Page 135 of Highlanders for the Holidays
“Ye dunnae ken me,” she said. “Why would ye entrust yer daughter to a complete stranger?”
’Twas then his lips turned into a warm smile. Though she’d sworn off men the moment she found herself with child last year, this one—this one was enough to tempt her to reconsider.
“I have many reasons, lass. One bein’ me daughter is sleepin’ contentedly in yer arms, somethin’ she has nae done since arrivin’ here,” he told her. “That alone is invaluable to me. I think she be a good judge of character, even at this tender age.”
Was that a compliment? Having received so very few in her life, so few that she could not recall a single one, she was uncertain.
“And I do ken who ye are lass,” he said, his smile still warm and kind.
And ye be nae kickin’ me out o’ the keep?
“Now, I will ask ye again, would ye be willin’ to care fer me daughter?”
Her heart filled with so much joy that she could barely contain her smile. “’Twould be me great privilege!” Tamping down her excitement, she glanced at Nola. “She be a right beautiful babe.”
“I would have to agree,” Connor said before rubbing his hands together. “Will this room do?”
“Do fer what?”
“For yer quarters, lass. I’ll need ye as close to her as possible, ye ken? Would ye like me to send someone to yer croft to gather yer things?”
’Twas laughable, but he had no way of knowing that. “All me things be in that bundle on the floor by her basket. But ye might send someone fer the cow and chickens.”
He left the room and returned a moment later, holding the bundle up with a most confused expression. “This beallyer things?”
“Aye, m’laird,” she told him. “Those be it.”
As pitiful as her worldly possessions were, she could not remove the smile from her face.
“Verra well, then,” he said as he placed the bundle on the floor.
“Thank ye m’laird, thank ye so verra much,” she told him, excitedly.
“Thankye,lass, fer helpin’ me. I fear I dunnae have much experience with bairns, therefore I shall forever be in your debt.”
Her face grew warm. No one had ever been in her debt before.
“Where would ye like the chair?” he asked as he picked it up with one hand.
“Near the window would be welcome.”
He set the chair at an angle. Little bits of dust danced in the sunlight shining in. She thanked him again.
“I’ll have someone set up a brazier for ye. I’ll also have me brothers bring in a bed, and a chest to hold yer things, and anythin’ else ye might need.”
Words weren’t sufficient to show the amount of gratitude bursting in her heart.
“Now, shall we discuss recompense?” he asked.
Onnleigh was perplexed, felt her cheeks flame bright with embarrassment. “I fear I dunnae ken what that be.”
“Payment for yer work,” he explained.
Her eyes grew wide. “Ye wish to pay me?”
“Of course!” he exclaimed. “I would nae expect ye to work for free.”
She laughed then, for the first time in an age. “M’laird, as long as I have a roof over me head and one hot meal a day, I will be verra happy.”
