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Kate grinned, clearly amused. “And so she challenged Lord Burnham to a duel?”
“She did, and I know she enjoyed every moment of it.” Sarah exhaled a long breath, trying to picture Harriet standing out on some field at dawn, facing her opponent with a sword in her hand. “Oh, I so admire her! She’s so brave and dauntless, never afraid to do what she deems right, to be who she is.”
Kate, too, sighed, something wistful in her gaze. “Truthfully, I cannot imagine the life Harriet lives. I am not brave as she is.” She met Sarah’s eyes, the look in her own resigned. “Perhaps we are not all meant to be larger-than-life.”
Feeling her sister’s melancholy spread to her own heart, Sarah pulled back her shoulders and lifted her chin. “Kate, I admit that for the longest time I thought so, too. Now, though, I am no longer sure.”
Kate frowned. “Sure of what?”
Sarah smiled. “That I’m not brave enough for this world.” She looked back at Keir, and once again their eyes met, something new in his gaze that made Sarah wonder what thoughts went through his head in that moment. “Iambrave,” she whispered to herself as well as to her sister, her gaze lingering upon Keir. “More than I thought I ever could be. More than anyone ever expected from me.” She met her sister’s gaze, the smile upon her face giving her strength. “Who knows what the future will bring? All I know is that I am no longer afraid of it.”
Chapter Eight
A TOUCH OF SALT
Keir could smell a faint trace of salt upon the air as they moved closer to the coast. The English border was now only a memory in the distance, and Keir found he was more than eager to return home.
Though the air remained cold this early in the year, the sun shone upon their journey, making traveling brighter and raising all their spirits.
More than ever before, Sarah seemed to glow with exuberance, new eagerness to experience the world, to see what it had to offer, taking one step after another, never afraid of where they might lead her. Keir loved that about her. Deep down, he knew that this was the Sarah she had always been meant to be, and every day he watched her come a little more out of her shell and rediscover her true self.
Fortunately, the same could be said for Katherine. Only she still stood at the beginning of her journey, her fears and uncertainties still there, seated upon her shoulders, weighing her down and making her suspicious and hesitant. Yet Keir could see that she was trying. She was doing her best to release her tight grip upon her daughters, to allow them to venture farther and farther away from her as she fought to step out of that shadow that still hung above her head.
Indeed, Augusta, in particular, now seemed like a child who had never known sorrow. Her smile and laughter were infectious, and she fluttered through each and every day with such lightness that it amazed even Keir. She utterly adored the horses, and after a few days, Keir agreed to allow her to ride Autumn by herself. Augusta was so excited that for a second Keir feared she might faint. Her breaths were coming so fast that she swayed upon her feet.
“Calm yerself, lassie,” Keir murmured, placing a steadying hand upon her shoulder. “Ye’ll spook Autumn. She can feel yer agitation, and I can tell ye she doesna care for it.”
Holding his gaze, Augusta inhaled a deep breath, pushing it deeper and deeper into her body until she finally released it. “Better?” she asked, willing her breathing to calm.
Keir chuckled. “Aye, well done.” Then he picked her up and sat her upon Autumn’s back.
“When will I be old enough to get myself into the saddle?” Augusta asked as she gathered up the reins.
“’Tis not a matter of age but of height.” Keir chuckled, reassuringly patting Autumn’s neck, allowing the mare to familiarize herself with her new rider. “Give it some time, lassie. Not everything has to be done in a single day.”
Before the day was done, though, Augusta felt completely at ease on Autumn’s back. Every bit of doubt vanished from her eyes, and she laughed and chatted happily as they rode along.Aye, ’tis what life is all about!
With every step Augusta took out into the world, though, the frown upon Dorothea’s face seemed to grow. Keir knew the lassie to be cautious, objections and concerns often falling from her lips. Still, every once in a while, her green eyes would light up with longing, with envy even.
“Will ye ride with me today, Thea?” Keir asked her one morning as they were preparing the carriage, getting ready to depart the latest inn.
The girl paused in her step and craned her neck, looking up at him. Doubt shone in her eyes, and for a moment, Keir thought she might refuse him outright. However, she did not.
“’Tis perfectly safe, I assure ye.” He kneeled down in front of her. “Ye have my word.”
Crossing her little arms over her chest, Dorothea regarded him quizzically, clearly trying to decide whether he was trustworthy. “You will not let me fall?”
Tempted to smile, Keir willed his face to remain serious. “I willna let ye fall.”
“You will not go too fast?”
“I willna go too fast.”
Pressing her lips together, Dorothea regarded him for a long moment, clearly torn. “You will not tease me about being a baby?”
Keir placed a hand above his heart. “I wouldna dream of it, my lady.”
After another endless moment of consideration, Dorothea finally nodded her head. And so, Keir quickly whisked her away and placed her upon Scout’s back.
