Page 22 of The Anguish of the Scottish Lairds
“Mama? Why didn’t you teach me some of her tasks? I would like to be useful, but you’ve always told me it was your job. I could have helped you. Could I not help Meg?”
Her mother stopped and tapped her foot, thinking. “I suppose that is my fault. I didn’t wish to burden you, but you are old enough. Let’s ask Meg if she would like your assistance. Think on which chore you would like. I know you are not good with numbers, but you could work with Cook or handle the linens or the cellars. What about the wine?”
None of those chores sounded the least bit appealing to her, so she said the only thing she could think of. “I’ll give it careful consideration.”
“You do that and let me know. And what about Clan Grantham? Is there not someone there you are interested in? There are plenty of Grant and Ramsay lads in this world. Surely one of them would appeal to you. They are all of noble blood.”
She thought of Broc, wondering why she hadn’t approached him the other day. She’d been too taken with her new pets. “I’ll talk with Dyna when I go for my next archery lesson.”
“I think that’s a fine idea, Eva. I must move along to my duties.” Her mother swirled her skirt as she turned, something Eva couldn’t begin to mimic.
That conversation left her feeling as though she had no worth at all.
Meg came up from the cellars, the men heading out the front door while Meg approached the hearth. “It’s so cold in the cellars. I have to warm my hands. Are you hale, Eva? You do not look well.”
“I’m fine. It was just the conversation with my mother that frustrated me.” She moved over to sit in a chair by the fire. Meg was close to her age and so she should understand her problems.
“Can I help?” Meg asked.
“I’m curious. How did you know that you were good with numbers? Did you work hard at making yourself good with them?”
Meg sat down and shook her head with a smile. “Nay. It came easily to me. Part of it was that I loved numbers.”
“You do? But why? They’re quite boring to me.”
Meg laughed. “Because they’re always true. They don’t change, they are fun to play with, and they are exact. You don’t need to think on anything with numbers. The truth is there for you, and they’ll never lie to you. And there’s something about their rhythm, the way they work together, the patterns are so intricate sometimes.” She ticked her fingers as she talked, staring into the fire. “Sometimes, when Mama gave us something to draw with, I made pictures based on numbers. The results were quite pleasing to me, though Tamsin often said she didn’t see it. I always like things to balance out evenly. Do you understand what I mean?”
“Aye. Both sides of your skirt must be the same length.”
“Exactly!” Meg smiled.
“How did you know to love numbers? And how did you become good with the axe? I keep trying to perfect my archery skills, but I’m quite terrible at it.” She’d tried so hard, but she nearly always missed the mark, her arrow flying wide.
“I didn’t know I was good at either. It just came about. You know what a young lass told me out in the forest one day?”
“You mean Lia?”
Lia had been kidnapped along with three other bairns, Magni, Rowan, and Tora. Meg had been stolen to care for them. They’d gotten away and traveled through the forest, headed forthe port, finally running into Lennox who brought them all home. Lia was now six but at times spoke as though she were forty summers.
“Aye. Lia told me that the heavens know what your purpose will be, but they may not tell you until you need it most.”
Eva thought about that for a moment, then said, “Does that make sense to you?”
“It does. I didn’t think I was skilled at throwing an axe until I had to save the four bairns from that evil man. He came at us and something inside me said to throw it, and I did. He dropped instantly.”
“You mean you didn’t know you were good at axe throwing before then?”
“Nay, I did not. It was a total surprise to me. I’d done it before, so it was the only weapon I had to bring along with me when I ran away. I never planned to use it.”
“And the numbers? When did the heavens tell you that you had a special gift for them?”
Meg grinned. “The heavens never did. I learned numbers from my mother but never used them other than to play with in my mind. It was your brother who told me I was good at adding and calculating. I’ve used numbers more than ever, and I love using them.”
“So, the heavens didn’t tell you anything about numbers.”
Meg smiled and said, “Nay, but they sent your brother to me.” She stopped because her eyes misted, something that surprised Eva. “He was heaven sent, not the numbers.”
“And did you love him when you met him?”
