Chapter 24
They did not see each other for the rest of the week.
At first, it had been Finlay’s choice. He did not leave his study for meals, and he filled his days with the preparations for the cèilidh, training, and attending to his people’s needs.
There was far too much to do, and seeing Thalia would only distract him from other things that needed his attention far more.
He had hardly seen Daisy as well, though she would make it a point to come into his study every morning and every evening.
She would charge in and tell him everything that she planned to do that day as soon as she was awake.
Then, she would come back and inform him of everything she had learned from her lessons with Thalia and Rowena.
He would act as if he were merely entertaining her antics, but he rather enjoyed them. They broke up some of the monotony that was the never-ending paperwork on his desk.
When his mind and body grew too restless, he would go out to train with Peter and the rest of his men. Peter would give him updates about Laird MacGibbon’s men. After Thalia’s attempted kidnapping, they had reinforced security and further increased the training regimens for the men.
He tried not to look for Thalia during his time on the training grounds, but he still found his eyes drifting away from whatever was in front of him to scan the front entrance of the castle or the trail that led back to the gardens.
His shortened attention span had caused him to get nicked more once by his sparring partners.
“Are ye feelin’ all right, me Laird?” Peter asked, approaching him after the second time it happened.
“Aye, I’m fine,” Finlay insisted. “Just a bit distracted.”
Peter nodded, looking as if he knew exactly what it was that was distracting Finlay. “I believe Lady Thalia has been using the servants’ entrance more as of late.”
“How do ye ken that?” Finlay asked, not bothering to deny that he had been looking for her.
“Me wife mentioned it,” Peter admitted. “Said that she and Daisy pass through the kitchens for their lessons in the gardens. Figured I would let ye ken before someone accidentally impaled ye.”
Finlay snickered at the joke, but his mind was racing.
Thalia was avoiding him, just as he was avoiding her. He should have been glad to hear that. It was exactly what he had been trying to convince her of ever since they had started this whole charade.
So then why did it bother him so much?
“I have… other matters to attend to,” he declared, handing his sword to Peter. “I’ll be in me bedchamber if ye need me.”
Peter nodded. He looked as if he wanted to say something else, then shook his head as if he had decided against it.
Finlay didn’t pry and went back to his bedchamber to clean up. He had a servant prepare him a bath, and when it was ready, he sank into the copper tub with a heavy sigh. The warm water felt good against his sore muscles, and the steam helped to clear his head.
Perhaps Thalia wasn’t truly avoiding him. She was probably just giving him space, as he had requested.
He should be happy that she was finally respecting his wishes, but he had gotten used to her constant presence.
He almost expected her to seek him out again for one reason or another.
To barge into his room and berate him for his actions with Daisy, or to interrupt his work for whatever it was she deemed more important in the moment.
I miss her.
He rested his head back against the rim, closing his eyes as he let the feeling settle over him. The cèilidh was tomorrow, and he would see her plenty then. Yet the need to see her now began to niggle at him.
The cooling water splashed over the sides of the tub as he rose. He would take his dinner in the dining hall tonight, and that should quell this urge until tomorrow.
With a new resolve, he quickly dressed and emerged with a lighter feeling in his chest than earlier. It was late enough that he knew dinner was already being served. He grabbed the attention of a passing maid on his way to the dining hall.
“I’ll be takin’ dinner tonight in the hall. Please bring an extra set, and I’ll head in there now,” he informed her.
The maid nodded and hurried away to grab what he needed.
Finlay opened both doors and strode into the dining hall. Immediately, he saw Ava and Daisy already seated and enjoying their dinner. They looked up at the commotion, and Daisy grinned at him.
“Faither! Ye’re eatin’ with us tonight?” she asked, giddy with excitement.
“Aye.” He nodded, his gaze turning to Ava. “Where is Thalia?”
Ava gave him a hard look that let him know what her answer was going to be before she said it. “She hasnae eaten with us since ye came back from Beauly.”
Finlay frowned. So Thalia was avoiding him. Not just using different entrances to keep their interactions to a minimum, but actively making sure she wouldn’t be in the place as him.
He took his seat at the head of the table just as the maid came in with an extra plate and a cup of ale. He downed the ale in a few short gulps and signaled for another.
“Daisy,” he said, and her twin braids whipped around with her head. “Why daenae ye tell me about yer lessons today?”
Daisy grinned, launching into a story of the things she learned from Thalia. Finlay only half listened as he ate his food, tasting none of it. He chewed mechanically, swallowing what might as well have been tree bark.
