Chapter 14 #2
A wide, tanned back drew her attention, and she flushed when she realized it was Finlay.
He was dressed in only his plaid, the fabric hanging low on his waist. Even from that distance, Thalia could see the sweat glistening on his skin, highlighting his muscles.
His chest rippled as he raised his sword at his opponent, and the two began clashing.
The clang of steel against steel rang out across the courtyard, and she continued to openly stare as Finlay made quick work of his opponent.
With only a few slashes, he was able to disarm him, knocking him to the ground and holding the sword to his neck.
The man held up his hands in surrender, and Finlay withdrew and offered his hand to pull him back to his feet.
“Faither is a really good fighter, is he nae?” Daisy asked from beside her.
The question snapped Thalia out of her trance.
She turned back to the girl and cleared her throat. “Aye, he is.”
“I guess that’s why they made him the Laird,” Daisy remarked.
Thalia only nodded at her, her gaze sliding back to the training grounds. Her eyes found Finlay, only to realize that he was also watching her. She tightened her grip on Daisy’s hand and started walking again.
“Come along, Daisy. We should get to the gardens,” she said quickly, trying to stop her brain from having rebellious thoughts.
Daenae think about kissin’ him. Daenae think about touchin’ him. Daenae think about him at all.
The gardens helped to clear her mind. She breathed in the fragrance of the flowers, the sweetness helping her to think of her work and not shirtless lairds.
“All right, Daisy. Are ye ready for yer first real lesson in the art of healing?” Thalia asked.
Daisy nodded, her face scrunched up into a serious expression.
“I think it would be nice to do somethin’ for Rowena. What do ye think about that?” Thalia suggested.
“Aye! She’s done so much for me. It would be nice to give her somethin’ in return,” Daisy answered, bouncing on her heels in excitement.
Thalia couldn’t help the smile that spread across her face as she remembered how excited she had been to start learning more about healing.
“Well, remember how Rowena said she needs help to calm her nerves?”
“Aye.”
“There are a few plants here that we can use to make a nice tea for her,” Thalia explained. She knelt down, so she was at eye level with Daisy. “We talked about one of them. Do ye remember?”
Daisy opened her mouth, then closed it. She scratched her head, and her nose twitched in concentration.
Thalia waited patiently. She didn’t expect the girl to remember, but it would help to start having her try to recall things.
“Nay… I daenae ken,” Daisy finally answered, stomping her foot in frustration.
“That’s all right,” Thalia answered, rubbing the girl’s arms in comfort. “The last time we were here, I showed ye a plant called heather.”
Daisy’s eyes widened in recognition. “Ye did! That’s one of the plants we can use, right?”
“Aye, that’s right.” Thalia smiled encouragingly. “Do ye remember where it is?”
Daisy nodded enthusiastically, her hair bouncing around her face with the motion. Suddenly, her eyes landed on something behind Thalia, and she gasped softly, shrinking back.
Thalia turned, and her own heart sank to her stomach when she saw her uncle and Harrison walking towards them.
She stood, keeping Daisy behind her with one hand. She tried to plaster a pleasant smile on her face, but it felt fake. She bobbed a quick curtsey once they were close enough.
“Good mornin’, me Lairds,” she greeted through gritted teeth.
“Thalia,” Archibald said stiffly. His eyes flicked to Daisy before returning to his niece. “I’ve come to let ye ken that Harrison and I willnae be stayin’ for the whole week. Laird MacCabe has kindly offered us his castle, and we shall be stayin’ there until the cèilidh.”
“I’m sorry to see ye go, dear uncle,” Thalia said, not sounding sorry in the least.
“I would rather nae be here and watch this farce of a betrothal any longer,” Archibald continued. “I daenae approve of this, Thalia. Daenae mistake me will to maintain peace for me blessing.”
Thalia stiffened, before turning to the girl still clinging to her skirts. “Daisy, sweetheart, can ye go and find the flower we were just talkin’ about?”
Daisy looked up at her, then back at the Lairds.
“It’s all right. We just need a little privacy,” Thalia added, keeping her voice soft.
Daisy nodded, before loosening her grip and walking away.
Archibald scoffed. “I had such high hopes for ye, Thalia. But apparently, me nieces are cursed to raise children that arenae theirs.”
Thalia whirled and stomped over to him. Anger coursed through her, and she no longer cared about remaining civil.
“Daenae say such things in front of her! That lassie has keen ears and a sensitive heart. Ye daenae ken what she has been through,” she hissed.
Archibald was unfazed by her outburst. “I only speak the truth. First Ava, now ye. Ye should want a better life for yerself.”
Her eyes darted across his cold face. “I ken ye daenae mean what ye say. Ye love Stella and Nathan just as much as I do. Just as much as ye love the rest of me sisters’ children. So why are ye bein’ so cruel?”
“Aye, I do love the boy,” he relented. “But that is different. Ye cannae help lovin’ children.
It’s only natural. But what is nae natural is raisin’ someone else’s blood as yer own.
A Scot’s blood runs thick, and ye can only trust someone who shares the same blood as ye.
I wanted ye to have the chance at somethin’ different. Somethin’ better. I wish ye luck.”
He and Harrison left without another word.
Thalia was left clenching her teeth so tight that her jaw grew sore, but she kept it shut for fear she would say more things that she would regret. They were leaving, and that would be best for everyone.
She turned and scanned the gardens for Daisy. She found her among the heather, watching the flowers bend in the breeze. She shook off her anger and focused on staying positive for Daisy.
“Ye found them! Good job.” She smiled.
Daisy looked up at her with a strange expression on her face. “Did they leave?” she asked.
Thalia nodded. “We willnae be seein’ them again until next week. So daenae worry about them. Ye’re safe.”
Daisy merely frowned and turned her attention back to the flowers. “Will these really help Rowena feel better?”
“Aye, they will. And we’ll add some lavender to it as well. It will be a lovely tea for her,” Thalia explained.
Daisy took a deep breath and smiled at her. “Then please show me how to make it.”