Page 37 of Kilty By Association
And Elspeth bowed her head, knowing what he’d guessed. “Roger. He was raised there, of course, and after he married, he refused to leave his collection of precious books. He and Agnes traveled between Dungotit and her father’s home in the time I was married to John.”
“But now ‘tis time for ye to return, and for Robbie to take his rightful place as Earl. Do ye think Roger will object?”
‘Twas difficult to imagine the good-natured scholar objecting toaught, but Elspeth shrugged helplessly as she looked up. “I suppose we’ll find out.”
If Roger was behind the attempts on Robbie’s life, she’d be leading her son right into the viper’s nest. ‘Twas up to Craig to keep him—to keep themallsafe.
And she believed he would.
Although right now, his attention wasn’t on her at all, but on her daughter. The large man, sprawled on the blanket across from her, was waggling another berry, and the bairn was fascinated. His lovely lips curled upward.
“Ye want this, wee one? Ye’ll have to come and get it.”
“Dadadada.”
“Aye, but I’m no’ handing it to ye. Ye’ve waited long enough to walk, and I see nae reason ye could no’ be running overthere with the sheep, giving yer mother and me some alone time.”
As Craig smiled enticingly, Mary made a little noise of frustration. Instinctively, Elspeth reached for her, but at the last moment curled her fingers to keep from grabbing her daughter.
And watched, in amazement, as Mary finally—finally!—took a step. Then another, then a third. Elspeth was holding her breath, her chest tight with amazement, until after Mary’s fourth step, the bairn plopped herself down on her padded arse and snatched the berry from Craig’s hand.
Of course, she didn’t stay on her arse very long, because a laughing Craig scooped her up and lifted her in his arms as he rolled onto his back, suspending her in the air. “Ye did it, wee one! Ye walked! Ye’re such a big lassie, aye? Ye did that!” He lowered her just enough to plant a wet, loud kiss on her cheek, which caused Mary to chortle happily, then lifted her again to repeat the process.
And through it all, Mary kicked happily and burbled, “Da! Da! Dadadada!”
Elspeth’s eyes ached from the tears she wasn’t shedding as she pressed her palm to her heart and watched this special moment. Her bairn hadwalked. She’d taken her first steps for Craig, a man whom she clearly adored.
Really, could hebeany more attractive?
Years from now, when she thought of this magical moment, this magical day, Craig Oliphant would be part of the memory.
And it would be only that: a memory.
Because to him, her family was just an assignment from the King. He’d return to Scone for his next assignment, while Elspeth did her best to raise her children with this memory offun.
There could be no future for them.
The tears finally fell.
Chapter 8
Dungotit Castle was…Craig found himself frowning thoughtfully as they approached.
“What’s wrong?” Elspeth was riding beside him, with Robbie on his other side.
Shaking his head, Craig tried for a smile in response to her quiet question. “Naught’s wrong. Are ye excited to be almost home?”
But she wouldn’t let him leave it alone. “Why are ye frowning?”
Och, she was going to make him say it? “I’m no’ blessed in the vocabulary department, and I was trying to think of something…what’s the opposite of imposing?”
“Unimposing?” Robbie offered from his other side.
Craig shook his head, his gaze going back to the castle, growing larger. The walls were built from a pale stone, and, aye, there was a moat. Since the castle didnae sit on the shores of a loch or on a bluff to protect parts of it, someone had designed it atop a man-made hill.
But instead of looming over the landscape, the castle seemed almost welcoming, with the way the walls weresurrounded by fields of grain, and the sheep wandered across the meadows in the distance, and the cheerful village straddled the road leading up to the main portcullis.
“Nay,” he finally said. “That’s no’ right either. It looks…”
