Page 91 of The Highlander's Alluring Spy
When she finally finished writing and located Betty–not yet telling her the news, waiting for her to later read her own note and discover everything–it was very late.
And so she headed to bed. To her own bed, in her private room, to experience the quiet solitude of sleep.
When she entered the room, she heard a little bark and was both surprised and pleased to see her little dog curled up on her bed. She didn’t shove him off, instead moving him over to cuddle him while she lay down.
“I’m staying, Sir Spindrift,” she told him, as the dog curled contentedly in her arms. “Come what may, I shall not leave again.” And tomorrow, they would tell Elaine.
* * *
Elaine was very surprised when Dadaidh and Magnolia insisted she skip her morning lesson and come for a walk in the gardens with them, but she was hardly going to complain. Today was a numbers day, and while Elaine was good at numbers, she also found them very dull sometimes.
Magnolia came to fetch her as usual, and Elaine immediately noticed something bright and shiny pinned to her dark blue dress. “That’s lovely!” she said. “What is it?”
Magnolia touched the heart-shaped jewelry with a soft smile. “It’s a brooch, Elaine,” she told her. “Your Dadaidh is waiting. Shall we go outside?”
Elaine chattered about her dreams the entire way down the staircase and to the grand entrance. Still, she really thought that Magnolia seemed distracted, which was strange. Usually, Magnolia was the best at listening to her, but the Englishwoman seemed focused elsewhere today.
“An’thenI think I might turn into a dragon, just for fun!” Elaine tested her.
“That sounds nice,” Magnolia said vaguely as they traversed into the gardens.
“I kenned it! I kenned that ye werenae listenin’ to me!” Elaine accused. “What’s on yer mind, Maggie? Ye have to tell me now, else I’ll start to worry, and ye dinnae want that!”
Magnolia glanced at her in surprise, then chuckled. “No,” she agreed. “You’re right. I don’t. But can you wait just five moments more until we’re with your Father?”
Elaine nodded, but she watched Magnolia suspiciously.
Wait. Magnolia isnae tellin’ me she’s leavin’ now, is she?
Panicking, Elaine said very little for the rest of the walk. Maybe if she was very, very good, Maggie would stay.
Nathair was sitting on a blanket with some snacks and drinks before him, dressed very nicely but plainly. He stood when the girls approached, and only sat again when they did, as though they were at a fancy dinner. “Would you like some cheese, Elaine?” he asked.
She shook her head. “Nay, Dadaidh, dinnae tease me. What’s happenin’? Why dae we need to talk?”
Magnolia and Dadaidh exchanged glances in that way that adults sometimes do. It made Elaine very uncomfortable.
They’re hidin’ somethin’!
“Well,” Magnolia said slowly. “You know that I was only to stay here until your Father recovered. And he’s better now.”
Elaine bit her lip because she was about to start crying. “Aye,” she whispered.
“Well, I wanted to ask if it would bother you if I stayed a little longer. Or a lot longer,” Magnolia asked her.
Elaine blinked. “Wait. What are ye askin’ me?”
Dadaidh smiled. “I’ve asked Magnolia to marry me, me wee chook. But we’ll only dae it wi’ your blessing.”
Elaine shrieked and jumped to her feet. “Ye’re gonnae bewed?!”she demanded. “Maggie’s gonnae be me new step-mamaidh?”
Both adults laughed at her excitement, but Elaine didn’t care.
Married! Maggie’s gonnae be me Dadaidh’s bride! I kenned Mamaidh was listenin’ when I asked for help!
“I’ll take that as a yes,” Magnolia teased.
Elaine hurried forward, wrapping her arms around them both. “Aye,” she sobbed. “Aye, aye, aye. We can be a proper family atlast.”
