to her mother about the laird, but she extolled the virtues of Lady Kinnaird. “Mother, she is English! And she is kind, gentle, and intelligent. We’ve spent much of our time in the library, and we discuss many things the ladies back in London would never have discussed. I know she’s older than me, but she feels like a true friend. The poor woman has lost her husband and is in need of companionship.”
Henrietta touched Amelia’s hand. “Ah, and you’re the perfect one to provide it, my dear. And the lord?” Henrietta sipped her tea innocently, and Amelia sifted through potential descriptions of the man which didn’t seem too heinous.
“He is apparently working on a land project to help his clan and others and those working on the land around the castle.” That seemed appropriate enough.
“Well, isn’t that wonderful? I’m so happy things are going well, my dear.” And she and her mother talked late into the evening, discussing the past as well as their bright hopes for the future.
The next morning, Amelia hugged her mother to say goodbye and handed her the money she would need to pay the rent and Sophie. “Everything will be fine, Mother. We can take care of ourselves now. And I will put money aside to help pay the rest of our debts.”
Henrietta smiled hopefully. “And then, maybe your father can return?”
“Yes, Mother. He will be able to return.” With that, Amelia left to trudge her way back to Kinnaird castle through the cool morning mist.
She was considering the right to pen a phrase when soon after, a figure on horseback hailed her, and Amelia slowed her gait to allow him to approach her. Fire-red hair came into view, and she groaned with embarrassment at the sight of William Fraser, NOT the Laird of Kinnaird Castle.
“Ahoy, there Miss Parker! William jumped down from his horse and came to kiss Amelia on the hand in greeting. Amelia bowed. “Hello, Mr. Fraser.”
“And what are ye doing out here alone in the bitter Scottish cold? Ye could freeze tae death out here ye know, a Sassenach woman and all, not used tae the bitter winds, and ye could get lost in the morning moor mists.”
