Chapter 5 #2
“Me bairns’ governess.” Elijah kept his voice steady, even as part of him questioned the wisdom of this plan. “I have two bairns—a daughter of twelve and a son of nine. They need someone to teach them, to guide them. Someone kind, patient, and educated.”
“Ye want me to teach yer children?” Piper said the words slowly, like she couldn’t quite believe them.
“Aye.”
“But ye daenae ken me. For all ye ken, I could be terrible with bairns. I could be cruel or neglectful.”
“Are ye any of those things?”
“Nay, but…”
“Then I’m willin’ to take the chance.” Elijah took a step closer, carefully.
“Look, Piper. I need a governess. Me bairns have been without one for too long, and I daenae have time to search for someone suitable. Ye need a position that gives ye independence and security. This solves both our problems.”
“And ye’d pay me? A real wage?”
“Aye. We’d draw up a proper contract—terms, wages, responsibilities, all of it in writin’. Ye’d have yer own chambers in the castle, access to the library, meals with the family if ye wanted. And ye’d be free to leave at any time, just as I vowed.”
Piper’s eyes narrowed. “There has to be a catch.”
“The only catch is that ye’d have to actually teach me bairns. And fair warnin’, they can be… spirited.”
“Spirited?”
“Me daughter thinks she kens everythin’ and has nay use for a faither who’s never around.
Me son pretends he doesnae care about anythin’ but secretly wants approval he thinks he’ll never get.
” Elijah ran a hand through his hair. “They’re good bairns, but they’ve been through a lot.
Lost their maither when they were young.
And I… I havenae been the faither they needed. ”
There was a long silence. Piper looked at him with an expression he couldn’t quite read—part suspicion, part curiosity, part something that might have been sympathy.
“Why are ye tellin’ me this?” she asked quietly.
“Because ye should ken what ye’re agreein’ to. If ye take this position, it willnae be easy. Me children need someone who’ll care about them, nae just go through the motions.” He held her gaze. “And I think ye might be that someone.”
“Ye barely ken me,” she repeated, but there was less conviction in it now.
“I ken ye bit a man who tried to grab ye. I ken ye kept runnin’ even when ye thought ye had nay chance.
I ken ye’re smart enough to question everythin’ I say instead of just acceptin’ it.
” Elijah’s voice softened. “And I ken ye understand what it’s like to need someone to care, because ye had a neighbor who did that for ye once. That’s enough for me.”
Piper’s hand tightened on her necklace. For a moment, Elijah thought she might cry. Then she straightened her shoulders and lifted her chin.
“A contract,” she said. “In writin’. With me wages clearly stated.”
“Aye.”
“And me own chambers. With a lock on the door.”
“Aye.”
“And I can leave anytime. For any reason. Nay questions asked.”
“That’s what I vowed, isnae it?”
She studied him for another long moment. Then, finally, she nodded. “All right. I’ll do it. I’ll be yer bairns’ governess.”
Relief flooded through Elijah, so strong it nearly staggered him. He hadn’t realized how much he’d wanted her to say yes until the words left her mouth.
This is a mistake. Bringin’ her into yer home, around yer children. Ye’re goin’ to get attached, and then she’ll leave.
He shoved the thoughts aside.
“Good,” he said, keeping his voice level. “Then let’s get ye back on the horse. We’ve still got a long way to go.”
He moved to help her mount, but Piper held up a hand.
“I can do it meself.”
“The horse is sixteen hands high, lass. Ye’ll need—”
“I said I can do it meself.”
Elijah bit back a smile and stepped aside. Piper approached the horse, who eyed her with what might have been amusement, and tried to pull herself up. She made it halfway before her arms gave out, and she slid back down.
“Ye were sayin’?” Elijah asked.
“Shut up.” Piper tried again, with the same result. On her third attempt, she finally swallowed her pride. “Fine. Help me up. But only because the horse is unreasonably tall.”
“Of course. The horse is completely at fault here.”
“Are ye mockin’ me, Laird McMahon?”
“Wouldnae dream of it, Miss Armstrong.”
He grasped her waist and lifted her onto the horse’s back, then mounted behind her. This time, when his arm settled around her waist, she didn’t stiffen quite as much.
Progress.
“How long until we reach yer castle?” Piper asked as they started moving again.
“Another day, maybe less if we keep a good pace.”
“And yer children?”
“Aye. Masie’s twelve, Connor’s nine.”
“Do they ken ye’re bringin’ home a governess?”
“Nay.” Elijah grimaced. “They’re goin’ to be… surprised.”
“Surprised or angry?”
“Possibly both.” He felt Piper tense. “But daenae worry. They’ll come around. Eventually.”
“Ye daenae sound very certain of that.”
“I’m nae certain of anythin’ when it comes to me children, lass. But that’s why I need ye.”
They rode in silence for a while. The tension between them had eased slightly—not gone, but not as sharp as before.
Elijah found himself noticing things he shouldn’t: the way Piper’s hair caught the sunlight, the soft weight of her against his chest, the faint scent of her that somehow remained sweet despite everything she’d been through.
Stop it. She’s yer employee now. Nae yer… anythin’ else.
“Laird McMahon?” Piper’s voice broke into his thoughts.
“Aye?”
“Thank ye.” The words came out quietly, almost reluctantly. “For… for this. For nae lettin’ me do somethin’ foolish.”
“Ye’re welcome, lass.” Elijah tightened his arm around her waist slightly—just enough to be reassuring, not restricting. “And ye can call me Elijah. If ye want.”
“That wouldnae be proper. Ye’re a laird.”
“And ye’re goin’ to be part of me household. We can worry about propriety later.”
Piper didn’t respond, but he felt her relax a fraction more against him.
It was going to be a long journey to Castle McMahon. But for the first time since he’d found this lass running through the forest, Elijah thought maybe—just maybe—everything might actually work out.
As long as he could keep his hands to himself and his thoughts where they belonged.
Which was going to be significantly harder than he’d anticipated.