Page 32 of Sinful Scottish Laird
Belinda nodded. She took Daisy’s hand in hers and squeezed it, then looked her in the eye. “Be careful of amusements, Daisy.”
Daisy smiled wryly. “Why? Did something dire happen in the course of someone’s amusement?”
Belinda’s face darkened. “No.Because I am concerned for you and Ellis. I am allowed that. I am allowed to be concerned about what you’re doing.” She stood up and went out of the room without another word.
“Blast it,” Daisy muttered and fell back on her bed, exhausted and torn and sort of distantly aroused—there were so many things in her head that it began to ache.
* * *
DAISYEVENTUALLYFINISHEDdressing on her own and then reluctantly made her way down to breakfast and her guests.
On her way to the dining room, she detoured to her son’s rooms.
Ellis was at breakfast with Mr. Tuttle. The books for his lessons were stacked neatly on a small desk near the window. Ellis was in the midst of a rather animated tale when she walked in. Mr. Tuttle came to his feet and bowed his head.
“I’m to learn how to toss a tree today, Mamma,” Ellis said. “Cailean means to show me. Not Collin, Mamma—it sounds a bit different than that.”
“Thank you for alerting me,” she said, smiling. “But do you think it wise to call him by his given name?”
“He said that I should. Do you know what else he said? He said I looked quite strong.”
Daisy exchanged a look with Mr. Tuttle, who said affectionately, “His lordship is most adamant that the tree be tossed, madam.”
“Then by all means, it shall.” She couldn’t imagine how this tree tossing might be done, but she knew one thing—Arrandale had best live up to his promise to her son, or he would have an angry viscountess to address.
Daisy kissed her son on the top of his head. “If you mean to toss trees about, darling, you best eat a hearty breakfast,” she said, pointing at his plate.
Her son obediently picked up a toast point. He leaned back in his chair, his gaze on the window, his feet swinging above the ground. It was remarkable, really—Daisy hadn’t seen him this cheerful in weeks. All for the toss of a tree?
She stayed a moment to hear about his lessons, then continued on to the dining hall. The rain had cleared and left in its wake a cloudless and brilliantly blue sky. She paused at the window to look at the stunning landscape. The sun had cast a soft golden hue over the garden and lawn leading down to the lake. She could see a few people there, pulling the small rowboat, that Uncle Alfonso had purchased from a boat maker in Erbusaig, from the shore.
She found the dining room empty and Rowley clearing the sideboard. “Has everyone dined?” she asked, surprised. It was only nine o’clock.
“Yes, madam. Most of them were rummaging about for something to eat at half past seven. Shall I fill a plate?”
“No, thank you.” Daisy gathered her shawl around her. “I should go and see what my guests are about.”
She made her way out onto the terrace, pausing to turn her face up to the delicious warmth of the sun.
“A bonny vision you are,” a man said.
Daisy lowered her head to see who’d spoken. “I’m not,” she said laughingly at Mr. Somerled as he strolled across the terrace to her. “I was up far too late last night.”
Mr. Somerled glanced toward the lake and the others, who were now piling into the boat.
“You didn’t want to join them?” Daisy asked.
Somerled shook his head. “Too many people in a boat may sink it, aye?”
Daisy laughed.
“The weather has turned in your favor, Lady Chatwick.”
“Indeed it has,” she said, turning her face up to the sun once more. “It’s glorious.”
“I quite enjoyed our talk last evening,” he said.
Their talk? She’d had so many conversations.
