Page 28 of Loyally, Luke
Why?
She shook her head.
It didn’t matter why. Even if she admitted to a modicum ofattraction, he most certainly didn’t fit on any royal list and didn’t even live in Skymar. However, becoming the patron to the orphanage had been the right choice. And taking up her primary residence at Perth Hall had been the right choice. And choosing Luke to take the lead on the construction had been right as well. Those things sheknew. And perhaps they would prove the beginning to a great many future choices in the right direction.
Because she desperately needed to trust herself again if she was ever going to take control of her own life, let alone prove a capable royal patron to the North Country.
She tugged her coat more closely around her and walked up the cobbled main street of Crieff. Staying in the country estate of Perth Hall gave a sense of separation from the demands of royal life and fewer opportunities for her flaws to be on display, but this secluded village offered a glimpse into an almost regular life. Though the storybook world of thatched roofs and quaint cottages likely proved as unique to “regular” life as castles and ballrooms.
Maybe finding the journal had resurrected all these thoughts of a simple life. From what Ellie could tell, Blair MacKee had been an orphan-turned-kitchen maid and she’d fallen in love with a nearby farmer named Gabriel. The journal told the tale of a simple and sweet love, from their initial meeting to the day she left service to marry him.
Love.
Like the fairy tales.
She shook her head and continued her walk toward a large building near the center of town. One of her favorites. Rudan Air Chall Antique Shop. The owners, an older couple, had owned the antique shop for decades and, like most family-owned businesses in Crieff, they passed it to the next generation.
A few newer shops had come into the village, like an ice cream shop, a fine clothing store, and several restaurants, but most othersmall businesses—especially if they didn’t fit with the overall... atmosphere of Crieff—ended up relocating elsewhere.
Crieff was safe.
At the thought, she glanced behind her to find Cameron keeping an unhurried pace. She frowned. Well, at least he kept his distance, at her request. She’d had to compromise with her parents by agreeing to one person on security detail in public to be free to live and work in Crieff at her leisure. He was a good sort. Early forties, extremely serious, but reliable and strong.
And had been royal security for over a decade.
Which meant he knew this world.
And her history.
Rudan Air Chall welcomed her out of the cold afternoon air into a world of visual activity. Vintage chairs, hand-hewn tables, old-fashioned lanterns, picture frames, and myriad other unclaimed treasures cluttered up as much space as was possible... and still, by some miraculous feat, looked inviting.
The Frasiers at work. Or likely Nessa Frasier, the matriarch of the establishment. As if called from Ellie’s thoughts, the woman emerged from the back of the shop behind a massive dresser, her white hair drawn back into a ponytail that defied her age.
But of course, Nessa seemed to have the energy of a younger woman too.
“Well, it’s always a pleasure to have you visiting us, Your— Ellie,” she corrected, as she always did when first meeting after a short sabbatical. “Gordon told me he’d heard you were back from New Inswythe. I hope your family is all well.”
The twinkle in her eyes revealed her pleasure in their shared secret. How much of a secret it truly was, though, was debatable, since the entire town knew about it. “They are. Quite well. And your family?”
“Besides Gordon being a wee crabbit this morning, we’re all right as rain. The grandweans are with us for the day and have cheered hisheart.” She winked. “Though you wouldn’t know it to see him all dour-faced as usual, but he’s quite keen on ’em.”
“As any good grandda ought to be.”
“Aye, and he preened like a parrot when Mr.Holton rang him yesterday about joining the renovation team at Cambric. He nearly laughed his delight.”
“Gordon Frasier nearly laughed?” Ellie offered a mock look of shock. “And you didn’t get a snap of it?”
Nessa’s laughter filled the space. “It’s a rarity for certain, but he’s been without a large project for a few months, and this will set him to rights for a while.” Nessa examined Ellie, her gray eyes soft. “Now, what will you be wanting this afternoon?”
The dips and curls of her thicker accent soothed Ellie’s nerves and gently reminded her that in Crieff she wasn’t under the microscope of the public. At least, not as much as usual.
“Only looking.” She lowered her voice and drew closer to the woman. “Though my parents have given me leave to decorate Perth Hall to my own liking with the design of moving in by autumn.”
“Well, I was hoping you’d make Crieff your permanent residence.”
Nessa’s welcome spread healing warmth through Ellie’s chest. “It’s proof they have more confidence in the future direction of my life and choices. And since one of my titles is Duchess of Mara and the North Country, it has been my hope to settle here so that I might be a part of the people whose lives I mean to serve.”
“You’re speaking very much like someone with the right perspective.” Nessa brought her palms together and drew in a breath. “Well now, we have some new paintings in the back that Olivia found a few months ago at a charity sale, and as you know, my daughter has a keen eye for art. Come along and I’ll give you a keek.” She tossed a glance toward the front. “And tell Cam if he’s going to stand at the window, he might as well come inside and have a spot of tea.”
