Page 9 of The Highlander's Alluring Spy
Elaine didn’t understand it, but she knew she hated it when they left because Dadaidh always got sad.
“’Scuse me, Lady,” Elaine said, folding her arms. Both adults looked at her.
“Haud yer wheesht, pet,” Nathair told her.
The lady shook her head. “It’s quite all right. You can call me Magnolia if you like. What’s your name?”
“Mag-nole-ya?” Elaine asked, tilting her head. “Me name’s Elaine.”
The lady smiled. “Elaine, is it? That’s a beautiful name. My Mother was named Eleanor, you know. It’s nearly the same thing. Maybe that means we’ll be friends?”
Elaine stared at her. If that was true, it was exciting! She had never met another Elaine or Eleanor before. That was almost like fate! But she was still suspicious. “Miss Magno…Magna…Maggie, are ye gonnae make my Dadaidh sad?”
Magnolia seemed amused by the nickname. “What’s adod-yee?”she asked in her strange accent.
Ah, so clearly she didn’t know very much. That was all right. Elaine would help her. Elaine was very good at helping people. She was patient as she explained, “Dadaidh is what I call my Athair.”
Magnolia frowned. “And yourah-hairis your…”
“That’d be me,” Nathair spoke up, “her Faither. She’s speakin’ in Gaelic. My wee chook is well-educated already. Can ye keep up wi’ her?”
Magnolia gave Nathair a look that Elaine didn’t understand. She didn’t look mad or sad, but she didn’t look happy either. “I’m sure Elaine and I can teach each other a lot. I find that working with my charges rather than dictating to them tends to go over much better. And look, she’s taught me a new word already!”
Elaine looked at Nathair and was thrilled to see he was smiling.
I must have made him smile because I’m helping Maggie to learn!
Elaine gave her father a huge beam to show she was pleased, too. If her helping Maggie was helping Dadaidh, then Maggie could stay…maybe.
Nathair gave Elaine a brief grin in return then looked back at Magnolia.
“Tell me, Miss Leighmoore, how well dae ye cook? We’ve got a cook, o’ course, but if she’s no available or we’re away from the castle, how would ye feed Elaine?” Nathair asked. He had a thoughtful look on his face. “Ye look high-born. Nae really the type to be slavin’ o’er a hot stove.”
“High-born enough to be educated in the arts, My Laird, and no more,” Magnolia replied pleasantly without so much as a pause. “I am pleased to prepare food in most any circumstance. I would happily find out Elaine’s likes and dislikes to make sure I can cook something we all enjoy if need be. I can act the role of maid and cook as well as a nanny. Whatever My Laird requires.”
Nathair nodded, looking thoughtful again. Elaine looked between him and Magnolia, then decided that he obviously needed some help. She wriggled down off the chair, and, with a little difficulty, down off the dais, too. Dadaidh didn’t try to stop her, but she felt him being nervous behind her. Elaine marched right up to Magnolia.
Magnolia smiled at her and crouched so that their faces were level. “Warmest greetings to you, young Maid, Elaine. Did you have something to ask me?”
Elaine pulled herself up to her biggest height, making sure that Maggie knew thatshewas the Maid of MacFoihl, and therefore she was in charge. She nodded. “Aye, I dae have a question,” she said. “Dae ye ken any good games, Maggie?”
“Games?” Magnolia blinked a few times, then laughed. “I know hundreds! Do you like marbles?” She reached into her right pocket and pulled out a shiny white ball. It was beautiful, but…
“I have a load o’ marbles. Dae ye ken anything else?” Elaine asked her. If she didn’t have anything other than that, then what was the point?
Magnolia thought about it for a moment, then her face brightened. “Have you ever played Handy-Dandy?”
“What’s that?” Elaine asked, curious. She’d never heard of such a game.
Magnolia closed her hand around the ball and stood up straight, then put both arms behind her back. After a moment, she said, “What hand is my marble in?”
Elaine pointed. “That’s easy. That one!”
But when the right hand was extended and opened, it was empty!
Is she using magic? Is she a witch?
Elaine was uncertain.
