Page 32 of Highlander's Captive Bride
On his way back from Elodie’s chambers, Bellamy dropped by the kitchens and ordered the necessary treats for the picnic and arranged to collect them just before three o’clock that afternoon.
Then, he spent a difficult hour or so trying to allay the council’s fears about the potential repercussions of kidnapping Daisy. Donal Fiske was not a man to give up, and he wanted written assurances that all was well and that no revenge attack from the Laird of McGunn was imminent.
To buy himself some time, Bellamy once again trotted out his speech about letters being in transit and that he was merely awaiting a response from the Laird of McGunn before providing his councilmen with the assurance Donal had doggedly pressed for.
“I must say,” Jamie told him as the pair left the council room and went to the dining hall for something to eat, “I was surprised ye didnae lose yer temper with Donal, the way he kept harping on about it. The man’s like a dog with a bone.”
“Aye, he is that,” Bellamy agreed as they sat down at the head table, waiting for their food to arrive. “I’m surprised meself, to be honest. It must be the thought of taking Elodie out on this picnic this afternoon putting me in a good mood,” he added, for some unknown reason choosing to keep to himself the fact that the healer was going to accompany them.
“’Tis grand the way ye’ve turned things around with the lassie. I’ve checked in on her with Nadia from time to time, and she seems so much brighter despite her sickness,” Jamie told him approvingly. “I suppose in the long run, ye’ve got Daisy to thank for telling ye the truth about that, eh?”
Bellamy did not reply, instead taking a long sip of ale. But a sudden surge of excitement coursed through him, which he knew was not solely for the reason Jamie assumed.
“Aye, I’m enjoying getting to ken Elodie better, for sure,” he said. “I find I like spending time with her.”
“So, ye’re nae still upset that she resembles Bridie so much?” Jamie asked.
“Nay, I just try to keep in mind all the good times me and Bridie had, instead of being sad over losing her,” Bellamy replied. “After all, as ye said yerself, ’tis nae the child’s fault.”
After lunch with Jamie, since time was getting on, Bellamy retreated to his chambers to get ready for the picnic, his excitement growing apace. For some reason he could not name, this involved shaving, combing his hair, changing into a slightly smarter attire, and spending an unusual amount of time looking at his reflection in the mirror.
At ten to three, he dropped into the kitchens and picked up the large, weighty picnic basket he had ordered hours earlier. Then, at three o’clock sharp, he presented himself at Elodie’s chambers to collect her and Daisy.
* * *
Daisy could hardly believe what was happening when she found herself sitting on a blanket opposite the Laird, with Elodie seated in a cane chair between them, by the side of Loch Murdoch, on a lovely, sunny April afternoon.
“What a glorious spot,” Daisy said, looking around and admiring the gently lapping waters, the towering, fragrant pines, and the flocks of various waterfowl that flew over or bobbed en masse on the surface of the silvery loch.
She did not want to spoil things by mentioning the fact that she had not been to the loch’s edge before because she had been a virtual prisoner since her arrival at the castle.
“’Tis one of me favorite places in the whole castle,” Elodie told her with a merry smile. “I like to come and see the ducks and geese, especially when they have babies. The little ducklings are so funny. But I havenae been able to come here for a while now,” she added a little wistfully.
“When ye’re better, with summer coming, ye’ll be able to come more often, I’m sure of it,” Bellamy assured her. “Now, lass, shall we open this basket and see what we have to eat for our picnic?”
“Och, aye, let’s,” the child said with such enthusiasm that Daisy could not help but smile.
Bellamy lifted the basket lid and looked inside. His dark brows shot up as if in wonder. “Why, ’tis a veritable banquet we have in here,” he announced, lifting out plates and silverware and laying them on the blanket.
“Let me help,” Daisy volunteered, wanting to do something to occupy herself, to lessen the awkwardness she felt in his company. She began to get up, but he waved her back down.
“Nay, ladies, ye’re me guests, so I’m here to serve ye food if ye please,” he said, shooting her a warm glance. So, she sat down again, while Elodie let out a giggle.
“I must do something to help,” Daisy insisted. “I’ll set out the plates and such.” She set about laying out three plates and knives, glad for the diversion, however brief.
“Now, what do we have here to drink?” Bellamy muttered, rifling through the basket and drawing out two stone flasks and some beakers. He set them carefully alongside the plates, his fingers just brushing against Daisy’s as she was laying down a plate.
As they touched, a tingling sensation shot up her arm like lightning, and she snatched her hand back.
Startled, she looked up, and their eyes met. The surprise evident in his she was sure must match her own, telling her he had felt something, too. She looked away, her heart fluttering. From then on, she made sure to keep her hands in her lap, so it did not happen again.
“One of these has milk for ye, Elodie, and one I think has…” He paused, opening one of the flasks and sniffing its contents. “Wine. That’s for the grownups. Now, lass, hold these beakers, and I’ll pour.”
Moments later, Daisy was holding a brimming beaker of red wine and sipping it, to prevent it from spilling on her skirts. It was wonderfully fruity and refreshing.
“Slàinte mhath, Daisy,” Elodie said, holding out her beaker of milk to Daisy, who repeated the toast and carefully clinked beakers with the child.
The little girl did the same with her father, who then held his own beaker of wine out to Daisy. To avoid disappointing Elodie, Daisy was forced to make the same toast with him.
