Chapter 18
Chapter Eighteen
“Flora!” a loud, childlike voice cried, piercing through the disjointed dreamscape Flora had found herself in.
She stirred, her heart pounding in time with the knocking on the door of her chambers. She sucked in a breath, reminding herself that she was safe here. No captor knocked before entering, nor did they have the voice of a seven-year-old girl.
“Flora!” Elizabeth called again, finally stopping the incessant knocking. When she spoke once more, it sounded as if she was pressing her ear against the wood. “I ken ye’re awake. Ye’re usually up hours before now.”
“Ach, I’m comin’,” Flora said, forcing herself off the mattress. When she opened the door, Elizabeth rushed in, that playful grin affixed to her face. “Had ye nae tricked me into stargazin’ with yer uncle last night, I would have been up earlier.”
“Well, ye dinnae have to look at the stars all night,” Elizabeth retorted, walking over to the new dress a maid had delivered to the room a few days ago that hung from the privacy screen. “But Uncle Lucas likes spendin’ time with ye. Ye must like spendin’ time with him, too.”
Flora’s cheeks grew hot with an impossible quickness, remembering exactly how much she’d enjoyed the evening prior.
She ducked her head, stamping out the inappropriate thoughts.
“Perhaps we both enjoyed watchin’ the stars, and he taught me a bit about constellations,” she said.
Then, before Elizabeth could press any further, she asked, “Now, why are ye knockin’ on me door so early? ”
“I want to go to the market today,” Elizabeth explained, easily dropping the subject as she inspected the scant belongings Flora had collected since coming to the castle. “I was hopin’ that ye’d come along with me. I’m nae allowed to go alone, and I thought it would be fun if ye came with me.”
Flora laughed quietly, shaking her head as she murmured, “I suppose that I could come along with ye. I havenae left the castle since I went to get me gowns.”
Elizabeth made a happy, excited noise as she spun around to face Flora again, abandoning her inspection. “Good! Get ready quickly. I’ll tell the groom that he has to get the carriage ready for us now.”
“Ye tried to go to the market alone?” Flora asked incredulously. It was surprising that the girl would feel confident enough to attempt the journey, though she had to admit to herself that Elizabeth was much more independent than she had any right to be.
Elizabeth didn’t reply, already rushing out of the room.
When the door closed behind her, Flora ran her fingers through her hair and began to get herself dressed, remembering to tuck her knife away even though she doubted she’d need it.
She didn’t think she had time to call for her maid to assist. If she didn’t meet the girl in the foyer quickly, she’d surely incur Elizabeth’s anger and frustration.
Twenty minutes later, Flora was dressed and standing on the steps of the castle.
Her hair was a bit messy, and her clothes weren’t sitting as nicely as they did when she had help.
She realized all at once that she’d become accustomed to having a maid assist her, and she wasn’t sure if she was glad or if she resented it.
Elizabeth was already there in a heated conversation with one of the guards. Her hands were moving animatedly, and she could barely keep her feet in one place. The man had an amused smile on his face, politely nodding when Flora approached the two of them.
“Flora, tell Ryan that we daenae need so many guards,” Elizabeth all but whined, turning to her with pleading eyes. “The village is safe.”
“Aye, the village may be safe, lassie, but that doesnae mean that the path there is. We willnae stop ye from doin’ as ye please,” Ryan assured with the patience of a man who’d accepted his role. “I can promise ye that.”
“I’m inclined to believe him,” Flora said, secretly relieved that they would have a group of guards with them. She glanced around, counting six, including the men who were piloting the carriage, all of them stationed next to their horses. “Besides, perhaps havin’ them come with us will be fun.”
Elizabeth let out a sound of frustration before saying, “That’s exactly what Uncle Lucas would say.”
“Laird McGowan and Flora might have a point, then,” Ryan said, leading the two to a carriage that was just arriving. “Come now, let’s get ye settled, and we’ll head to the village. I promise to stay out of yer way.”
“Fine,” Elizabeth sighed, taking his hand when he offered it.
Once the girl was helped inside the carriage, Ryan extended his palm toward Flora.
She stared down at it, her own hand twitching at her side.
Touching a man she didn’t know, even if it was something as innocent as this, felt wrong, but after a moment, she pushed through that fear, reaching out and allowing herself to be assisted.
It felt freeing, and as she took her place across from Elizabeth, Flora realized that she may not be irreparably broken. She could do hard things, and she didn’t have to do them all at once. And as the carriage began to move, she felt hopeful about what might be for the first time in her life.
