Page 29 of Saved By the Highland Beast
Dean glared at him without saying a word. Anthony was like a dog with a bone. When he’d set his mind to something, there was no use in arguing. Dean had also come to notice that the men were a lot sharper with their wits since Sophia had been around.
“Speakin’ of the fine young lass,” Anthony added as he jerked his head to the side, “I think we may have said her name too many times.”
Dean felt his heart skip a beat as he looked at his friend and then to the side.
Sophia was coming down the castle steps with Duncan by her side. The two had not quite brought themselves to understand one another.
“It’s Harrison,” she said loudly enough for the entire yard to hear.
Several of the men who were going about their chores stopped what they were doing and turned to watch with smiles on their faces. The duo had become quite well known for their antics in the castle.
“What?” Duncan turned his head and stared at her, his mouth hanging slightly open, revealing his gums.
“My name, Duncan, it’s Harrison, not Haddison.” She cupped her hand at the corner of her mouth to make her words more audible.
Duncan frowned as he hobbled toward the men. “Dean, I dinnae ken if this tutor ye hired is right in the head. She keeps shoutin’ at me about fish,” he complained.
Sophia let out a sigh and shook her head in exasperation as the others laughed.
“Why are ye all laughin’?” Duncan asked with a frown. “I dinnae see what is so funny about fish. Has the entire castle lost its mind?”
“Dinnae worry about Sophia, Uncle.” Dean laughed. “She’s just fine in the head.” He glanced up at her with a reassuring smile.
His heart beat slightly faster when she returned his smile with a sweet look in her eyes. She had all the time and patience in the world when it came to Cillian and people like Duncan Murdoch. A fact that endeared her to him even more.
Duncan squinted up at her before looking back to the laird. “I ken ye say she’s well in the head. But what about all of the fish?”
The men erupted with laughter, eliciting a scowl from the old man.
“What is all this?” a voice suddenly spoke, making everyone turn around.
* * *
Everyone stopped laughing and turned to see an older woman staring at them. She had wisps of grey in her long black hair and wrinkled skin with age spots over her hands. Sophia could see that she was tall and proud, despite the fact that she was leaning on her cane. The most striking feature, however, was her piercing blue eyes.
“Amalthea,” Dean said happily and jumped over the fence using one hand. He walked up to the lady and kissed her cheek before taking both of her hands in his. “I didnae ken ye were comin’. Ye should have sent word, I could have prepared things for ye.”
“I didnae think I needed permission to visit me grandson and his faither,” Amalthea said haughtily with her nose in the air.
Sophia took an instant dislike to the woman, and she looked at the others to gauge their behavior. Amalthea seemed sweet and kind enough, but there was something in the way she spoke that set Sophia’s teeth on edge.
Anthony rolled his eyes as he unfolded his arms and walked away from the post. He was clearly not a fan of the lady either, but the reaction that stood out to Sophia the most was the scowl on Duncan’s face as he glared at the woman through narrowed eyes.
“Amalthea,” Duncan said in an ominous tone.
“Ah, Duncan. Still alive, then, are we?” Amalthea drawled as she looked over the laird’s shoulder. “I thought ye would have been feedin’ the worms by now.”
“As alive as the dust runnin’ through yer veins,” Duncan retorted.
Sophia bit her bottom lip in an attempt to keep herself from laughing as the woman glared at her.
“And who is this?” Amalthea barked at Dean. “Have ye taken a second wife in me absence?” Her voice held a heavy note of accusation and concern.
“Nay, nay,” the laird answered hurriedly.
Sophia was surprised at how hurt she felt at his hasty answer.
I am not his wife.
