Page 36 of The Highlander's Auctioned Hellion
“We know!” Eilis said merrily.
“The girls are very polite young ladies.”
Amy beamed at her, and Callum snorted, getting an irritated glance from Eilis for his trouble.
“What is that you have there?” Lydia asked, and Eilis held up the little ball of fluff for her to see.
“Her name is Raven.”
“Uncle Callum justtoldyou it was a boy,” Amy protested.
“Hisname is Raven, then,” Eilis said. “We found him, and we’re going to care for him. Uncle Callum said we could.”
Lydia’s eyes moved to his; they were wide and curious.
“Do you like cats?” she asked.
“Nay,” he replied, and the girls started giggling again. “But the wee ones have decided Raven stays, so he stays. But he isnae to go missin’ and if he does, then it isnae me who will be lookin’ for him.”
He glanced up at Lydia, irritated to find that she was smiling at him as if he had said something very funny indeed.
“Are yousureyou don’t like cats? My father hates them and wouldn’t allow one at the breakfast table if he had a choice.”
“Our mother didnae like cats either,” Eilis piped up, and Callum stiffened, wondering what else she might say.
The table fell silent, Lydia glancing at him warily, but she didn’t ask any other questions.
Amy was looking at Lydia, her little mouth working as she curled her long hair behind her ear.
“I am glad ye chose that dress,” she said. “Ye look very pretty.”
Lydia brushed at one of the intricate sleeves.
“Thank you for helping me choose it; I love it. I am very grateful to whoever lent it to me. The embroidery is exquisite.”
“It is yers,” Callum growled, taking a large bite of his eggs.
“Mine?”
“Aye.”
“You mean, it has been gifted to me?” Lydia asked.
“Nay. It has beenmadefor ye. I asked a seamstress in the village to ensure ye had the right clothin’ for this weather. It may be spring, but it can be mighty cold in this big drafty castle. Wind howls along the corridors like a monster some nights.”
“It broke a window once!” Amy said cheerfully as she pulled a boiled egg onto her plate.
The kitten jumped up onto the surface, sniffing eagerly as Eilis placed a few pieces of her own egg down for it.
“As I say,” Callum continued. “Those slim little dresses ye had in London might be fine for promenadin’ in the park, or whatever it is ye get up to down south, but here, ye need layers to survive.”
Lydia was still touching the fabric, and his eyes were drawn to her long, delicate fingers.
She has cool hands. They felt good against me skin last night.
“Thank you,” Lydia said softly. “I have never had such fine things.”
“Yer faither never bought ye dresses?” he asked gruffly. “I thought that’s all women did in London.”
