Page 43 of Saved By the Highland Beast
Sophia felt a wave of relief as she pulled herself onto the bed and sat at her mother’s side, holding and kissing her pale hand. “I was so scared, Mama. Are you really better?”
“Much better. I’m sorry if I scared you, dear.” Libby pulled herself up and lay against the mountain of pillows that the maid had doubtlessly propped up behind her. “I only asked if you would come home because I thought your presence would cheer me up. It was just a cold. I thought at one point that death would be a better fate.” She winked. “But I’m fit as a fiddle now. I’m only in bed because Anderson thinks I need more rest.”
“I agree with her.” Sophia leaned down and kissed her mother’s cheek. “You need to get enough rest, so the cold is completely gone.”
Libby rolled her eyes and shook her head with a smile. “That’s enough about me now. You must have so many exciting things to tell me.” The color began to flood her cheeks again as the excitement grew in her eyes. “Have you been down to the Loch Ness? I hope you have. I always wanted to go as a child. I had this silly notion in my head that I could spot the Loch Ness monster.” She laughed. “I hope the laird’s castle isn’t too far from there. I guess you could always make a day out of it and travel by horse if it isn’t too far,” she prattled on excitedly.
Shaking her head with a laugh, Sophia stood and made her way across the room. She pulled open the drapes, allowing the afternoon sun to fill the room. “I can’t say that I’ve had time to visit the Loch, but I do have a small Scottish Terrier named Nessie,” she said as she turned back to her mother.
Libby blinked a few times and shielded her eyes before saying, “Anderson has had me in this bed for so long that I swear I’ll burst into flames if I go outside again.”
“Stop your griping, Mama,” Sophia said gently as she placed her hands on her hips. “You need someone who will fuss over you and make sure that you are taking care of yourself.” She used her stern face that worked on Cillian whenever he was being difficult.
“Oh, all right,” Libby conceded. “I forgot what a bossy boots you can be. I see that being a tutor has only worsened that trait!” She narrowed her eyes and gave her daughter a cheeky grin. “Are you tidier with your things these days?”
Sophia pursed her lips and looked to the side. “Now, that really would be too much of a change, Mama,” she said sheepishly.
Libby threw back her head and let out a light laugh that filled the room.
It did Sophia’s heart good to hear her mother laughing like that again. They’d left things in such a worried and uncertain place that she’d forgotten how pleasant her mother’s laugh could actually be. Her thoughts suddenly went back to her stalker and the reason she’d left London in the first place.
Looking over her shoulder, she glanced out the window at the building across the street. She froze when she thought she’d seen a man quickly step into the shadows of an alley.
“Sophia?” her mother asked her in a gentle voice. “What’s the matter?”
“I thought I saw…” Sophia hesitated as she stared back out the window. There was nothing there besides normal people going about their daily business. “Nothing.” She shook her head and let out a breath.
“Come and sit here.” Libby patted the sheets beside her on the bed.
Shaking off the feeling of dread and fear that had suddenly taken over her mind again, Sophia made her way back to her mother and carefully sat on the edge of the mattress.
“No letters came while you were gone, dear. I think the man has given up. Whoever he is, he got the message that you were no longer here.” Libby reached up and stroked her daughter’s cheek. “You were gone for two months, there’s no need to fear anymore,” she said encouragingly with a smile.
“Thank you, Mama.” Sophia pressed her cheek into her mother’s warm hand with a sigh. “I’d forgotten how scared I’d been before I went to Scotland. The safety of the castle had pushed those feelings far away.”
“Good.” Libby nodded. “You needed that distance. But now, we can all return to our lives as normal. You can come back home. I’ll write to the laird at once and ask for you to be released from your post.”
Sophia blushed as her mother took her hand away from her face. “I think I would like to stay on in my position for a bit longer, Mama,” She bit her lower lip. “Cillian is doing so well with his lessons, and Dean has even allowed him to practice fighting with swords. They have a real bond as father and son now.”
“Dean?” her mother asked with a frown.
“The Laird Dean O’Brien. He asked me to use his given name.” Sophia blushed even deeper as her mother examined her face. “We became friends.” She began to panic when her mother kept her eyes fixed on her face, scrutinizing her every move. “I made a few new friends at the castle. Anthony, Hamish, and even a very dear old man with a hearing problem named Duncan,” she hurriedly explained with a laugh. “He keeps calling me Miss Haddison instead of Harrison.”
Libby’s smile broadened as she looked at her daughter. “Not to mention a dog named Nessie.”
“Yes.” Sophia blushed. “Nessie is a very special dog. Dean rescued her for me on a stormy night.”
“Dean seems like a very kind man,” Libby noted with a knowing smile. “You seem to have built quite the life for yourself over there with all of your new friends.”
“I did miss you, Mama,” Sophia said more quietly when she noticed the way her mother was looking at her.
“Don’t mind me, dear.” Libby chuckled. “It does my heart good to see the adventurous young woman you’ve become in such a short amount of time. I’m sure that the laird wouldn’t want to part with you just yet.” She winked, making her daughter feel a bit guilty because of the night they’d spent together before she’d left.
Sophia suddenly brightened when an idea came to her mind. “I know, Mama!” she said more cheerfully. “Why don’t you come back to Scotland with me? You will see how beautiful it is there. I know Dean won’t mind. He will welcome you with open arms. I’m sure of that!”
“If you’re sure, dear,” Libby responded hesitantly.
“Of course!” Sophia bounced to her feet. “It would be amazing if you could come. Things would be even more fun! You can rest for a few more days, then we can both go to Scotland.” She nodded as if everything had been decided before walking back over to the window and staring out. “The weather should be a little warmer in a few days, but I shall keep you nice and snug in the carriage in any case.”
