Page 48 of Trapped with the Vicious Highlander
Before Margaret could respond, a bird landed just a few yards away from them, its soft and bony feet gently digging into the soil. Margaret, who had the biggest excited smile on her face, pointed towards it.
Ava, turned to it, her eyes widening as well. “Yes,” she murmured, turning back to Margaret. “Yes, that is a bird. Do you know what kind?”
She waited. It was not the first time they had seen that bird. Ava had shown it to her multiple times back in the orphanage, but she only asked because part of her hoped, even if secretly and desperately, that Margaret would respond with words.
It didn’t work. Margaret only nodded, the excited smile still on her face.
“That,” Ava mentioned anyway, “is a pigeon. You remember what a pigeon is, don’t you?”
Margaret nodded.
On their way to Castle MacDunn, one of the first few animals she had written on the parchment for Margaret to cross later was the pigeon. Unfortunately, they could not spot any throughout the journey because they either flew away before the carriage approached or Ava and Margaret just did not look hard enough.
“Do you want to cross it off the list now?” she asked.
Margaret nodded, the eagerness on her face unmistakable.
Ava was about to ask her to go bring the parchment so she could cross the name with her quill, when the door that led to that part of the courtyard swung open. Brodrick appeared in the doorway, a calm smile on his face. Ava watched the smile on Margaret’s face dim slightly.
“Ye seem to be enjoyin’ yerself,” Brodrick called, walking over to them.
Ava gave a brief nod. “Well, someone is enjoying herself, and the other person thinks her stomach is about to be turned inside out.”
She immediately regretted the words that left her mouth.
Why in God’s name would you say that? Of all the things you could’ve said…
“Is it too far-reaching of me if I ask to join as well?”
“Well, ye seem to be in much better shape to be chasin’ Margaret around, that’s for sure.”
Oh, for the love of God.
She did it again. She let her mouth run away with her.
She rose anyway. She wouldn’t let any other words escape her mouth before she made her way back inside. “I shall go take a bath.”
Margaret also rose to follow, already on her heels, much to Brodrick’s disappointment, but Ava stopped and turned around. She took Margaret’s hand and squeezed it gently.
“You don’t need to be afraid anymore, child,” she murmured, wanting to soothe the girl. “You’re home now. No one can take you, not when your father is here. Do you understand me?”
A forlorn look crossed Margaret’s face for a brief moment before she nodded in agreement.
“Now, I am about to go have a bath. I am certain I have sweated a shallow lake just this afternoon.”
Margaret laughed.
“So, for now, you shall play with your father instead. Is that all right with you?” Ava could feel Brodrick’s eyes on her, but she refused to acknowledge him.
Margaret nodded slowly.
“Now, go to your father,” Ava whispered.
Margaret turned around and headed to Brodrick, who gave Ava a look of utter gratitude.
Ava shook her head in dismissal and walked into the castle. A part of her wondered—no, hoped that Margaret would not have any reason to call for her.
The father and daughter time she had created might just be what the girl needed.
