Page 30 of Saved By the Highland Beast
“This is Sophia Harrison,” Dean explained, “the new tutor from England. She’s made a real difference in teachin’ Cillian his lessons.” He beamed with pride.
It did Sophia’s heart well to hear him speaking of her like that.
The laird turned to her with a warm smile on his face. “Miss Harrison, this is Amalthea Doyle—”
“Grandmaither to the future laird.” the old woman answered before Dean could even finish, sticking her nose in the air.
Sophia suddenly noticed that the reason the lady had seemed so familiar to her was that Cillian bore a striking resemblance to his grandmother. They both had the same dark hair and striking blue eyes. “Pleased to meet you, Lady Doyle.” Sophia curtsied lightly as was accustomed to a lady of her rank.
“Bah,” Duncan muttered, then made a sound as if he were clearing his throat and pulled a sour face.
Amalthea shot him a derisive glare before turning back to Sophia. “Are you of noble stock or a common teacher from London?” she asked pointedly.
Dean chuckled awkwardly and answered for Sophia when her mouth hung slightly open. She wasn’t accustomed to people being so direct or rude with their questions. “Miss Harrison is the daughter of a viscount, Amalthea.”
“A lady, then.” Amalthea seemed to be disappointed and impressed all at the same time.
“I am.” Sophia nodded curtly. There was something very false and off-putting about the old woman that set her teeth on edge.
“Hmf.” Amalthea pulled her nose up at Sophia but quickly brightened when Cillian came running into her arms.
“Grandmaither!” he yelled with glee as he wrapped his scrawny arms around her legs.
“There ye are, me wee one. I’ve missed ye so much.” Amalthea pushed him back slightly and looked at his face. “Yer all rosy an’ out of breath. What have ye been doin’?”
“Anthony an’ Hamish have been teachin’ me how to fight!” Cillian’s eyes shone as he relayed the news to his grandmother.
“Fight?” Her head snapped up as she glared at Dean. “What kind of fightin’?”
The laird seemed sheepish as he rubbed the back of his neck. “I agreed to let Cillian practice with swords if he got through five hours of schoolin’ each day,” he explained.
“Swords… fightin’…” Amalthea was flustered and clearly at a loss for words. “I suppose ye have somethin’ to do with this.” She narrowed her eyes and glared at Sophia. “Lettin’ a child play with a sword at his age. Do ye nae ken he’s goin’ to be laird someday?” she asked incredulously. “What if somethin’ happens to him?”
Sophia was about to defend herself when Dean suddenly jumped in again. “It’s nae real swords,” he explained. “An’ Sophia has had a remarkable impact on Cillian’s schoolin’. He can do arithmetic an’ remember facts better than any of us here at the castle.” He beamed again with pride.
“Is that so?” Amalthea looked down at her grandson without as much as a glance in Sophia’s direction. “That’s just because me wee grand bairn has always been clever. He just needed some time to blossom.” She bent down and kissed Cillian on the crown of his head.
Cillian giggled and ran off again after giving his grandmother’s legs a gentle squeeze.
“Well then,” Amalthea barked as she straightened her back, “I am tired after receivin’ so many shockin’ surprises this mornin’ upon my arrival.” She glared at Sophia before smiling at Dean. “I would like to go to my room now and unpack.”
Sophia breathed a sigh of relief when the woman turned to leave. Even after a few short minutes, she could tell that Amalthea Doyle was one of the most odious women she had ever met in her life.
“An’ Sophia.” The old woman suddenly turned and addressed her again. “Perhaps ye could come an’ see me in me room. Ye can help me unpack me things.” Her suggestion seemed like an order more than anything else.
“Amalthea,” Dean began, a little more sternly this time. It was apparent he was tired of playing the gracious host already. “Sophia is the tutor. One of the maids can help ye unpack, just as they have always done.”
“No,” Sophia interjected, growing tired of having the woman talk down to her and Dean answering in her place. “I would be more than happy to help Cillian’s grandmother unpack her things.” She returned the woman’s gaze with every ounce of self-worth that she had. “I think we would have a lot to talk about. We have a common interest, after all.” She held Amalthea’s icy stare without blinking or looking away. “The well-being and education of her grandson.”
Amalthea stuck her nose in the air as she turned and left them standing by the fence.
Dean quickly trundled after her while Duncan motioned with his finger for Sophia to bend down.
Lowering herself to his level, she brought her ear closer to his face. “Good luck with that one, Miss Haddock,” he whispered. “Never did a more venomous viper slither across the earth than Amalthea Doyle. She’s only nice to those who can advance her station in life.” He nodded as they both looked up and watched the way she laughed at something Dean had said.
Everything was beginning to make a lot of sense to Sophia.
* * *
