Page 27 of Plaid Attitude
“Aye, at certain times of the month, all children should be locked in a soundproof room, and everyone else should just do their damn jobs and no’ need aught from me.”
His daughter volunteered, “I just want to curl up and eat all the cheese and bread.”
Coira was very clearly trying not to smile. “And all men are stupid and deserve to be driven off the edge of a cliff.”
His daughter nodded again in agreement.
Doughall frowned, caught between alarm at their words and amusement at the way they agreed. “I dinnae think I like these whore-moans.”
“Join the club,” Coira snorted.
Bessetta pressed her face back to his chest. “I dinnae think I want to be a woman.”
“Och, love.” Doughall propped his chin atop her head and squeezed his eyes shut. “I’m sorry. If I could slow time, believe me, I would. Ye thinkIwant ye to grow up?” His chest tightened, thinking of the sweet little lassie she used to be, and the fine young woman she was growing into.
“Bess,” Coira said gently, “I ken ye dinnae like the way ye feel right now, but this is actually a time for celebration, aye? The changes in yer body—they’re miraculous.”
Slowly, the girl straightened and turned, far enough she could see Coira, but not so far that she slid from her father’s hold. Doughall rubbed comforting circles on her back.
Coira nodded, her expression torn between caring and sorrow. “These changes mean that one day, when ye’re grown and married, ye’ll be able to create new life. A bairn from scratch! That’s miraculous, aye? My sisters are all married, remember, and they say—they say…”
Her gaze dropped to the table in front of her, but not before Doughall caught sight of the fear in her eyes. He knew she was thinking of her father’s stupid ultimatum and what would happen when one of her sistersdidconceive.
Thank goodness Bessetta didn’t realize it. “’Tis no’ that I dinnae want to be a woman, no’ really. I ken ‘tis a miracle and whatnot. I just…I dinnae ken! I want…”
When she trailed off, Doughall squeezed her. “What, sweetheart?” he prompted softly.
And she blew out all her breath at once, in a half-laugh, half-sob. “I want to be like Coira!” When the woman looked up, Bessetta nodded emphatically, and gestured with her free hand. “Ye’re smart and interesting and beautiful andyehavenae yoked yerself to a man!”
Coira’s expression went from awed to frantic in a blink, her gaze darting to his, then back to the girl’s. “Aye, lassie, but—I’m no’ married, but that doesnae mean I…” She swallowed, looking lost.
The laird’s eldest daughter had always been vocal about her lack of interest in marrying if it meant being subservient to her husband. Doughall knew that; he’d known that for years.
But her kisses…
He took a deep breath then took one of the biggest chances in his life.
“Bessetta, love, I would consider myself blessed if my daughter grew up to be half as wonderful as Coira.” He held her gaze over his daughter’s head and willed her to understand. “Lady Coira is intelligent, aye, but a devoted friend and leader. She cares as deeply as ye do, she’s talented, and I believe she can do aught she puts her mind to. And no’ that it matters to her worth as a person, but she’s the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen in my life.”
Coira’s eyes were wide, her lips parted, as she stared at him in what he hoped was shock and not revulsion.
His daughter sniffed. “Aye, but Coira’s no’ married.”
Ah. Theyhadbeen talking about marriage, had they not?
This conversation was veering too close to the one they’d had a sennight ago about Edgar and his worth as a potential husband. Doughall swallowed, trying to feel his way forward.
He needed to go gently, to make his daughter understand that her future marriage was important, but—and this was the important part—not right now.
His tongue darted across his lips. “Marriage…marriage is something ye have to enter into when yereallyken the other person. ‘Tis a commitment to someone ye ken will honor ye for the rest of yer life, because ye understand them well enough already to ken they do thatnow. Ye have to be certain they understand how special ye are, and how much ye deserve that honor.”
He was making a muck of this.
Did Coira understand what he was saying? Based on the fact she was still staring at him, wide-eyed, mayhap she didn’t.
Mayhap she does.
He wasn’t certain which was scarier.
