Page 46 of Claiming His Scottish Duchess
“Well, Lydia. What do ye think of a ride this mornin’? We could have the staff saddle up our horses?”
Lydia nodded eagerly and, after suiting up, they made their way to the stables.
“Acorn,” Lydia whispered to her horse, gently petting her coat.
Catriona placed a hand on her chest, reveling in the sound of Lydia’s sweet voice.
After mounting their horses, the two took off in a rush to explore the grounds. Once they’d made their way through most of the property, they stumbled upon a neglected corner of one of the flower gardens bathed in sunlight.
“Do ye see what I see, lass?” she asked her. “It’s a small garden, but we could make it so much more. What would ye think if we made this yer own, lassie?”
Lydia nodded excitedly as a smile formed at her lips.
“All right, lassie,” Catriona called to Lydia as they entered the stable a few days later, for what was becoming a regularpractice. “The stable hand prepared the horses for us to ride this afternoon. Where would ye like to go today? The woods or the lake?”
“Lake,” Lydia responded softly.
“It’s as if ye read me mind, lassie. That’s where I want to go too!”
The two took off to the lake, where they dismounted their horses and sat by the shore. They looked at the water and up to the sky, where fluffy white clouds were rolling under the afternoon sun.
“In Scotland, there are many lakes much bigger than this,” Catriona explained. “In fact, they are so vast and so magical, there are creatures that live in them.”
“Like the s-s-s-s…” Lydia attempted.
“Aye, the selkies! But I dinnae wish to talk about them today. I want to tell ye a true story from when I was a wee lass, nae much older than ye. Would ye like to hear it?”
“Yes! Please!” she breathed out with a small clap.
“When I was little, me Cousin Isobel and I ventured off to the big lake near Craigleith Hall. It has to be at least twice the size of this one, if ye can imagine that! We were throwin’ stones to see who could go farthest, when I saw a beautiful lady in the middle of the lake! I thought someone was out there swimmin’, but it was the middle of the autumn season. The light caught her hair, andit looked like spun gold, with flowers all around it. And then, in a blink… she was gone!”
Lydia’s jaw dropped, and she let out a tiny gasp.
“My cousin and I figured it must have been a fairy or some other magical creature, but we never saw her again. Aye, she was so bonnie. I would have given anythin’ to look as she did with her beautiful golden hair.”
Lydia took a small curl from Catriona’s wild mane and tucked it behind her ear, shaking her head from side to side.
“Bonnie,” the little girl uttered softly, and a tingling warmth spread over Catriona’s chest.
She smiled at Lydia, “Thank ye, darlin’. Though I doubt I’m as bonnie as that fairy!”
Lydia shook her head persistently, then pointed at Catriona emphatically.
“Bonnie,” she repeated, and Catriona laughed.
“Aye lass, you’re right,” she replied, “If I didnae look like this, I wouldnae be me. And that’s nae good! Let’s start headin’ back.”
Lydia’s small face lit up with pride as they approached the garden on their way back to the manor. Tiny green shoots had emerged with the promise of blooms and beauty.
Then, Catriona noticed that Lydia’s gaze moved towards the house. Catriona followed the trail and caught sight of the duke in a distant window.
Lydia began waving frantically to get his attention. Yet the duke simply moved away from the window and out of their sight.
Lydia frowned, the light in her eyes dwindling.
“Come along, lass,” Catriona said as she pulled her into a tight embrace. “Let’s find some flowers to put in yer bonnie hair.”
As they wandered toward the garden, Lydia’s small fingers curled tightly around Catriona’s. The momentary shadow passed from the child’s face, replaced once more by the eager curiosity of youth.
