Chapter Twenty-Three
Mother and daughter.
The next morn, Gil and Elizabeth were just finishing their morning meal when the door flew open and a flurry of people entered.
The group was from Castle Curanta, and while most of the newcomers gathered around Elizabeth’s father and brothers, the two youngest members of the delegation searched the hall and then made haste to their table.
Elizabeth’s mother entered the hall from the kitchens, smiling at the new arrivals. “Oh my, who are all these lovely bairns?”
Phil stood up and shouted, “Herry. Come eat with us. You’ll love it here.”
“I like Castle Curanta,” Herry said, “but this castle is bigger.” His big eyes searched the hall, taking in all the tables and the large hearth at one end. “Much bigger.”
Sabina toddled along behind him, and Elizabeth dipped down and picked her up, giving her a big squeeze before kissing the top of her head.
The wee lassie looked up at her, then pointed to Gil, her expression full of a sadness that nearly ripped a hole in Elizabeth’s heart and asked, “Ebeth, you and Gil leave me?”
“We had to leave for a short while, but we’re back now. Do not worry.”
Herry edged closer to Sabina and took her hand, “She’s afraid you’ll marry and leave her.”
“What?” Elizabeth asked, looking over at Gil. They hadn’t decided exactly where they were going to live yet. In fact, she feared that discussion so much that she had intentionally not brought it up yet.
Phil and Daw got to their feet and joined the other bairns. “’Tis what we all wonder. Are you moving into Clan Grant and leaving us all at Castle Curanta?’
Sabina’s thumb popped into her mouth and she sucked loud enough to be heard across the hall.
Elizabeth’s mother took it all in, a look of pride on her face. “Elizabeth, could I talk with you for a moment, please?”
“Of course,” she said, standing up and touching each of the bairns in front of her. “I’ll be back. I promise. Gil will play the game of hide the rock in the hall.”
She had no idea what her mother wanted to speak with her about, but it seemed likely it had to do with the impending nuptials. They hadn’t talked much about them, having planned out only the timing and the feast that would accompany it.
Her mother led her into the empty solar. Once the door was closed behind them, her mother asked, “Have you decided where you and Gil will live after your marriage yet?”
Elizabeth sank into the closest chair, taken off-guard by this question. “We haven’t discussed it yet, but I would like to stay here to help you and Papa and Kyla manage everything.”
“Oh, piddle,” her mother said, and Elizabeth didn’t have any idea how to answer that.
She’d expected her mother to be relieved.
“Elizabeth, we will not ignore you if you leave. I know your fears. I know the mistakes I made thinking you were too young to understand, but it shouldn’t affect what you do now.”
“But Mama, you need me.”
Her mother sat down next to her and took her hands in hers. “We love you dearly, and would be broken-hearted if you went verra far, but I think we could survive if you were as close as Castle Curanta. But are you ready to leave Clan Grant? That may be the question.”
She jumped out of her chair and threw her arms around her mother, breaking into sobs, her breath hitching as she buried her face in her mother’s shoulder. “Mama, I don’t know what I should do…”
“Listen to me, Elizabeth.” She gently maneuvered her back into the chair and Elizabeth had to force herself to take deep breaths to slow her tears.
“When I saw you with the wee ones out there in our great hall, who have already missed you and Gil, I see your calling. You are so wonderful with bairns, especially the orphans, I think you belong at Castle Curanta.
And the fact that you met your husband while you were doing the Lord’s work with the orphans tells me that you are meant for it. Do you not see how much they need you at Castle Curanta?”
She swiped at her tears. “Do you truly think ’tis my calling?”
“I think ’tis the special talent you were given, and ’tis one you should share with the world.”
She paused to gather her thoughts, her mind returning to that moment with Maggie, all those years ago, when she’d talked about everyone having a special talent. She’d wondered what hers might be and felt inadequate when she never discovered an innate ability like her sisters possessed.
Was her mother right? Was caring for orphans her special talent?
“Mama, what do you think your special talent is?” She had her own thoughts on this, but she wished to hear her mother’s thoughts.
Her mother shrugged and said, “I have a couple of thoughts, but I think one of them is creating my storybooks. I love telling stories to the bairns of our clan.”
“I agree, Mama. Wholeheartedly. But your other?”
She took a deep sigh and said, “Loving your sire. It took patience and love for him to build this clan. Mostly his doing, but I’m a part of it, too.”
Elizabeth bolted out of her chair and threw her arms around her mother. “Oh, Mama. You’re so right.”
“About your sire?”
“That, too. But I do belong at Castle Curanta. I promise to visit frequently.”
When she opened the door, she was surprised to find Phil and Daw standing there, wide grins on their faces. They whirled around and announced in unison, “They’re living at Castle Curanta.”
Ignoring the two and their obvious eavesdropping, she strode straight over to Gil and said, “Gil, I’d like to live at Castle Curanta, if you wouldn’t mind.”
He grinned and said, “Whatever pleases you, love. I’ll agree.”
The bairns applauded and shouted their excitement.