Page 61 of Highlander's Captive Bride
Bellamy had to laugh along with Elodie and Daisy.
It was now Daisy’s turn again. While she pondered her next move, Bellamy allowed himself the pleasure of sitting back in his chair, resting his weary mind by just looking at her beautiful face across the bed. If it was possible for a person to embody the notion of sanctuary, then he felt that was what Daisy had become for him.
Just looking at her lovely features was calming to his ruffled nerves, her voice and laughter soothed his soul, and he increasingly had the sensation that the three of them were now so close and knew each other so well, they were like a little family. It was something he had never experienced before, not even growing up.
This was different. It felt likehisfamily—his child, and his woman.
He liked the feeling immensely, having often lain awake at night thinking of Daisy, of having her there next to him in his bed to kiss and caress whenever and however it pleased her. Yet, since their last delicious encounter in her room and the time when he had told her the truth of Elodie’s parentage, he had sensed a slight withdrawal on her part.
He had noticed how she always made sure to leave Elodie’s chambers before he did and never sought out his company. It made him sad, for he wanted her with every fiber of his being. But he could understand it. She clearly knew as well as he did that it was no good giving in to the obvious attraction between them, no good allowing any feelings to take hold. Nothing could come of it.
Once the poisoner was exposed, Daisy would leave them. Then, he would likely never see her again.
All he could hope for was to spend this time with her, to enjoy her wit, kindness, and beauty, the likes of which he had never encountered in a woman before.
“There,” Daisy was saying, taking another of his pieces. “Yer turn now, M’laird.” Her lovely dark eyes twinkled with mischief.
“Och, thank ye,” he said sarcastically. “I willnae have any pieces left to play with, at this rate.”
“Da?” Elodie suddenly said as she contemplated the board.
“Aye, lassie.”
“Can I go to the Beltane celebrations with ye?”
He was taken aback. “Um, well, it disnae fit in with me plan to catch the nasty person, does it, lass? So, I have to say nae, I’m afraid.” He felt guilty about denying her, but exposing the villain had to come before anything else. “I’m sorry. But ye have next year’s festivities to look forward to.”
“Ye want me to wait a whole year!” Elodie exclaimed, pouting at him. “’Tis nae fair. Ye’ll all be enjoying yerselves, and I’ll be stuck in here with Poppy.”
“But ye ken ’tis important that everyone thinks ye’re very poorly, Elodie,” he argued, finding it hard not to give in to her request.
“How long are ye goin’ to keep me locked up, then, Da? How much longer do I have to keep pretending to be sick?”
“I dinnae ken, hinny. As long as it takes,” he told her, guilt pricking at him.
Meanwhile, Elodie took another of his pieces from the board. “So, ye dinnae ken. It could be a week, a month, a whole year, is that what ye’re saying, Da?”
Bellamy searched his mind for a good reason to give her. However, he was interrupted when she added, “I want to hear what Daisy thinks about it. Do ye think I should be allowed to go to the celebration, Daisy?”
* * *
Feeling uncomfortable at suddenly being dragged into the argument, Daisy shifted in her seat. She looked across at Bellamy, aware he was struggling to come up with an answer for the child to justify his denial of her heartfelt request. But when she looked at Elodie, she felt sorry for her.
Elodie was right in a way.
“Come on, Daisy, speak up,” Bellamy urged, his eyes fixed on Daisy’s as if he was challenging her to take sides. “I’m interested to hear yer opinion on this.”
Daisy sought a middle way, a solution that would suit them both. It warmed her heart to see how close the pair had become, and she had no desire to take sides and cause a rift between them. Especially not because she knew she would be with them for the last time at the Beltane festivities.
She pondered for a few moments, trying to ignore the ache in her heart, choosing her words carefully.
“Well,” she began, “it does seem unfair to expect Elodie to stay cooped up in her chambers while everyone else for miles around is enjoying themselves.”
“Ach!” Bellamy interjected, folding his arms in displeasure.
“Wait a moment, I havenae finished yet,” she told him. “On the other hand,” she went on, addressing Elodie this time, “yer Da needs to stick to his plan to root out the nasty person. Remember, everyone believes yer sickness has grown worse and that ye’re extremely poorly.”
“And poorly people dinnae attend parties,” Bellamy put in, nodding his approval of Daisy’s remarks, while Elodie’s face fell.
