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For a moment, Dorothea’s face paled, and her little hands clutched Scout’s mane. Her body tensed as she clung to the horse’s back. However, as Scout failed to move, to buck and kick, to try to throw her off, Dorothea slowly relaxed.
Keir looked towards Sarah and Katherine, the look upon their faces expectant. They seemed to be almost holding their breaths as they watched Dorothea cling to Scout’s back.
“He’s not moving,” Dorothea observed with a sideways glance at Keir, apprehension marking her features.
Keir chuckled. “He can sense yer unease, Thea, and he doesna want ye to be afraid.”
The expression in the girl’s eyes changed, and her tight grip upon Scout’s mane lessened. She inhaled a deep breath, then pushed herself into a more upright position.
“Come on, Thea! Let’s go!” Augusta called as she urged Autumn out of the inn’s yard. Sarah and Katherine were now seated in the carriage, and Mr. Garner clicked his tongue, urging the two mares onward.
“Not too fast, Gus!” Keir called after the young girl as he gathered Scout’s reins and then swung himself into the saddle behind Dorothea. For a moment, the girl tensed, but then she exhaled deeply as his arms came around her, caging her in and keeping her from falling off.
And then they were off, continuing down the road and farther north. The sun shone overhead; the smiles Keir saw all around him made his heart feel lighter. He no longer looked over his shoulder as he had before, concerned that they might be followed. It seemed that the dowager’s plan had succeeded in throwing Lord Birchwell off their tracks. Even if eventually, he were to find out which way they had traveled, he would be far behind, unable to catch up before they reached Keir’s home and the safety of his clan.
“Men are not to wear their hair long,” Dorothea suddenly remarked not long before midday. She had been rather quiet as they rode along, not a word falling from her lips.
Keir chuckled. “Says who?”
“My governess.”
“Does she know everything?”
Dorothea paused for a moment, then said, “She says she does.”
“And do ye believe her?”
Again, a pause followed before Dorothea’s next reply came. “Well, she didn’t know we were sneaking out to see Mama.”
Keir grinned. “There ye have it.”
Once again thoughtful, Dorothea leaned back in his arms, her little body more relaxed than he would have expected. Clearly, the girl had a lot on her mind, questions to sort out and opinions to weigh.
“Let us ride ahead and see if we can find a suitable spot to sit and eat, shall we?” He clicked his tongue and spurred Scout onward. “Gus, stay with the carriage!” he called over his shoulder, glimpsing a frown coming to the young girl’s face. Still, she heeded his words and remained where she was.
Dorothea once again clung to Scout’s mane as they galloped down a small slope, and so Keir wrapped his arm tightly around her middle, holding her against him, reassuring her she was safe with him. “That looks like a suitable spot over there, dunna ye think?” Keir pointed up ahead toward a small grove, a little ways off the road.
Dorothea nodded. “Why do you speak like that?”
“Like what?” Keir dared her, unable to prevent a grin. A sudden wail echoed to his ears from the carriage, and he wondered what had upset little Frederica.
As Scout slowed his steps, Dorothea twisted around to look up at Keir. “Like that,” she said, her green eyes sparking with interest. “Why do you talk like that?”
“Because I’m a Scot,” Keir replied by way of explanation. “In different parts of the world, people speak differently.”
Dorothea frowned. “Miss Newton said we were to learn other languages.” The frown deepened as she looked at him. “But I understand you. Only your words sound… strange.” Before Keir could reply, her right forefinger came to rest against the corner of her mouth, a deeply thoughtful expression falling over her face. “Can I do it, too?”
“Speak like a Scot? Certainly. Give it a try.” Amusement swelled in Keir’s chest, and he struggled to keep it contained.Aye, the lassie is adorable in her directness!
“What shall I say?”
Keir drew Scout to a halt, then turned and waved toward Mr. Garner. A moment later, the carriage with Augusta alongside it moved toward them. Then Keir jumped to the ground and lifted Dorothea out of the saddle.
The second her little feet hit the ground, Dorothea looked up at him. “What shall I say?” she repeated, a bit of impatience in her tone now. “I don’t know what to say.”
Thinking, Keir kneeled down in front of her. “How about this,” he suggested, “I willna frown.”
Dorothea nodded, then slowly parted her lips, deep concentration in her eyes. “I willna frown,” she said slowly and with great emphasis on every word. “I willna frown.”
