Chapter 14
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
The fire crackled low in the grate, its soft warmth warding off the late autumn chill that had begun to creep into the keep. Books lay scattered across the long oak table in Theo’s study, parchment maps and planting charts covering nearly every surface.
Theo leaned back in his chair, his eyes heavy as he swirled the drink in his glass. Stephen sat across from him, his boots propped up on a stool, balancing a tankard on his knee.
“It’s been two weeks now since yer wife took the wee one under her wing,” Stephen noted, watching the fire. “And I must say, they’re doin’ a lot better than I thought.”
“Well, that makes one of us,” Theo answered, before draining his glass and setting it down.
“Ye cannae be upset that it’s takin’ so long,” Stephen said as he refilled his glass from the decanter on the table.
Theo glanced up at him, his face unreadable.
Stephen continued, “The kitchen maids are singing Lavina’s praises. They say it’s the first reprieve they’ve had since the child arrived. Nay more hidin’ under tables or runnin’ out into the courtyard when she hears a man’s voice.”
Theo let out a soft grunt of agreement, leaning further back in his chair. “It has been rather pleasant, seein’ Amber like this. ‘Tis almost as if she considers this place her home now. Maybe she is startin’ to feel like she belongs somewhere again.”
Stephen arched an eyebrow. “Ye think Lavina will ever get her to talk?”
Theo shrugged, then tilted his glass to his lips. “Hard to say. She’s way more patient than I could ever be. If anyone can get Amber to speak, I’ll bet me money on me wife.”
“Is that so? Do ye want to put yer money where yer mouth is?” Stephen asked, wagging his eyebrows greedily.
“Ye really want to bet against me wife?” Theo drawled, his tone lighter than it had been in years.
There was joy in betting against his man-at-arms. It wasn’t the bet per se, but knowing that Lavina was a woman of her word. If she thought she could get the child to talk, she would.
“Well, it depends on what’s at stake,” Stephen replied, rubbing his hands together. “I wouldnae mind havin’ a few days off to do as I please, as well as that sweet, wee lass workin’ in the kitchen with Molly.”
Theo’s eyes narrowed. “And if me wife proves ye wrong, ye’ll nae be touchin’ any more maids. Ye’ll have to find yer sport in the village.”
“But that’s so far,” Stephen complained.
Theo’s lips twitched as he suppressed a smirk.
“Then we have an agreement?” he asked, just as he caught sight of Lavina strolling past his study door.
He craned his neck to catch another glimpse of her, only to find she wasn’t alone.
Amber skipped between her and Maisie, clutching what looked like a small woven basket. Her head was tilted up, her eyes bright with curiosity.
Maisie said something animatedly, her arms gesturing in the air like windmills. And then it happened.
A voice. Soft, small, but clear.
“Fox.”
Theo froze. The glass in his hand stilled midair. His eyes shot to the doorway.
The voice came again, hesitant, like the first crack in spring ice. “Fox… glove.”
He stood up.
Lavina drew to a halt, her head slowly turning toward the study. Amber’s hand had risen to her mouth, her eyes wide with realization. Maisie gasped in shock.
Theo moved to the door like a man caught in a dream. He stared at the child.
“Amber…” he whispered in disbelief.
He glanced over his shoulder at Stephen, and the smile he’d been fighting back for so long finally broke through.
For the first time in a long while, hope didn’t feel like a lie.
“Come again?” Theo coaxed, tilting his ear toward Amber.
Lavina’s eyes widened, and her heart pounded fiercely in her chest. She had believed she could get through to Amber. Deep down, she believed she could do it. And now, here she was, reaping the rewards of her hard work.
Amber’s voice came, hushed and unsure, but clear. “Foxglove?”
The word lingered in the air like a whisper despite striking Lavina in the chest like a bolt of lightning. She turned her attention to Theo.
The man looked as if he’d turned into stone. Shock and disbelief were plastered on his face as he stood frozen in the doorway to his study.
“Aye, that’s right,” Lavina said, hoping her tone wasn’t too overwhelming for the girl. The last thing she wanted was to scare the child into clamming up. “Foxglove. Well done. Did ye hear that, Maisie? Amber said, Foxglove.”
She didn’t take her eyes off Theo as he braced his weight against the doorframe.
Lavina could barely read his expression, yet the shock and awe flashing through him like shooting stars were very plain.
Shock shifted to hope, before hope turned into wonder. There was no doubt that Theo was processing a whirlwind of emotions.
Lavina stood by, watching. She didn’t know what she could say to him to soften the blow he must have been experiencing. All she knew was that the joy filling her heart threatened to sweep her completely off her feet.
“Amber,” Theo said gently, kneeling to the girl’s height. “Can ye say it again? Can ye say foxglove?”
Amber shrank back behind Lavina’s skirt as her courage folded inward like a petal closing at dusk. She gripped the fabric tightly and buried her face into Lavina’s side.
Lavina’s chest tightened. For a heartbeat, sharp rejection cut through her, but it wasn’t for herself. She saw the disappointment flash across Theo’s face as he rose to his feet and rolled his shoulders back.
“’Tis fine, lass,” he murmured. “Maybe I’ll catch ye another time.”
Pain lanced through Lavina as she turned to face Amber. She ran her fingers through the child’s tangled locks and smiled kindly at her. “Ye dinnae have to speak, ye ken. And ye dinnae have to be scared. He may look rough, but I promise ye, he’s the sweetest man.”
She glanced over her shoulder to find Theo’s lips twitching. She couldn’t tell if he was holding back a laugh or getting ready to chide her.
“But I can see that ye’ve already had a big day. Why dinnae we go to the kitchen to find something sweet to eat?”
“Better yet,” Theo said, clearing his throat as Maisie scooped Amber up into her arms. “Why dinnae we go to the village and get a real treat?”
“We really dinnae have to,” Lavina said when Amber winced at the prospect of leaving the castle.
“Aye, but ye do. None of ye have proper dresses, and ye could use some new ones. Plus, it’ll be an opportunity for me to show off me wife. I’m sure the clan is dyin’ to meet the new Lady McGowan.”
Heat rushed up Lavina’s cheeks as fear replaced the joy in her heart. She shook her head as she stepped closer to Theo.
“That may nae be a good idea,” she insisted, glancing at Maisie before her eyes flicked to Amber. “I’m sure he has someone in the village lookin’ for Maisie. I cannae risk her bein’ caught.”
“Will ye relax?” Theo said. “I’ll nae let anything happen to ye. Besides, ye cannae live yer life trapped within the walls of the keep. There is a whole world out there to see. I’ll nae have ye petrified to go out of yer own home.”
“I’m nae scared of goin’ out, just of me uncle. Ye dinnae understand—the man will stop at nothing. Just because we havenae heard anything about what he’s doin’, doesnae mean he’s nae makin’ moves behind the scenes.”
“And I think ye worry too much. Besides,”—Theo grabbed her hand as if to reassure her—“it’ll only be for a few hours. The chances of yer uncle or anyone of importance bein’ there are slim to none. Now, go get ready. I’ll have the horses saddled shortly.”
“We cannae take a carriage? What if it rains?” Lavina asked.
The thought of getting trapped in a storm scared her out of her wits.
“If ye’re so worried about yer uncle catchin’ us, a carriage would be the last thing I’d want to put ye in. Carriages are far too easy to divert. Nay, we’ll ride. Ye do ken how to ride, dinnae ye?”
“I ken how to ride,” she replied, heaving a sigh. “I just dinnae like to be bounced around, is all.”
“Well, that’s goin’ to have to change eventually,” Theo said, a devilish grin stretching across his face. “Might as well start now.”