Page 19 of The Laird’s Lost Wife

“Why nae?” he countered. “What else will ye do? Sit here and wait to die? Have ye ever been to Scotland before?”

Lady Pilbury gnawed on her lower lip. “Only the Lowlands, when I was a girl. I suppose… I suppose it would be good to have a way to pass the time. This house, this room…” she trailed off, clutching at the sheets. “It’s always been a home to me, but lately it has felt more like a prison than anything else. Oh, my dear.” She reached out a thin hand to Daphne. “I don’t mean to be rude about the care you give me. I adore you, and of course I adore Willow, but… well, perhaps a little trip would do me good.”

Daphne moved wordlessly to Lady Pilbury’s bedside and took her hand in hers. Out of habit, she wrapped both of her hands around the old woman’s fingers, trying to rub some warmth into them.

“That’s the way, Edith,” Helena whispered encouragingly. “One last adventure. Ye and me. What have ye to lose?”

“I’ll do it,” Lady Pilbury answered decisively. “I’ll go with you. Oh, but Daphne…”

“Yer companion is welcome to come too,” Hunter said sweetly. “And her daughter. Bring whatever servants and friends ye like. We can accommodate them all.”

Lady Pilbury turned to Daphne with a widening smile. “What do you say, my dear? Will you come?”

“Say aye, Mama!” Willow hissed, her eyes round at the prospect of an adventure.

Daphne stared down into two earnest faces, and knew right then and there that she could not refuse.

“Of course,” she managed weakly.

Lady Pilbury beamed, and Willow clapped her hands, nearly jumping with excitement.

Lady Pilbury turned to her and winked. “Better go and start packing your things, Willow! Your Mama and I are off on an adventure, and you are coming with us!”

Willow scrambled off the bed and sprinted out of the room. She slowed just a little as she passed Hunter, casting a quick, curious look up at him. He looked back, his expression revealing nothing.

“I wonder, Daphne, could you make a start on packing my things, too?” Lady Pilbury enquired.

There was a glint in her eyes now that hadn’t been there before. She lifted her hands self-consciously to her hair, tucked neatly under a nightcap, and patted a few stray locks into place.

“Aye, of course,” Daphne responded, before slipping out of the room.

At least, she tried to slip away. Hunter stepped in front of her just as she reached the door. A quick glance over her shoulder revealed the two older women already deep in conversation, chattering excitedly like girls and not looking at her at all.

“Looks like ye are having a little adventure of yer own,” Hunter remarked, offering a thin smile.

She sniffed. “Well, if Scottish healers can do Lady Pilbury any good, it’s a risk worth taking.”

“For her? Or for ye?”

She ignored his question. “Let me make something clear.”

“I’m all ears, lass.”

She lifted a finger and jabbed it into his chest. His expression darkened, but he made no attempt to slap away her hand or move away at all. He just stayed still, watching her with those sharp eyes that missed nothing.

“Make no mistake,” she muttered darkly. “Just because we’re coming with ye to yer keep doesnae mean that we’ll follow any other orders ye give.”

He gave a low chuckle and pushed her finger away, his own long fingers briefly curling around her hand. Warmth spread across her skin, and she felt her breath catch in her throat.

Hopefully, he hadn’t noticed.

“We’ll see, lass. We’ll see.”

CHAPTER 4

About three-quarters of the boxes and bags loaded onto the carriage belonged to Lady Pilbury. That wasn’t much of a surprise.

She had suggested bringing her own carriage. It wasn’t a bad idea, but Hunter had taken one look at the thin-axled, fashionable little barouche with its high springs and spindly wheels and said no. The thing would barely make it a mile once they reached the Highland roads. One good hill would make it fall apart as if it were built of matchstick wood.