“I helped pull out the weeds today! Did ye ken that if ye leave them to grow, they can overtake other plants until they’re the only ones left?
” Daisy continued. “Thalia said that nae all of them are bad. There are the bright yellow ones that are used for some medicines.” She scrunched up her face in thought.
“They’re yellow, or white and fluffy… och, I daenae remember what they’re called. ”
“Dandelions,” Ava supplied helpfully.
“Aye!” Daisy brightened again. “Dan-de-lions. Thalia let me eat one, too! She says it’s important that I remember which plants are edible and which arenae, in case I find meself lost in the woods again. But I told her that wouldnae happen anymore.”
She turned her brilliant smile back on Finlay, who found his throat constricting slightly at the sudden burst of emotion.
In such a short time, Daisy was finally beginning to grow into a confident and happy child. She had grown so much, and he was missing it in his preoccupation with keeping his distance from Thalia.
“Daisy, what do ye say after dinner we have some of those chocolates I brought back the other day?” he asked.
He was rewarded with a gleeful gasp, and she set her fork down pointedly. “Aye! I’m done now.”
He narrowed his eyes at her. “Nay. If ye want sweets, ye’re goin’ to have to eat all of the food on yer plate.”
Her pout was enough to make him chuckle, but not enough to make him give in.
“I willnae hear any arguments,” he added.
“Yer faither is right,” Ava chimed in. “If ye want to grow up as strong as him, and as smart as Thalia, ye will need to eat all of yer dinner.”
Daisy sighed, but picked up her fork with some resignation and continued to eat her peas.
“Are ye implying that I am nae smart, Ava?” Finlay asked, the wording she used having not escaped his notice.
“I would never dare to insult a laird in his own castle.” Her voice dripped with sarcasm, but Finlay chose to let it go.
He could tell she was annoyed with him, probably because of Thalia, but she would be far worse if he knew what had actually gone on between the two of them. Especially since she had worked so hard to keep the two of them apart.
He wondered if some part of her had suspected this might happen, or if it was just her being overly cautious. Regardless, she had been right in her assumptions.
“I’m done!” Daisy announced with a triumphant smile. “Can we have sweets now? Please?”
Finlay laughed, motioning to one of the servants. “Can ye bring one of the boxes from the kitchen? Thank ye.”
As the servant disappeared, Ava stood.
“I think I’m goin’ to retire early tonight,” she said. “After I go check on me sister.”
“Good night, Aunt Ava!” Daisy chirped.
Ava smiled, coming around the table to give her a quick hug. “Good night, sweet Daisy.” Her smile faded as she glanced back at Finlay. “Finlay. I’ll see ye at the cèilidh tomorrow.”
“Good night, Ava.”
She left the dining hall, just as the servant reappeared with the box of chocolates. Daisy clapped her hands together as it was placed directly in front of her. Finlay swallowed more of his ale, watching as she tore the lid off and grabbed a handful of pieces.
“Daisy! Daenae eat all of them!” he cried.
“Sowwy,” she murmured around a mouthful of chocolate.
He gave her a stern look, trying hard to ignore how silly she looked with puffed out cheeks, and got up to move his chair so that it was placed beside hers.
He took a chocolate square and popped it into his mouth as she worked to chew on the ones in her mouth.
She swallowed, watching as he grabbed another square.
“How come ye didnae have to eat all of yer food before havin’ sweets?” she asked.
“That’s because I am a laird and a grown-up,” he explained. “When ye are a lady with yer own castle, ye can have sweets whenever ye want.”
“Promise?” she asked with wide eyes.
“Promise,” he repeated, ruffling her hair. “Are ye excited about the cèilidh tomorrow?”
“Aye! Thalia finished makin’ our dresses yesterday, but…” she trailed off, the smile fading from her face.
“What is it?” he prompted.
“Well, when we tried on the dresses, they were really nice, and I told Thalia about how pretty she looked.” She looked down at her hands. “But when she looked in the mirror, she looked so sad. Do ye ken why she was sad?”
“I cannae be sure,” he said, not quite a lie.
Of course, he had his suspicions, but nothing had been confirmed.
Daisy sighed. “Ye’ve been sad, too. Shouldnae betrothed people be happy?”
“Aye,” he agreed. “They should.”
“Maybe ye should talk to her then?” Daisy suggested, looking up at him with a childlike innocence that made it hard for him to say no.
“Maybe I will,” he relented.