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Florence wondered if there was a way to do so without looking absolutely ridiculous.
“Ye see, ma, I was out riding, and there was a fawn…”
Her mother let out an exasperated huff and rolled her eyes. “Did ye try tae kidnap another helpless animal, Florence?”
“Nae!” Florence insisted. “I thought it needed help, so I was going tae catch it and bring it home…only it dinnae need help, as its ma was nearby…”
Coming to a stop in front of Florence, her mother put her hands on her hips and gave her a long look. “Whit am I tae do wi’ ye? Ye cannae keep running so wild, getting yerself in tae these situations.”
“I do no’ run wild,” Florence protested. “Would ye have wanted me tae let the fawn die if it were alone out there?”
“O’ course no’,” her mother sighed. “However, I would also expect ye tae ken that does leave their wee fawns hidden during the day.”
Florence frowned. “Well…aye. I ken that.”
“Then why chase after it?” her mother asked. “Was yer true goal just tae dirty yer dress?”
Now Florence was starting to question herself. Why had she chased the fawn? In the moment she had been so determined to catch it and care for it herself. Where had that urge come from?
Blinking, Florence admitted, “Am…am no’ certain. I just…needed tae help it.”
Her mother gazed at her for long moments, as though studying her to find the answers for herself.
At length, her mother’s expression turned sympathetic and she said, “Ye have this urge within ye tae care for things. Fer creatures and people. Ye do no’ want anything tae feel abandoned or alone.”
Gulping, Florence stared at her mother in awe. She was able to read Florence so easily. Sometimes it was irritating, but mostly it made Florence feel seen and understood.
“I suppose I sympathize wi’ such creatures and people, in a small way,” she admitted softly.
Her mother reached up and cupped the side of Florence’s face, stroking her thumb across her cheek.
“Ye are verra much wanted,” her mother assured her. “Ye will never have tae worry aboot being abandoned or alone. I promise ye that, ma darling lass.”
Florence gave her mother a small smile. She did not doubt her mother’s words, but there was still a lingering part of her that felt hollow. That felt as though something was missing. She knew what that something was, but she did not say anything about it in that moment. Florence knew if she brought up that one question about herself that she always pondered, her mother would simply not discuss it.
As much as she wished to push her mother on the matter, she knew it was neither the time nor the place for such a conversation.
Instead, she nodded and replied, “I ken, ma. I do no’ doubt that.”
Her mother smiled, then looked Florence up and down once more.
Sighing, she said, “Well, I suppose we should see if the dress can be salvaged. Go on up and change, ma dear. Stop dripping mud all over the floors.”
Florence gave her mother a sheepish grin. “All right…am sorry, ma.”
“It is all right,” her mother chuckled. “Do try no’ tae ruin another dress, though, aye? Especially one I just had made for ye.”
“Aye ma,” Florence promised.
Her mother gave her a light kiss on her forehead and Florence picked up her sodden skirts and hurried up the stairs. She glanced back when she reached the second-floor landing and watched her mother cross the entrance hall and disappear from sight. Florence’s heart twisted and a small amount of guilt bubbled up within her. She had a good life and was happy, so why did she feel as though something were missing? Why could she not be completely content with what she knew, and what she did not?
She continued down the hall, determined to put all her questions out of her mind.
At least for that day.
CHAPTER TWO
Florence
