Chapter 29
Daisy sprinted across the dirt path, her loose curls bouncing over her shoulders and down her back with every step. Finlay walked behind her at a much calmer pace. He was happy to see her out and enjoying herself, and he had needed the fresh air just as much as she had.
The last two weeks had passed like a dream. Or rather, a nightmare. His energy had been drained, his temper shorter. Then, at night, when he tried to get rest, he would find that sleep had eluded him.
He had tried to fill his days as much as possible, even going so far as to travel to the villages within his jurisdiction in the hope that someone needed his assistance, but everything was well.
His people were happy and healthy, and even when he had returned to Beauly a couple of days ago, the villagers there had greeted him warmly and asked after Thalia.
Thalia. The look on her face when she had left was what he saw every night as he closed his eyes. The sadness that hung around her like a heavy shroud, the weary determination when she had told him her decision, all of it haunted him.
It would not be an easy thing to get over, but he would eventually. All he could really hope for was that Thalia was happy and safe with her family. That was the only thing that mattered.
Daisy stopped running only when she seemed to have found the plants she had been looking for.
A bush that was almost as tall as her, with bright green leaves and small yellow flowers.
She sank down to her knees, taking a piece of paper and a small pencil out of her pocket.
She draped the paper across her lap and did her best to sketch the plant.
Her tongue poked out of her cheek as she concentrated, producing a crude but recognizable sketch of the flowers.
“What kinds of plants are these?” Finlay asked her.
Ever since Thalia had left, Daisy had continued to read the books on plants and study what she could on her own.
Finlay was starting to consider that it might be time to finally bring in that tutor.
She seemed ready and willing to fully commit to learning, and she had become less scared by the idea of strangers.
“These are called rue,” Daisy answered, with the patience of someone far older. “They are used for a bunch of things. Like headaches, stomach aches, and they can even be used to counter poison!”
“I see.”
Finlay examined the flowers a bit more closely. There was a large green center, with five yellow petals that stretched out at an equal distance. He did find a lot of this information fascinating, and he marvelled at the way Daisy seemed to absorb it all so quickly.
“It’s also used for something called monthlies, but I daenae ken what that means.” She looked up at him with the perfect innocence of a child her age. “What are monthlies?”
Finlay found himself incredibly unprepared for this conversation. He gave her a quick pat on the head, saying, “Ye’ll… learn about them when ye’re older.”
She sighed, unhappy but accepting of the answer.
“Laird MacAinsley!” a voice called out from behind them.
Finlay turned, seeing a messenger coming up the dirt path. “I’ll be right back,” he said to Daisy, walking towards the messenger to meet him halfway.
“Forgive the intrusion, me Laird. It’s just I was told to give ye this message directly,” the messenger said. He was a young man, barely old enough for war.
“Who is it from?” Finlay asked. He took the note cautiously, steeling himself for bad news.
“It’s from MacFinn Castle,” the messenger explained. “That’s all I ken.”
“Thank ye,” Finlay said, dismissing him with a wave of his hand.
The wax seal bore the MacFinn crest, and his traitorous heart leapt in his chest as he wondered if it was from Thalia.
He pushed the thought aside, doubting that she would reach out to him so soon after their less-than-favorable parting, and unfolded the note.
He read it, but his mind refused to process the words. He stopped, tried again, and found the words had not changed, yet he still refused to believe it.
It was a wedding invitation, inviting him to the handfasting ceremony of Thalia Dougal and Harrison MacKay, the Laird of Clan MacGibbon.
“She’s marryin’ that bastard?” he hissed, unable to keep his anger from bubbling over.
“Who is?”
Finlay turned his glare on Daisy before he could stop himself. She winced at the expression, but she wasn’t as scared as she used to be. He growled, crumpling the note and throwing it to the ground.
“Is everythin’ all right?” she asked.
“Aye!” Finlay barked, much louder than necessary.
“Then why do ye look like ye want to murder somebody?”
Finlay ran his hands over his face, trying to soften his expression enough to turn back to the girl.
“Everythin’ is fine,” he said, a little softer this time. It took all of his control not to growl again.
Daisy frowned, clearly not believing him. She reached out her hand, her small fingers barely able to wrap around three of his, but the gesture was appreciated all the same.
“Daisy, why daenae ye show me yer favorite flowers?” he asked, hoping it would distract her from asking too many questions.
It worked. Her face lit up, and she led him over to another bush. She talked animatedly with her hands, yet his focus was not on her. His mind was on Thalia, and the knowledge that in just a few days, she would be married to a tyrant. A man she had fought so hard to run away from.
Why the change? Had her uncle still forced her to marry him? Had he not believed her when she told him of the attempted kidnapping?
His instincts screamed at him to do something. He wanted to tear across the Highlands, hunt her and her uncle down, and demand why this was happening.
