Page 20 of Trapped with the Vicious Highlander
Ava noticed just how his voice had faltered at the thought of mentioning Margaret’s name.
“Nice to meet you,” she greeted.
Flora studied her for a minute, her eyes taking in everything, from Ava’s hair to the dress she was wearing.
Ava did the same as well.
Just like Brodrick, Flora had dark hair that shone in the sunlight. Her features, although delicate, somehow still reflected Brodrick’s facial structure. It made Ava wonder if they both took after their father or mother. She couldn’t believe she had thought the woman was his wife.
“Whatever this one has told ye about me,” Flora started, her voice casual as she broke into Ava’s train of thought. “Dinnae believe it. Brodrick has been kenned to embellish.”
“Do ye think yerself so important that we’ll have nothing to talk about except ye?”
Flora snorted a laugh, before she finally turned to look at Margaret, who still stood clueless at Ava’s side. She then turned back to Brodrick, giving him a questioning look. When he nodded, she took a step closer to Margaret.
“Welcome, little one.”
Margaret took a step back.
“It’s me. Yer aunt Flora.”
Those words had some effect on Margaret. Her fingers tightened around Ava’s skirt, and she took another step back, now fully standing behind Ava.
“Is everything all right?” Flora asked, the confusion that had rested on her face earlier slowly making its way back. “Why does she nae speak?”
Ava turned to look at Brodrick, wondering if he was going to take the lead on this one. When she realized he was not going to say anything, she decided to do it herself.
She chuckled. “I am certain Margaret would be…” she trailed off when Flora took a step back, her face twisting in utter surprise. “I am certain she would pleased to meet everyone once she has settled. The journey was quite long and stressful.”
Flora swallowed and turned to Brodrick. “Margaret?” she asked, her voice high-pitched.
Brodrick shrugged. “Aye. Margaret.”
A tense silence fell over the crowd behind Flora. That was when it finally dawned on Ava.
Of course.
Margaret had a different name when she was born. Ava had been the one to name her Margaret. That would explain Brodrick’s hesitation whenever he said her name.
“That was what I named her, since she couldn’t speak. I didn’t know her real name.”
Flora turned to look at Ava again, her eyes darkening for only half a second. Did Flora see her as some kind of threat?
The next words she uttered did not ease her nerves.
“If I’d kenned ye were bringin’ an English governess with ye, I would’ve prepared two beds.”
Ava swallowed.
“That willnae be a problem, will it?” Brodrick asked.
“Oh, nae at all. I shall ask the servants to prepare a room this instant.”
Ava shuffled her feet. It was the way Flora had uttered the wordEnglishwith some kind of disdain.
“Why doesnae she speak? Has she been bewitched by the Englishwoman?” a voice roared from the crowd behind Flora.
Brodrick reached for his sword again, and Ava shot him a pointed look.
