Page 125 of The Highlander Is All That

Oh dear. Elizabeth offered a brave smile. “I thought I was being quiet.”

“You were. I have good ears.” Claire stared out at the sea and sighed. “Do you miss him so very much?”

Elizabeth blinked. “My husband?”

Claire patted her hand. “If you wish. But between you and me, we both know better.”

“I . . . How did you guess?”

“I’ve been around for a long, long while, my dear. But fear not. Your secret’s safe with me.”

“Thank you, Claire.”

“Thank you for coming to brighten my days. I’ve really enjoyed having you.”

“I’ve enjoyed being here. This will be a lovely place to raise a child.” Though she said this with a wistful tone.

“I imagine it would be.” She shot Elizabeth a sharp glance. “You could always marry Lord Hamlyn. He seems devoted.”

“I couldn’t. I don’t love him.”

“Many people marry without love.”

“I’m sure they do. But I cannot be one of them. You do understand, don’t you?”

Claire huffed a laugh. “I wasn’t always old. I was in love once too.”

“Were you? What happened?”

“He married someone else, of course.”

Given her tone, Elizabeth decided not to pry any further. “Oh, look,” she said. “Pies!”

They made their way to the vendor hawking warm meat pies and paid for two, and then they strolled along the stalls as they nibbled away. They stopped to watch performing ponies and a man toss knives with frightening accuracy. In the center of the cacophony was a string quartet playing Beethoven.

“This is lovely,” Claire said.

“It most certainly is.”

The older woman sighed. “It reminds me of a Frost Fair I attended when I was a girl.”

“A Frost Fair?”

Claire smiled. “The River Thames froze over and a carnival sprang up on the ice. Dancing, food, entertainments . . . It was great fun.”

“I imagine it was cold.”

“Oh, yes. It was,” she said with a fond smile.

“I much prefer this.” Elizabeth tossed back her head and the warm spring breeze danced through her hair.

“You know, I think I do too.”

“Shall we sit down?” Elizabeth suggested when she saw her companion was tiring.

“That would be nice, dear. All this up and down does take a toll.”

Elizabeth laughed. “That is does.” But when one lived in a village perched on a steep cliff running down to the sea, there were hills.