That was, however, very much impossible.
Daisy was still talking, and something behind him seemed to catch her eye. She paused, then her smile widened as she waved excitedly.
“Uncle Caden!” she cried.
That broke Finlay out of his thoughts, and he saw his brother jogging over towards them.
“I was told I would find ye two out here,” Caden said as he drew closer.
Daisy launched herself at him, her arms winding around his legs. “Did ye bring Aunt Ava with ye?” she squealed.
“Nay, she’s nae at MacCabe Castle right now. She’s actually…” he trailed off, glancing up at Finlay. “Away.”
“I already saw the invitation,” Finlay growled.
He didn’t need to be protected or coddled. It was an insult to his already bruised ego.
“Ah, I wasnae sure if ye had received one,” Caden replied. He glanced down at Daisy. “Can I have a moment alone with yer faither?”
Daisy looked between them, clearly upset about being left out, but she nodded and walked away to give them space.
Finlay jerked his head in the other direction, knowing all too well how good his daughter’s ears were, before he and Caden started down the path side by side.
“So Ava is attendin’ the wedding, is she nae?” He kicked a rock that lay in front of him.
“Aye. I’m supposed to join her as well, but I wanted to speak to ye first.”
Finlay ground his teeth so hard that his jaw ached. “That man tried to kidnap her, for God’s sake. What the hell is she thinkin’?”
“I doubt she had much choice in the matter,” Caden replied, heaving a sigh. “Ava’s worried. She said that the note she received from her maither hinted that there was more going on, but it didnae go into detail.”
Finlay said nothing. What could he say? Thalia wasn’t his anymore, and he had no right to be as upset as he was.
Caden watched him carefully, crossing his arms over his chest.
“But maybe it willnae be so bad,” he hedged. “Think of the trouble Laird MacGibbon went through just to make her his wife. Maybe he’ll turn out to be the one she deserves, since he’s willin’ to fight so hard for her.”
Finlay glared at him. “What are ye sayin’?”
“I’m sayin’ that it’s pretty incredible, the fact that he’s willin’ to start a war or steal her away. Isnae that better than someone who confuses her just because he’s too afraid to tell her what he feels?” Caden said smoothly. “At least she’ll never have to guess with him.”
Finlay stopped walking, grabbing his brother roughly by the shoulders and turning him so they faced each other. “Ye’re nae clever! I see exactly what ye are doin’, Braither!”
“And what am I doin’?” Caden asked with false innocence. “I’m only statin’ what Thalia deserves.”
“Ye and I both ken that she deserves more than Laird MacGibbon!” Finlay bellowed.
“Ye mean, she deserves ye?”
The question defused his anger, snuffing it out like a candle. He huffed, running a hand through his hair in frustration. “Ye should ken better than anyone why I want a better choice for her.”
Caden smirked, laying his hand on his brother’s shoulder. “Then be the better choice, Braither. Before it’s too late.”
“I…” Finlay hesitated. “I daenae ken if I can be.”
“Ye can.” Caden’s voice rang with certainty. “Ye just have to be brave enough.”
With that, he turned and walked back up the path towards the castle.
“I’ll be inside. Let me ken what ye decide!” he called back over his shoulder.
Finlay shook his head as he watched him leave, and noticed Daisy carefully examining a patch of flowers not far from where he stood now.
He chuckled, unable to help but walk over to her.
He had been too caught up in his conversation with Caden to notice that she had snuck closer to eavesdrop.
At this point, he should just expect her to always be lurking somewhere close by.
“Daisy.” He lowered his voice to sound more upset than he actually was. “How much did ye hear?”
Her eyes flicked up to him and then back down. She seemed to be debating how to answer.
“Well,” she started. “Ye were yellin’ a lot. It wasnae hard to hear all of it.”
“Ha!” Finlay barked, then gave her a smile to show that he was not really upset. “What am I going to do with ye?”
She gave a small smile and plucked a flower from the ground. It wasn’t very tall, with brilliant white petals surrounding a bright yellow center. She held it up as if she were examining it.
“Did ye ken that daisies are good for healin’ cuts and bruises?” she asked. “Thalia told me that when we first met.”
“Did she?” Finlay went down on one knee as he looked at the flower in her hand.
“Aye, it would be a shame if I didnae get to see her again.” She looked up at him pointedly. “Da, if ye got me to stop runnin’, daenae ye think ye could get her to stay, too?”
He chuckled, his heart swelling in his chest. When had she grown so wise? Perhaps she had always been this way, and only now was she able to fully voice her thoughts.
He patted the top of her head, leaning over to press a kiss to her temple.
“Daenae worry, Daisy,” he said. “Shall we go inside? I think I need to have another conversation with yer uncle.”
Her face brightened, and as they stood, she took his hand again.
Be the better man. Aye, I think I can do that.