“I hope that the woman who sells sweets is there,” Elizabeth said after a bit, seeming to grow bored of watching the landscape pass them by.
“When me maither and I visited last time, she dinnae have her stall set up. She was there, though. She gave me a candy and told me nae to tell any of the other children that she’d done it.
Maither wasnae pleased. She said I’d ruin me supper. ”
“Are ye plannin’ on gettin’ more sweets since I’m the one accompanyin’ ye and nae her?” Flora asked, doing her best to keep her expression serious, though it was difficult to do with Elizabeth’s dramatics. “Ye’re nae goin’ to make me tell ye nay are ye?”
“I’m gettin’ just as many sweets as I would if she were comin’ with me,” Elizabeth protested, though her cheeks were a bit flushed. Then, she answered with a question of her own, “Ye willnae tell her, will ye?”
“I willnae tell her so long as ye daenae eat so many ye make yerself sick,” Flora agreed, the corners of her mouth twitching. “But if ye get ill, I’ll have to tell her why. Otherwise, she’ll worry about ye.”
“Sweets daenae make ye sick,” Elizabeth argued, turning her head back to the scenery just beyond her window. She furrowed her brow, her lips pursing, and cautiously, she asked, “They daenae, aye?”
“They do if ye eat too many of them too quickly,” Flora said, suppressing a laugh when the girl visibly deflated. “It happened to me once when I was a wee lass about yer age. I dinnae want sweets again for months.”
Elizabeth looked horrified, glancing back at Flora with her mouth open. She closed her lips, swallowing. She frowned as she conceded, “Then I willnae have too many. I daenae want to dislike sweet things.”
“Smart lass,” Flora praised.
Outside the window, the trees began to give way to cottages. People milled about in their gardens, pulling weeds and harvesting crops. A few of them stopped to watch the carriage pass, not bothering to conceal their curiosity.
“We must be nearly there,” Flora noted.
“Aye,” Elizabeth said, becoming antsy in her seat.
When the carriage finally pulled to a stop inside the village, Elizabeth opened the door before any of the guards had a chance to. Ryan was there seconds before she jumped down, grabbing her under her arms and lowering her to the ground. He sighed, shaking his head as he helped Flora out.
“Ye’re excited, I see,” he laughed when he released Flora, keeping an eye on the child.
“I am,” Elizabeth said proudly, her head swinging in all directions as she took in all of the stalls. “I havenae been to the village in ages.”
“The last time she came was less than a month ago,” Ryan told Flora. “Just before ye arrived at the castle.”
“For a wee lass, that is ages,” Flora said, smiling at the way Elizabeth was restraining herself from running off. “Ye’ll have to show me all the best vendors,” she suggested as she began to walk toward the throng of people. “I’ve only ever been to the seamstress.”
“I ken all the best shops!” Elizabeth said excitedly, grabbing Flora’s hand and taking the lead. “We must get sweets as I said, and I like lookin’ at the furs. Sometimes the man sellin’ them will let me pet some of the softest pelts he’s got.”
“Well, we’ll have to visit him, willnae we?” Flora agreed indulgently.
Luck seemed to be on Elizabeth’s side as she caught sight of the woman with the sweets almost immediately. Her stall was filled with all sorts of confections and sugary foods. There were even a few pastries that were different than anything Flora had ever seen before.
“Ach, I was wonderin’ when I’d see ye again,” the woman said when Elizabeth came to a halt in front of the stand, dropping Flora’s hand as she looked over the selection. “I’ve got a bag set aside just for ye.”
“Ye do?” Elizabeth said, leaning forward as the woman retrieved it from behind the counter. “Really?”
“Of course,” she replied, dropping it into the girl’s outstretched hands. “I dinnae want to run out of yer favorites before ye had a chance to stop by.”
“What do we owe ye?” Flora asked, glancing toward one of the guards who was approaching with a pouch of coins.
“Ye daenae have to pay for this,” the woman assured her, a warm and welcoming smile on her lips. “Consider it an apology for nae bein’ set up the last time this darlin’ thing came.”
“Thank ye!” Elizabeth said, already digging in the bag and pulling out a candy.
“Ye’re quite welcome, dear,” the merchant said. Then, she shifted her gaze to Flora. “I havenae seen ye before. Ye must be new.”
“Aye,” Flora said, grateful that the woman either didn’t know about her past or was choosing not to mention it. “I arrived at the castle nearly a month ago now.”
