Page 80 of Highlander's Wild Lass
“A movin’ cart?” He couldn’t believe his ears. “Are ye mad, woman?”
“It wasnae a fast-movin’ cart, Anthony,” she said as if that made it any better.
Brannan hushed them, beckoning Celestia to sit back down beside him. He took up her hand. “Ye need to sit too, lad, or I’m afraid ye might combust.”
Anthony obliged, picking up the chair that he flipped in his haste and sat down.
“Cellie, Mr. Koll might never give up—he’s a heartless man with only greed in his heart. If runnin’ this business is goin’ to cost ye yer life, or at least threaten yer life...ye daenae need to keep it goin’.”
“But Da—”
“Nay, Celestia. Daeane get yerself hurt on account of keepin’ my legacy alive.”
“That’s nae why, Da,” she told him, “I did it to prove to myself that I could take care of my family. So that Chester and Hugo have...somethin’ when they’re older.”
“Well,” he said with a twinkle in his eye, “as long as I willnae be seein’ ye in heaven anytime soon.”
Celestia’s brow stitched together. “Daenae talk like that, Da. Ye’re nae goin’ anywhere.”
Anthony hoped for her sake that Celestia was just trying to boost Brannan’s morale, but a voice at the back of Anthony’s mind was telling him that she was doing it more for her benefit.
“Whether ye keep it or ye daenae. I’m mighty proud of ye,” Brannan told her, patting the top of her hand. “My brave lass, and—” Brannan glanced down at Celestia’s outfit, a laugh fumbling from his lips, “—ye’re doin’ it wearin’ trews too.”
A tight smile appeared on Celestia’s face.
“Lad, get her some supper and take her to bed.”
Anthony nodded, gently taking Celestia’s hand and pulling her into a stand.
“I dinnae want to go,” Celestia said quietly.
“Celestia, I will be fine. If ye run into Helena, send her back her with that tea. I’d love to have a cup.”
Anthony guided Celestia to the hall where a few of his men were taking their supper, some with their wives and children. He spotted Sebastian sitting at the high table and Jacob nowhere to be seen.
“Jacob wanted to tell ye thank ye for feedin’ him.”
Anthony pulled out Celestia’s chair for her and she slumped into it, shoulders forward as if she wanted to hide away from the world. Sebastian eyed him carefully, but Anthony just shook his head and sat down.
The maids placed overflowing plates in front of them. Celestia thanked them quietly and picked up her fork.
“Try to eat somethin’, Celestia,” Anthony said. “Even just a wee bite.”
Celestia nodded, prodding a piece of broccoli with her fork, glancing around the room. “Where is my family?”
“Their tutor arrived today, so they must still be in the library,” he told her. “They wanted to get started as soon as he was finished settlin’ into his room.”
“What’s his name?” she asked.
“Maurice Moreau.”
“A Frenchman?”
“Aye,” Anthony said, flashing her a smile before taking a bite of venison. “Better than an Englishman. He’s fluent in French—obviously—Italian and he said he kens a bit of Saxon.”
Celestia looked impressed. “What subjects does he teach?”
“Everythin’ really. Arithmetic, geometry, geography, philosophy, and he said he has a decent knowledge of science that he’ll teach them too.”
