Page 47 of The Highlander's Auctioned Hellion
Lydia left the girls with their maid, a woman who appeared rather bewildered by their hyperactivity.
Amy and Eilis were more animated than ever before, insisting that Lydia come back and visit them later that day. She was happy to agree to that—she loved spending time with the girls, their energy was contagious.
After she left them, she made her way through the long corridor, counting the doors and trying her best to find her way.
Rounding a corner, she almost collided with Alexander, who had a handful of parchment under one arm.
The man-at-arms retreated, bowing low with a soft smile.
“M’Lady,” he said warmly.
“Good afternoon, Alexander,” she said. “Am I going in the right direction for the Laird’s study?”
Alexander’s eyes widened, and his lips pursed as if he were trying not to smile.
“Not quite, M’Lady. Perhaps I could show you the correct way?”
Lydia’s shoulders sank in defeat. “I was sure I had it right this time.”
“All the passages in this castle look the same, M’Lady. It will take a little time.”
They turned back in the direction they had come, but as they did so, Lydia’s dress caught on something behind her, and she was brought up short.
She gasped in dismay as there was a ripping sound and a sharp nail in the wall ripped a long slit in the train of her dress.
“Oh, blast it!”
She sank to her knees, gathering up the beautiful cloth and examining the damage.
Lydia sighed. “I have never had such a fine gown, and now I have ruined it.”
Alexander laughed, and Lydia looked up with a frown.
“Forgive me, M’Lady, I am nae laughin’ at the damage, just that me wife will be very happy to hear ye like yer new clothes. I am sure Kristen can fix that in a moment, dinnae fret.”
Lydia stood, lowering the train to the ground.
“Your wife?”
“Aye, she is a seamstress. The Laird asked her to make ye some new gowns. She is makin’ yer weddin’ dress and some more besides. Havin’ the time of her life, I think. It is her passion.”
Lydia smiled broadly, touched to think that the Laird had arranged such a thing for her.
“Please tell her I love them. I adore my nightgown too.”
Alexander beamed. “I shall be sure to tell her. She was very proud to be dressin’ a lady. A lot of the things she makes are for women in the village, simple fare but practical.” He leaned in conspiratorially. “I dinnae think she has had brocade and velvet to work with for a while.”
Lydia laughed. “Well, if the Laird agrees to furnish me with some more, I shall be commissioning many dresses from her.”
A few moments later, they reached the door to the study, and Alexander bowed, shifting the papers beneath his arm and going back in the direction they had come.
Why does Callum seem to dislike him so much? He is such a kind and generous man.
Lydia turned to face the door, allowing the irritation she had experienced with the girls to surface again, and barged inside without knocking.
Callum was leaning back in his chair, a glass of whiskey in his hand, staring up at the ceiling with a brooding expression.
As she burst inside, he looked up, jerking out of his chair and putting a hand to his belt. His fingers curled around the handleof his sword, and Lydia crossed her arms over her chest, raising her eyebrows at him angrily.
