Page 17 of A Highland Bride Disciplined
Scarlett read it again. And again.
“Elise,” she whispered.
Effie leaned closer. “That’s a fine name.”
Morag crossed her arms, and trained her narrowed eyes at the bairn. “Nay seal. Nay sign ofwholeft her?”
Brighde shook her head. “None.”
Scarlett swallowed the lump in her throat. She looked at the child again.
Elise.
And the moment their eyes met, something inside her twisted. Like a string pulled taut behind her ribs.
“What are we supposed to do?” Effie asked.
“Care for her,” Scarlett said, voice steadier than she felt.
The baby gurgled in response, kicking once under her blanket.
Scarlett stepped back and braced her hands on the edge of the healer’s table, her knuckles white.
A child? in me care? What if I cannae keep her alive?
She could command the kitchens. Oversee harvest planning. Resolve livestock disputes with a firm tone. But this?
This was a human life. Small, fragile, blinking up at her like Scarlett was someone who couldfixthings.
Scarlett’s hands crept toward the bundle, and she fought the urge to grab the child and hold her tightly to her chest, but Brighde placed and hand on hers.
“Nae yet, m’lady. We daenae ken if she’s safe to hold yet.”
Scarlett nodded, but the pounding in her head made it hard to think.
“She’ll need a wet nurse,” Morag said. “If we can find one.”
“I’ll ask around,” Brighde added. “There’s a widow near the village who lost her child a few weeks back. She might still be able.”
Effie glanced at her, eyes wide. “M’lady… are ye alright?”
“Nay.”
She turned on her heel and marched out of the room.
Effie scrambled after her. “Where’re ye goin’?”
“To me study.”
“Let me ken about the nursemaid by supper, Brighde. Until then, the bairn will sleep in the infirmary.”
Morag stepped forward calmly, “I’ll send a boy to the village, and get ye the word soonest, m’lady. The bairn will be just fine here.”
Scarlett could barely see anything. Her hands were shaking as she turned, pulled open the heavy infirmary door open, and stormed through the keep, straight to the study.
She took the steps two at a time.
She bounded down the corridors.
