Page 37 of Highlander's Captive Bride
Bellamy was pleased, too, she could tell by his smile and the relief in his eyes.
“Well, Daisy was right, after all, was she nae? She said the sunshine would do ye good, and look at the roses in yer cheeks now,” he told his daughter in a cheerful tone, shooting a glance at Daisy.
However, Daisy suspected he said that only to encourage the child. She thought it likely he felt the same as her about it because, in truth, Elodie had no roses in her cheeks. She was as parchment pale as ever, despite her evident happiness.
And despite Bellamy’s cheery demeanor, Daisy could see the telltale lines of strain around his eyes when he looked at his daughter. It was clear to her that he, like her, was hoping against hope that Elodie would simply get better by herself.
That only reinforced Daisy’s determination to find out what the problem was and then cure it.
“Well, lassie, it’s been a lovely afternoon, but I’m sorry to say it’s time we go back,” Bellamy said, regret in his voice. “It willnae be long before yer bedtime.”
“Hmm, I suppose so,” Elodie replied. “But we can do it again soon, can we nae, Da? It’s been so lovely. I wish I was well enough to paddle in the loch.”
“Of course, we can,” Bellamy promised, scooping her up in his arms. “Ye’ll be paddling in the loch in nae time,” he added as her little arms wrapped around his neck. She laid her head trustingly on his chest.
Daisy felt a lump in her throat, for she was greatly touched by the sight. With a sigh, she bent to pick up the picnic basket.
“Nay, it’s too heavy for ye,” Bellamy told her kindly. “Leave it, I’ll send someone back for it later.”
“All right,” she replied, grateful, for she knew the basket was heavy and had wondered if she was up to carrying it all the way back to the kitchens.
“Away, then, bonny lass,” Bellamy said, and the trio set off together, meandering up the grassy incline towards the castle, bathed in the late afternoon sunshine.
Elodie entertained them all the way by singing a jolly, little nonsense song that made both adults laugh as she rode along in her father’s arms.
11
Later that same evening, feeling desperately confused by the many different emotions warring inside her, Daisy spent some time in the peace and quiet of the healing room, doing further research into the possible cause of Elodie’s strange sickness.
However, after a while, her thoughts drifted back to the picnic and the pleasant hours spent by the loch with Elodie and Bellamy. It was painful to admit that she had enjoyed his company and forgotten their true connection. She shuddered to imagine what might have happened if Elodie had not awoken and called out to them just at that crucial moment.
What is this power he has over me?How does he make me feel this way? How could I have wanted to kiss him so badly? Again!
Guilt gnawed at her insides, for it felt like a betrayal of everyone she loved, especially Violet, whom Bellamy was keeping her from. Yet, Elodie needed her, too! Daisy felt her heart being torn in two. With grim determination, she thought of Violet and strengthened her resolve to leave Castle Murdoch at Beltane.
But I cannae leave Elodie without finding out what ails her and healing her first.And I have very little time left to do it.
Daisy spent the following evening in Elodie’s chambers, watching as Elodie and Nadia played a spirited game of jacks on the coverlet. As she observed the two girls, Daisy chatted quietly to Poppy, who was doing some ironing, about the child’s condition.
“The lass had such a lovely time at the picnic, Daisy,” the servant told her with a fond glance at her charge. “Being out in the sun had definitely done her some good, but ye ken what I really think?”
“Nay? Tell me,” Daisy replied, curious to know, since Poppy spent more time with Elodie than anyone else.
“Well, I think ’tis the fact her faither is spending more time with her these days. I dinnae ken what’s happened to change his attitude towards her, for he usually made himself scarce, just popping in and out when he chose. It made her heart sore, the wee angel. The bairn didnae feel loved, if ye ken what I mean. Ye ken she thinks the world of him.”
“Aye, she does, all right.” Daisy nodded in agreement, pleased she was not the only one who had noticed the improvement.
“Well, whatever the reason for it, it’s doing her good. Making her feel better about herself, d’ye ken?”
“I’ve noticed it, too, aye,” Daisy said.
Poppy banged the smoothing iron down on a sheet with an uncharacteristic frown as if it were the Laird. “Well, I just hope he carries on like this and disnae just abandon her again and go back to his old ways. ’Tis bad enough, her being so sick without thinking her faither disnae care about her.”
“I hope so, too, Poppy. This afternoon, at the picnic, she managed to eat a few things and drink some milk without any trouble. Have ye noticed any improvement yerself with that, recently?”
“Aye, I have. For the last few days, she has been able to keep most of what she’s eaten and drunk down. She says her tummy disnae feel as sore as before. Do ye think that’s a sign she’s on the mend?” Poppy asked, casting a hopeful glance at Daisy.
“We have to hope so, Poppy, but it’s still early days. We must be cautious. She’s still very weak and may yet have another attack.” Daisy frowned. “I still cannae work out what the problem is, so we still need to monitor her carefully.”
