Page 14 of Highlander's Secret Heiress
Yet, she had to find her mother’s pendant—she could not return home without it, and for that reason, she would have to endure Lachlan Carrick’s loathsome company for as long as it took.
Alyth stood up, sighed and stretched her back. She would not worry or brood, she decided. She would try to keep out of the Laird’s sight and go about her mission as unobtrusively as she could.
However, the pressure of pretending to be someone she was not, and knowing that she was being constantly kept under surveillance by the Laird and his men, was becoming unbearable. Even being with Davina was something of a strain, since she had to keep smiling continually.
In fact, she thought, the only time she could ever relax was in bed, even though it was narrow and uncomfortable; at least she could pound her pillows with her fists and pretend they were Lachlan Carrick!
Alyth tried to think of another way of letting off some steam. When she was at home, her best outlet for her over-abundance of energy was training with the guards, but of course, that was impossible in Leithmuir.
She sighed. How much longer could she live like this?
Lachlan was smiling as he gazed at Davina, who was sitting in the garden playing with her doll. He felt more hopeful than he had in a long time as he watched her; she was his whole world, and without her, he knew his life would not be worth living.
Davina looked up as her nanny, who had just come back from her visit to her family, went to sit beside her. She gave her a vague smile, but when the woman tried to engage her in conversation, Davina picked up her doll and strolled away further into the gardens. She walked around looking at the stalks of the plants that had just been cut back for winter, and Lachlanwatched as one of the gardeners gave her a chestnut. She smiled at him and walked on.
They saw Jeannie at the same moment, and Davina ran towards her, beaming all over her face. When the little girl reached her, she threw her arms around the woman and held up the chestnut to show her. Lachlan watched as Jeannie took it and admired it, then made to give it back, but Davina pointed to the nut, then to Jeannie’s mouth.
“For me?” Alyth asked. Davina nodded, still smiling. “Thank you!” Alyth had been intending to drop a kiss on Davina’s forehead, but refrained when she saw the Laird looking at them. “I have work to do,” she said, with a little wave.
However, Davina was not yet ready to let her go. She grabbed the skirt of Alyth’s dress and pulled as hard as she could, frowning fiercely.
Alyth had no idea what to do. She could not abandon her work, but neither could she reprimand Davina in front of the Laird and everyone else; they were attracting enough attention as it was.
She was saved by Davina’s nurse, Martha, who was obviously used to dealing with stubborn children and had a lot of experience with Davina in particular. She picked the girl up and carried her for a few steps, then put her down and led her away. Davina looked furious, and she stared over her shoulder at her friend for a while before turning a corner, leaving her line of sight.
Alyth breathed a sigh of relief. She had been sweeping up some earth and foliage from the paths between the vegetable patches and trying not to look at the Laird, whom she knew was only a few yards away. There was no way she could escape from his view now, though, she thought ruefully. She watched him approaching her, then he stopped in front of her. Alyth began to tremble inside. So much for trying to stay inconspicuous!
Everyone around them was watching, even though they were trying to make it appear as if they were not. Once more, Alyth found herself trapped in the gaze of his cold eyes, and once more she was helpless. She stood up.
“M’Laird?” she said, giving him a brief curtsey.
“Come with me,” he ordered.
Alyth did as she was told and followed him. It was some distance to the castle itself, since the gardens were extensive, and it took them some time to reach the courtyard.
Lachlan did not go any further, but turned to her, and Alyth thought that standing talking to him this way was becoming a little tedious. It was the third time he had summoned her this way; she only hoped that he would not threaten her the way he had before.
“Did she speak to you?” he asked.
Alyth shook her head. “Not this time,” she replied. “But there were a lot of people watching us, M’Laird. She has only done so before when we were alone, or you were with us.”
Lachlan nodded thoughtfully as he looked down at her, thinking how fascinating her deep grey eyes were. No matter how he tried to stop himself, he could not help thinking of Davina’s mother when he looked at her.
“I want her to learn to talk again,” he said gently, and as he dropped his gaze down to his hands,
Alyth saw him letting his guard down for the first time since she had known him. He was holding a red silk ribbon, running it through his fingers tenderly, before he realised that he was giving away some soft emotion that he usually kept hidden.
Alyth thought that the ribbon must have belonged to his wife, but of course, she could not ask him.
“I would like you to spend more time with her,” he went on. “Read her a story at night when she goes to sleep. I think she will like that.”
“But she has someone to do that already,” Alyth pointed out.
“Martha will still carry out her usual duties,” Lachlan replied, “but her reading skills are not the best, and as far as I know, Davina has never said a word to her. I would like you to take over the duty of reading to her.”
For the first time, Alyth felt that it was safe to smile at him. “It will not be a duty, M’Laird,” she said happily. “It will be a pleasure.”
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