Page 60 of The Highlander's Auctioned Hellion
Her mother’s look of quiet disapproval softened, and a small smile tugged at the edges of her mouth as she glanced at something at the edge of the room.
“I believe we have visitors.”
Lydia turned to see two little faces poking around the edge of the door.
Eilis and Amy were confident around Lydia now, even after so short a time, but they seemed very shy of newcomers.
“You can come in, girls. I would like to introduce you to my mother, the Duchess of Bentley, and my brother, Lord Tommy Turner.”
Amy and Eilis padded into the room. Amy had lost a shoe somewhere in the castle, it seemed, and their hair was in disarray.
Lydia glanced at her mother in concern, wondering if the Duchess would frown upon their appearance, but instead, she looked intrigued.
“Mama, this is Amy Lawson and her sister, Eilis Lawson. The Laird’s nieces.”
“How do you do?” her mother said, extending a hand, and both the girls shook it nervously.
Tommy, who had been educated by a tutor who encouraged confidence in young men, stepped forward boldly. He pointed to Raven, who was nestled in the crook of Eilis’s arm.
“Who is that?” he asked.
“Tommy,” the Duchess scolded. “It is not polite to ask questions when you have only just arrived.”
But Eilis and Amy were more at ease in Tommy’s presence, and Eilis held out the kitten to him.
“His name is Raven. We thought he was a girl, but he is a boy, and we have to look after him.”
Tommy stared at the kitten as if it were some terrifying dragon and glanced at Lydia uncertainly.
“It is okay, Tommy, he is very gentle. Eilis, would it be all right for Tommy to hold him?”
Eilis nodded and pushed the kitten against Tommy’s chest.
Her brother’s eyes were shining with excitement as he stroked him, and even Amy began to talk about what the kitten enjoyed, and what they did to take care of him each day.
The skin at the back of Lydia’s neck prickled, and she looked up at the door to find Callum leaning against it, head bowed to keep from brushing against the top of the arch.
His blue eyes looked dark in the shadows of the corridor, and Lydia’s breath hitched as she met his gaze.
She felt her mother’s eyes watching her curiously, and cleared her throat as Callum entered.
Compared to her mother and her brother, he looked even larger than usual, and Lydia couldn’t help remembering how his big body had felt lying on top of her in the library.
I would have lain beneath him all day, safe and warm without a care in the world.
“Duchess,” Callum said, bowing to her mother. He had put on a woolen jacket since Lydia had left him, buttoned neatly, his hair tied back. The little touches of formality surprised her.
Does he wish to impress Mama?
“How was yer journey?” he asked.
“As well as can be expected, M’Laird. Thank you for allowing us to stay in your beautiful castle.”
“I’d be happy to show ye the grounds. It is a good day for walkin’ and the rain has held off for now.”
He extended an arm toward the outer door, and Lydia and her mother walked ahead of him out of the castle.
Lydia glanced back at him. Callum’s hands were held casually behind his back, his eyes glinting with a light that might have been amusement.
