Page 34 of Wedded to the Heartless Highlander
Lily’s mood brightened almost instantly. They wandered through the gardens, and Erica followed her excitedly. The girl pointed out different plants and listed each one’s name and purpose. Erica listened with a mix of amusement and admiration, realizing how wise and observant Lily was for her young age.
They were rounding a corner, admiring a stand of rose bushes, when Erica noticed Hunter striding toward them from across the gardens. His face was as stoic as ever, but it softened when his eyes landed on Lily. He walked with purpose, as always, and was accompanied by his man-at-arms. Both seemed deep in conversation.
He nodded to Calvin, dismissing him as soon as he was close enough to speak with them.
“Good mornin’, Lily,” he greeted, his voice warm, the tension of the previous day seemingly gone.
He reached out, brushing a strand of hair back his niece’s face with a gentleness that caught Erica off guard.
“Good mornin’, Uncle Hunter,” Lily answered, her voice timid.
Hunter’s attention remained fully on his niece, his gaze unwavering and affectionate, but Erica couldn’t help but notice the slight hesitation in Lily’s voice, as if the girl were still uncertain how he felt.
Hunter looked past Erica as if she were little more than a shadow in his path, and she felt a pang of irritation. She held her head high, masking the heat rising in her cheeks.
“Wife,” he uttered sternly.
“Husband,” she said back, matching his tone, before leading Lily down a winding path, away from his piercing gaze.
They continued exploring, their conversation gradually veering into something more comfortable.
“Lily,” Erica said as they strolled through a secluded part of the gardens.
“Aye?”
“Have ye ever painted before?”
Lily’s eyes lit up, though she quickly cast them downward, a flicker of sadness crossing her face. “A little… I used to. Before…” she trailed off, shifting uncomfortably.
Erica’s heart lurched. “Well, I was thinkin’ of doin’ some paintin’ this mornin’, and I’d be delighted if ye would join me. It’s always more fun with someone else, do ye nae think?”
For a moment, Lily seemed to consider her offer. Then with a slight, timid smile, she nodded. “I think… I’d like that.”
Erica set up her supplies under a shaded spot with a lovely view of the gardens. She showed Lily how to mix colors, encouraging her to try different shades and experiment with blending. Lily quickly lost herself in the activity, her small hands moving carefully as she dipped her brush in various colors, her concentration growing with each stroke.
A peaceful silence settled over them, broken only by the faint rustling of leaves and the soft chirping of birds in the trees above. Erica focused on her own canvas, trying to capture the vibrant flowers and lush green leaves. She felt a sense of calm wash over her—a welcome reprieve from the tension of the previous day.
“Aunt Erica?”
“Yes, love?” she answered, her brush pausing mid-stroke.
Lily hesitated, her voice barely above a whisper. “I… I wanted to say that I’m sorry.”
Erica put down her brush and turned to the girl, her face softening. “Sorry? Whatever for, me dear?”
Lily’s lower lip quivered slightly as she looked down at her lap. “Because… because ye and Uncle Hunter argued. It was all me fault.”
Erica’s heart squeezed, and she reached over, taking Lily’s small hand in her own. “Och, Lily, that wasnae yer fault. Nae at all. Yer uncle wasnae upset with ye—he was just worried.”
“But… he never gets that angry, nae usually,” Lily murmured, her voice thick with uncertainty.
Erica brushed a stray curl back from Lily’s forehead, offering her a reassuring smile. “He was worried because ye’re precious to him, more than ye ken. And sometimes, when people care a lot about someone, they show it in odd ways.”
Doubt lingered on Lily’s face. Erica could sense the weight of Hunter’s strict expectations pressing down on his niece, and she ached to ease that burden.
“And I’ll let ye in on a little secret,” she added, leaning closer with a conspiratorial grin. “Yer uncle and I simply had a small misunderstandin’. It happens with grown-ups sometimes. I might have been a bit stubborn meself, ye ken.”
That coaxed a faint smile from Lily, her eyes brightening a bit more. “I heard him call ye stubborn,” she admitted, a trace of amusement creeping into her voice.
