Page 26 of Married to the Highland Devil
“Right here in the garden, Me Lady. There is an entire section for them. I shall show ye.”
Dahlia led her forward, then they reached another opening.
“They are right here, Me Lady,” Dahlia said. “This is rose root, this is lavender…”
Dahlia named the plants as she made Amelia touch them and feeling the leaves made Amelia’s heart feel lighter. Only things she could touch made her feel this way. She felt in control when she was surrounded by flowers, herbs, or the night sky. Before now, nothing had beat the sensation those three things created in her.
Standing near that cliff with Duncan had beat that feeling. At that moment, as the wind had brushed their skin and pushed at her hair, she had felt powerful. And free.
Dahlia continued naming the herbs Amelia already knew. Amelia left her for a second, so she could examine her surroundings. She moved her feet gently to make sure there was nothing in her path, took three steps forward till she touched a large gathering of shrubs then walked back again.
Dahlia was quiet now, probably watching her, and Amelia chuckled before she asked, “Do you wish to ask about my difficulty, Dahlia?”
“Me Lady, I would never,” Dahlia said in a hushed voice. “I am so sorry, Me Lady, I didnae mean to act as if I wanted to ask.”
“Oh, of course, but you cannot deny that you must have wondered?” When Dahlia said nothing, Amelia laughed a little. “We are all humans, Dahlia. It is all right to be a little curious. I do not mind.”
Amelia extended a hand now and hoped Dahlia would place hers there. When she did, she began her story.
“It was not always like this. I was not born with this difficulty.”
“So, it was an accident, Me Lady?”
“Yes.” Amelia nodded. “An unfortunate one. The physicians back in England do not think I will recover, but it is all right. I have learned to appreciate the things I still have. The knowledge I still have and my other senses.”
Dahlia’s soft hands stayed in Amelia’s, and a second after Amelia finished talking, she heard Duncan’s loud voice thundering around them as he called out to her.
“Amelia,” he shouted, and the rustling in the leaves grew closer.
Dahlia panicked audibly and tightened her grip around Amelia’s hand.
“Amelia! Amelia!”
Duncan reached the clearing where they stood, and Amelia knew he saw them because a loud, raspy curse tumbled from his lips, and the next thing she knew, she was in his arms.
“How could ye leave yer chamber without a word to anyone? I came to see ye, and ye werenae there. Do ye ken how worried I was?”
He released her, but she remained stiff as she stood there and blinked.
He came to see me? Why?
Amelia could not stop the frown building on her face. Duncan smoothed his hands down her arms, and his next words were directed at Dahlia.
“It is a cold night. Why did ye bring her out here? Have I permitted ye to?”
“I am sorry, My Laird,” Dahlia answered in a shaky voice.
“Do not yell at her,” Amelia cut in. “You have done nothing but abandon me since we arrived here. I am not your prisoner, Laird McLennan, and I do not wish to live like one. I cannot stay trapped in a chamber waiting for you to come all day.”
“Amelia—”
“I wanted to come out here. I asked Dahlia to bring me, and she was kind enough to do so. I do not appreciate you yelling like she has done anything wrong because she has not. It is you who has done everything to make certain you do not see me… You stay away from me, avoid me like the plague, and—”
“It isnae like that,” he interrupted. “Amelia, ye ken that isnae why I stay away from ye.”
Amelia’s heart did a speedy dive at his statement, and all she could do then was suck in a large chunk of air, hoping it would steady her quivering insides.
“Dahlia, please, excuse us,” Duncan said, and the maid hurried away.
