Page 18 of To Wed a Laird
Even though they were having a cosy supper together, she had to remember her place as his employee. She was not his friend or a member of the family, but someone who was paid to do a job, as he had so graciously reminded her.
Rose was annoyed that she had to keep reminding herself of this very obvious fact, but she knew why—because she found this big, strong, damaged man so very attractive.
CHAPTER EIGHT
The next fewdays were peaceful, and even the weather seemed to be cooperating, as the late spring days were almost balmy, with bright sunshine and the lightest of breezes.
With the warming of the weather, Elspeth’s spirits had lifted too, and she was full of laughter and fun, exactly as a child her age should be, Rose thought.
Her French lessons were going well, and Elspeth was learning the language more quickly than Rose had expected. This was very surprising because English and French were so different to each other, but it seemed that Elspeth had a natural gift for picking up other tongues.
This pleased Rose enormously, not just because she was happy that Elspeth was doing well, but because it reflected well on herself and her ability as a teacher. She felt a little more secure knowing that the little girl was coming out of her shell; now the Laird would have less of an excuse to send her packing.
Afternoons, if the weather was good, were spent in the garden after lessons were finished. However, since the Laird had forbidden them to plant seedlings, Elspeth played on the swing which hung from the branches of one of the stout oak trees. She would have climbed the trees too if Rose had allowed her to, butRose was under strict instructions from the Laird that she was never to be allowed to do such a dangerous thing again.
“One of her previous governesses let her do that,” he had told Rose with a grim frown. “Elspeth fell down and might have broken her leg if one of the servants had not caught her in time.”
Elspeth was also growing fast, and Nell remarked that it would soon be time for her to start wearing longer skirts, since she would soon be a young woman.
“No!” Elspeth said angrily when Rose mentioned it to her. “I am not going to wear those silly frilly things! I will look like a cake with icing on it! Why do boys not wear dresses?”
Rose laughed and shrugged. “I think maybe because boys do things that might ruin their clothes,” she replied. “Like throwing stones at each other and fighting with wooden swords, jumping into streams and all those kinds of things. I only have sisters, so I really do not know.”
Elspeth looked sad all of a sudden. “I wish I had a sister,” she said wistfully. “Or a brother, or both.”
Rose could think of nothing to say to that, but she felt a sudden urge to wrap her arms around Elspeth. For a second, she felt her tense, then Elspeth gave a soft sigh and relaxed into Rose’s embrace. They sat like that for a short while before drawing away from each other, then Elspeth smiled at her.
“I like you, Rose,” she said fondly.
Rose’s eyes widened with surprise. “I like you too, Elspeth,” she replied.
After another wander around the gardens, they climbed the steep stairs up to the first row of turrets.
“I like coming up here,” Elspeth said.
She could barely look over the wall, but she loved standing beside the guards and pretending to be one of them. This seemed to be a peculiarly boyish thing to do, Rose thought, but it was one of the many quirks that made the little girl so endearing.
Their evenings were spent relaxing in Elspeth’s bedchamber, where Rose would teach Elspeth to play chess and tell her stories about her sisters and her childhood. Elspeth loved these, and even made up imaginary sisters of her own so that she could tell tales about them. Rose was utterly amazed by the girl’s imagination, and encouraged her as much as she could.
“You will be writing books soon,” she said, laughing.
Elspeth’s mouth made a perfect ‘O’. “I would love to do that,” she said in wonder.
“Your school work, especially your French, has been coming on so well that I think you deserve a little reward,” Rose said. “Would you like to take a ride through the woods? We could ask Nell and the cook to put all your favourite food together for a picnic, and maybe you could both sit beside Loch Gorm and eat it. It is very peaceful down there, so I’m told.”
To Rose’s dismay, Elspeth frowned and looked doubtful. She was quiet for a moment, seeming almost afraid, then she said hesitantly, “I am not sure I remember how to ride. I am not very good at it, and I have not been on a horse since… since Mammy…”
She broke off, and Rose hugged her quickly.
“Then make her proud of you,” she said firmly. “I’m sure your father can show you. It will be fun for you, and just think—strawberries, oatcakes, cheese, ham and some clootie dumplings—all your favourites!”
“But what if he says no?” Elspeth asked sadly.
Rose could have wept at the desperation in her eyes, but instead she smiled. “We will think of a way to persuade him,” she replied gently.
Elspeth thought for a moment, then nodded and took Rose’s hand, and they walked along to the Laird’s office together.
“Now, you must let me speak first,” Rose said, “to soften him up a little.” She winked, causing Elspeth to giggle.
