Page 29 of The Highlander's Accidental Wife
Dizziness swept over her, and she almost squeaked as Damien’s mother gave her a shrewd look, then smacked her large son, who yelped and laughed.
“Ye are a plague on me nerves, Damien Gray Baird. A mercy she didnae say nay when ye asked her. Ye did ask her, did ye nae? Tell me ye didnae steal one of the guests at Grant’s wedding because ye fancied her.”
Damien shot Helena a grin that made her heart flip and her stomach flutter. “And what if I did? Should I nae marry her as soon as possible, before she comes to her senses?”
“To be sure, I ken that she has sense, but I confess I dinnae ken how ye convinced her to marry ye, ye great dobber. Or how I managed to raise ye without a lick of sense of yer own.”
Helena let out a breath as the two began to jibe, and she realized they were simply teasing and laughing with each other. Her heart swelled as Damien and his mother went back and forth before they both burst into laughter, and she could not help but join in.
“Och, Milady, I should apologize for such talk, but ye should ken sooner rather than later that we are, err, a bit foolish in this castle. Too fond of jokes, we are.” Damien’s mother smiled andtook Helena’s hands in her own. “I do like yer laugh, young lady. I am Lady Merie MacCabe, but ye must call me Ma. Or Merie.”
Helena felt her whole body warm, and she smiled at the woman, wanting nothing more than to call her Ma. “Thank you. I am Helena Lovell.”
Lady Merie squeezed her hands. “Such a pity that I fell ill and couldnae travel and see Grant get married to yer friend, Emma.” As she spoke, Helena did detect a bit of raspiness and shadows under Merie’s eyes. She wondered if the woman should be resting. “Perhaps the next time ye visit yer friend, I shall come with ye and visit mine.”
Helena nodded, then realized what Lady Merie had said. “Wait—you know about Emma?”
“Aye, I ken all about Grant and yer friend Emma,” Lady Merie said in a wry tone. “Grant’s maither, Brenda, is me best friend, as Grant is me rapscallion son’s.” She shook her head. “We had a bad storm, and I had to attend to an issue in the village, so I was out helpin’ and fell ill.”
“Maither, what did I tell ye about that? Ye arenae as young—” She whirled to Damien, who grimaced. “Ye ken what I mean.”
“I ken that ye think ye can tell me what to do,” she snorted. “Our people needed me, Damien. And perhaps if ye had been here, rather than off chasin’ Vipers?—”
“All right,” Damien interrupted, and the temperature between mother and son dropped. “Nae tonight. Please. Helena is exhausted from our journey. We’re both hungry and in need of a bath.”
Lady Merie’s shoulders rose and fell as she took several deep breaths, then she rubbed her forehead. “Fine. But this cannae go on, Damien. Ye cannae be Laird from afar.”
“I need to—” Damien’s fists clenched. “Never mind.” The words were bitten out. “Good night to ye both. Send food and hot water for baths to our rooms. And would ye show me bride to Bluebell Corner?”
“Of course,” Lady Merie said and folded her arms, staring at the ceiling.
Damien all but stormed out, and Helena shifted from foot to foot, unsure of what to say.
“I apologize,” Lady Merie finally said and looked at Helena. “As glad as I am that me son is back…” She shook her head. “Never mind. We shall discuss it another time. Let’s get ye to yer rooms.”
Helena couldn’t help it. As Lady Merie made to turn, she reached out a hand and stopped her. “When was the last time Damien was home?”
Lady Merie gave her a searching, sad look and murmured, “End of summer.”
A jolt went through Helena, and she stared at the woman. “Does he travel often?”
Lady Merie nodded.
Helena thought that should have filled her with relief. Instead, she was overcome with a sense of misgiving.
“But why?”
The older woman, who seemed so tall and merry, so strong and sure of herself, seemed to wither like a fallen petal at that question. She turned away from Helena, but not before Helena spotted the glimmer of tears in her eyes.
“Och, Lass, ye shall have to ask him.” Lady Merie paused. “More, I hope one day that ye will never have to ask him such a question.”
CHAPTER 12
“And this is Bluebell Corner, lass,”Lady Merie said as she threw open the carved door to reveal a cozy, charming suite.
There were floral tapestries, yes, but it was the woodwork that caused Helena to exclaim. Along the center of the walls, to the fireplace, to the chairs, desk, and bedframe, was a gorgeous dark wood carved in a pattern of leaves, trees, and bluebells.
“Exquisite!” Helena exclaimed. “I confess, I did not know what to make of a room called such, but yes…” Her eyes ran over it, noting the deep windows on two walls, and realizing it had to be tucked into a corner of the castle. “Nothing else would make sense.”
