Page 40 of The Highlander's Alluring Spy
“Aye,” he said with a tired smile. “Aye, we’re friends.”
And that will have to be enough.
11
The Widower
Elaine didn’t know what had changed between her nanny and her father, but she knew she was happy with the results. They still seemed a little awkward around each other, but it wasn’t in the same bad way from before. Dadaidh even sometimes laughed at Maggie’s jokes!
I cannae remember the last time Dadaidh laughed, and it wasnae because o’ me or Uncle William!
And Dadaidh seemed lighter in other ways, too. He was spending more time away from his study. He was still really busy, Elaine knew, but he made a point of seeing her more often. Today, for example, all three were taking a walk down to the village together!
“Hold me hand, Elaine. I dinnae want ye gettin' lost,” her Dadaidh said for the third time.
Magnolia laughed. “She’s fine, Nathair. She kens—I mean, she knows the way better than anyone.”
Both Nathair and Elaine looked at her in surprise, and Elaine giggled with delight. The Scots word sounded so funny coming from Maggie’s English voice!
Nathair was smirking, too. “Och, aye, ye ken, dae ye?” he teased.
Magnolia rolled her eyes. “A slip of the tongue, I assure you.”
Elaine grinned. “Ye’re pickin’ up Scots just by bein’ here, Maggie! Ye’ll be speakin’ full-on Gaelic like me an’ Dadaidh can before ye ken it!”
With a gentle smile, Magnolia said, “I’m not so sure about all of that.Je parle un peu de Français,y é hablar un poco de Español. I also read Latin, and Ancient Greek, as my Father was determined that I have as much education as possible. I am not sure there’s room in my brain for yet more languages, especially one as complex and beautiful as yours.”
Nathair chuckled. “Spanish, French, Latin, Greek…Isuppose chan eil aon chànan gu leòr, aye?”
“What does that mean?” Magnolia asked, but Nathair just laughed again and started walking off ahead.
Elaine hurried to Magnolia’s side, taking her by the hand. “Dinnae worry. He always speaks Gaelic when we’re goin’ to visit the clan. It means ‘One language is ne’er enough’,” she whispered.
“Oh,” Magnolia said. “It’s stunning.”
“Wouldnae it be funny if I taught ye some Gaelic phrases? Ye could use them on Dadaidh when he doesnae expect it to get back at him for teasin’ ye. What dae ye think?” Elaine asked excitedly.
Magnolia had an odd look on her face as she stared at Nathair’s back ahead of them, but when she turned back to Elaine, her usual gentle smile was in place once more. “You know, Elaine, I think that sounds like an entertaining idea.”
* * *
They visited Greta first. Nathair claimed he wished to thank her personally for the jam that Magnolia and Elaine had brought back with them after their last visit. Magnolia spent some time catching up with her new friend. Then Elaine asked if she was allowed to stay here while Nathair and Magnolia went about their business.
“Me an’ Bernie have a new game, and I really want to play some more. Can I, Dadaidh? Can I, Maggie? Please?” she begged.
“Aye, please, if ye kindly would!” Bernie added. “I’ve been hard at work on the farm a’ week, I’d fair love a wee break to play wi’ Elaine. Can we, please?”
“You should ask your Mother,” Magnolia told him, while Nathair watched with that little amused smirk on his face that seemed to be slowly becoming a permanent feature. “After all, she will be the one who has to care for Elaine as well as you.”
“Dinnae worry about that! I can care for meself!” Elaine insisted.
“Is that so?” Nathair asked, folding his arms and giving a theatrical sigh that reminded Magnolia of Commander Candlish. “Och, well. I suppose I’ll have to send Magnolia back then. If ye can look after yerself, ye dinnae need a nanny.”
Elaine’s eyes widened. “What? Nay! Nay, nay, I cannae. I’m just a wee bairn, I need a nanny, I dae, Dadaidh, really, I—”
“He’s teasing you,” Magnolia assured her, shooting Nathair an exasperated look. “Honestly. How silly.”
Greta chuckled. “Ye’re right animated today, Elaine,” she said. She turned to Nathair. “Me Laird, ye’re welcome to leave her here while ye and Magnolia dae what needs daein’. I promise I willnae let her get spirited away.”