“I hope ye’re settlin’ in well,” she said kindly. Her smile morphed into something sly as she shifted her gaze. “I’d love to keep chattin’ with ye, but it seems Elizabeth has spotted somethin’ down the way.”
“Ach, Elizabeth!” Flora called after the girl, grabbing onto the front of her skirt and lifting it, so she could run after her. She glanced over her shoulder at the merchant and said, “Thank ye again!”
When Flora caught up to Elizabeth, she was at the fur merchant’s stall, chattering away. He held out a cloth for her to clean off her fingers, and in his other hand was an incredibly soft-looking pelt. As Flora approached, he held the brown fur toward Elizabeth.
“This is the softest I’ve ever felt,” Elizabeth marveled.
“Aye, it is, isnae it?” the merchant said. He locked eyes with Flora before turning back to Elizabeth. “Yer maither’s nae here?”
“Nay, but Flora agreed to come with me,” Elizabeth confirmed. She turned around then, grabbing Flora’s wrist and bringing her closer. “Here, touch it!”
Obliging Elizabeth’s request, Flora reached forward, stroking the fur. Just as the girl had said, it was incredibly soft, softer than anything else Flora had ever touched. After getting a good feel, she removed her hand, not wanting to think about how much such a fine pelt may cost.
“Ye’re right, that’s quite nice,” Flora said, putting a hand on Elizabeth’s shoulder as the crowd surrounding them became thicker.
Her hand tightened slightly. The guards stayed close, but that didn’t stop her nerves.
“Come now, I’m a wee bit peckish. I dinnae have time to eat before we left since ye were so keen on gettin’ here.
Perhaps we can find somewhere to have a hot meal. ”
“Aye!” Elizabeth said, already shifting her focus to the new task. “Maither always takes me to the inn to eat when we come to the village. We should eat there. They always have the best stews!”
“That sounds delicious,” Flora said, hoping they’d be able to find a table that was tucked away from the crowds. “Ye ken, ye dinnae tell me why ye wanted me to come along with ye today rather than yer maither.”
Elizabeth pouted a bit, looking put out. “Maither was busy with somethin’ and couldnae join me.” She glanced up at Flora before amending, “But I wanted ye to come along even if Maither was comin’, too. I enjoy spendin’ time with ye.”
Flora smiled at the earnestness with which Elizabeth spoke. As they approached the inn, Flora said, “I will always be available to spend time with ye or play with ye. All ye have to do is ask.”
The grin she got in response was brilliant.
“Matthew,” Lucas said, grabbing hold of his brother’s shoulder, “I’ve been lookin’ everywhere for Flora and Elizabeth, and cannae find either of them.”
“Aye, I suppose ye wouldnae be able to find them,” Matthew observed, his tone infuriatingly casual, “seein’ as they’re nae in the castle.”
Lucas’s jaw tensed as his eyes narrowed. Slowly, he asked, “And where might they be, Matthew?”
“Elizabeth wanted to go to the village today,” he replied, knocking Lucas’s hand from his shoulder. “And Annabeth’s busy, so she asked Flora. Ye ken the guards followin’ Elizabeth would have alerted ye if she were truly missin’. Or perhaps ye’re more concerned about Flora.”
“I think it’s quite normal to be concerned about her after the ordeal she went through before moving in,” Lucas snapped. “And of course, I’m worried about Elizabeth. Even with the guards watchin’ her, she still got too close to the loch two months ago.”
The joviality of Matthew’s grin disappeared at the mention of that oversight.
He sighed, saying, “Ye’re right, but the two of them are fine.
They’ve a whole caravan of guards with them.
Nothin’ has happened to them, and nothin’ will.
Ye ken yer men will sooner lay down their lives than let anyone lay a finger on Elizabeth or Flora. ”
Lucas grunted, turning to go back to his study. “I ken. But in the future, daenae treat me askin’ after their whereabouts so lightly. Ye ken as well as anyone it’s nae laughin’ matter. Ye’re quite lucky ye’re me braither. Ye get away with far more than I’d allow anyone else to.”
“I ken,” Matthew replied. “But ye worry too much. Trust yer men to take care of them, and trust Flora to ken when somethin’s dangerous. Ye said she’s doin’ well with her knives. They’re nae unprotected.”
“Aye, they’re nae,” Lucas agreed, clenching his fists at his sides. He remembered all the other instances of when his loved ones weren’t fine and what losing them felt like. “But I daenae like havin’ them out of me sight.”