Page 51 of Her Highland Prophecy
“So, what are we doing today?” she asked only to realize that the younger girl wasn’t even looking at her. She was on her feet, her eyes glued to the entrance of the dining hall where a woman with two young children had entered.
“Eleanor!” Mabel exclaimed and then looked around wildly. “Joan, look, it’s Eleanor!”
Diana was surprised to see Joan’s eyes suddenly sparkle as she matched her sister’s excitement. She had learned over the last few days that the quieter of the two twins was not very easily riled, but if it hadn’t been for the bun in her hair she would have easily thought it was Mabel sitting there rather than Joan.
She looked back at Eleanor, who must have been the eldest of the Gordain’s sisters, the one that he had mentioned was already married with children of her own. Just by looking at her, she never would have guessed her to be a member of the same family.
Unlike the twins and Gordain, Eleanor was raven haired, short and rather round. In her arms she held a small toddler that didn’t look to be more than a year old and trailing behind her was a small girl of maybe three or four years, sporting the same dark hair as her mother in two neat plaits.
The little girl’s face broke into a huge smile as soon as she caught sight of Mabel standing and rushed toward the head table as quickly as her little legs could carry her.
“Auntie!” she cried, her smile never faltering as she threw herself into Mabel’s arms. Diana noted with amusement that the little one didn’t even attempt to differentiate between the twins.
“Welcome back, Mairi,” Mabel said holding her on her hip and pressing a kiss to her cheek. Mairi’s legs kicked out happily.
“Mither said that ye didnae ken that we were going to surprise ye. Did ye like it?”
Diana chuckled at her excitement, gaining the little girl’s attention. Mairi tucked her head into Mabel’s shoulder shyly, her face peeking out to glance at Diana. Mabel and Diana exchanged amused looks at her shyness.
“Who are ye?” she asked.
“This is Uncle Gordain’s betrothed, Mairi. Her name is Diana and she is going to be yer Auntie too.”
Mairi’s shyness seemed to evaporate in an instant. She turned away from Mabel extending her arms to Diana who took her automatically. Mairi ran her hand over Diana’s hair, gently tracing where it ended just over her collarbone.
“Why is yer hair so short?” she asked.
“Mairi!” Mabel scolded. Diana waved her off and looked at the serious face of the little girl against her hip.
“Well, it was fashionable to have short hair like this where I used to live before.”
Mairi’s eyes widened.
“And why do ye talk funny like that?”
“Mairi, that’s enough!” Mabel scolded again with an apologetic look at Diana who just chuckled. She didn’t mind Mairi’s questions. They honestly reminded her of when Grace had been younger and would blurt out the most inappropriate questions whenever they popped in her head. Seeing it now in Mairi made her miss her sister all the more.
“It doesn’t bother me, Mabel,” Diana reassured her. “I speak differently than you, little one, because I lived in England instead of Scotland until a few days ago.”
“Are ye English?” Mairi asked, her blue eyes round.
“Yes, I am.”
“Da says that the English cannae find their own arses and that they should go back where they came from,” Mairi said in a completely matter-of-fact tone.
“Mairi!” three voices exclaimed simultaneously, even as Diana broke out in helpless giggles at her words.
“What?” the little girl shrugged. “He did say that.”
“Enough from ye, ye wee rascal,” a deep female voice said and Mairi immediately quieted obediently. Diana looked up, realizing that Eleanor had reached them while they were talking. She put Mairi down and the little girl scampered over to her mother.
“Good morning,” she said with a hint of nerves, though she wasn’t certain why. What did her good opinion matter when she would be gone in a few weeks anyway? Even if Gordain had wanted her to stay, her family awaited her in her own time. Still, in the absence of their mother, Eleanor was the eldest in the family and well respected by everyone.
“Me Brother’s betrothed, I presume,” Eleanor answered coolly, her sharp blue eyes examining Diana from head to toe.
“My name is Diana,” she introduced herself. “I have heard a lot about you.”
Eleanor’s sharp gaze did not abate. “I hadnae heard anything about ye before me Brother announced yer betrothal.”
