Page 25 of The Highlander's Virgin Widow
Till it is strong enough.
He was certain Keira was enjoying every minute of this—wherever she was.
“And why would she ask ye to keep a baby goat here, of all places? There are several rooms in the castle ye could have kept it. Why here?”
The maid swallowed and refused to say anything.
Another realization dawned on Evander at that moment. The servants were loyal to her. Likereallyloyal.
“Who do ye take orders from? Me or her?”
The maid remained quiet, and Evander could see it—the initial nervousness in her expression slowly morphing into fear.
“Ye can leave.”
“M’Laird, if it is quite all right with ye, I can take it to the Great Hall instead?—”
“I said, leave. I will handle it meself.”
The maid swallowed and turned away amidst the continuous bleats of the baby goat, who had crawled under the bed. Soon,she was gone, and Evander was left to his thoughts, his empty quarters, and a goat who wouldn’t stop screaming.
What was he going to do with Keira Elliot?
“Here, take this,” Lesley urged, handing Keira a steaming cup of?—
“What’s in it?”
“Drink, now.”
So, a steaming cup ofsomething.
Keira stared at the black liquid, which stared right back at her, and swallowed. She trusted Lesley with her life—she had seen her at work over the past few months.
Lesley had healed many soldiers who had come back from the war wounded in one way or another. Yet, the mere thought of drinking what looked like heated blood turned her stomach for some reason.
She turned to Hudson, who was seated in the corner of the apothecary, watching their exchange.
“Do ye mind?” she asked, extending the cup toward him.
“That drink isnae for me, M’Lady,” he responded, a nervous chuckle escaping his lips.
“Traitor,” Keira whispered and then brought the steaming cup back to her lips.
She stared at the liquid one more time, worry written all over her face.
“’Tis only Rosehip tea, Keira. Stop acting like a child.”
Keira nodded, took a deep breath, and under piercing looks from both her man-at-arms and her friend, she tipped the cup and downed the tea. Warmth coated her tongue as she drank.
Then she handed the cup back to Lesley, whose lips curled into a smirk. Lesley took the cup and put it on the nearby table.
“Why did ye give me that?”
“Ye have been spending more time with the villagers. The last thing I need—nay, the last thing any of us needs is ye falling sick. We cannae have the lady of the castle falling apart, especially now.”
Keira laughed, warmed by her friend’s concern. “Dinnae worry, I willnae fall sick anytime soon. As for remaining the lady of the castle, I cannae promise ye that much.”
“Och, well, nay matter what happens, ye will always beMeLady of the castle,” Lesley declared.
