Page 52 of Her Highland Prophecy
“We only met recently, but we knew right away that we should be together.”
Faced with the unrelenting, suspicious gaze of the woman in front of her, Diana was upset with Gordain all over again. He had promised to be with her to help her through meeting and spending time with the Clan. Not only had he not done anything of the sort, but he was now actively avoiding her. Her stomach clenched with her anger, but she pushed it away.
“I see,” Eleanor said, her attention moving to the toddler in her arms as he started to fuss.
“Hush,” she said gently, rocking him. Joan moved up to her and took the baby, cooing at him as she went. Unfortunately, this left Eleanor free to place all her attention on Diana.
“And where is me Brother? He left ye alone here?”
“He’ll be back later,” Diana said vaguely, hoping she wasn’t lying. “I was spending time with Mabel and Joan today.”
“We have been teaching her things,” Mabel said.
“Have ye? And how does aSassenachfind life in the Castle?”
The wordSassenachwas said with such disgust that Diana nearly flinched, but she managed to contain herself. It was not the first time she had faced negative attitudes due to her Englishness, and she was certain it would not be the last.
In fact, except for the twins and Bhaltair, everyone else seemed to hold her in various levels of contempt because of it. Even Bhaltair’s brother Jaimie seemed to hold a grudge because of it. She had hoped that Eleanor would be more welcoming but had come to expect the sort of response she was getting.
“I don’t know a lot yet, but I am enjoying my time in Sutherford Castle. I have learned much from Mabel and Joan since I arrived.”
Eleanor sniffed but did not reply. Instead she turned to her daughter.
“Sit down at the table, Mairi, and have something to eat,” she instructed.
“Can I have bannocks with honey?” the little girl asked immediately, turning the force of her bright blue eyes on her mother.
“Aye, go ahead. But ye willnae have any pie with dinner if ye do.”
Mairi pouted but did not argue. Diana took a bannock from the platter near her, slathered it with honey and placed it on a plate, indicating to the little girl that it was for her.
Mairi squealed and rushed to sit down, clambering onto the bench. Her little legs hovered several inches above the floor and her chin barely cleared the tabletop, but that did not deter her one bit as she brought her prize into her mouth using both hands.
“Dinna rush or ye will choke,” Eleanor warned her. “And what do ye say when someone gives ye something?”
Mairi looked up, her cheeks covered with honey from one side to the other. “Thank ye, Auntie,” she said through a mouthful of food.
Diana shuffled back around to the table, her stomach roiling with built-up tension. She placed a hand over it gently, hoping to calm herself, and sat down at the table. Mabel sat back down as well, and Eleanor took a seat on Diana’s other side, her gaze fixed on where Diana was cradling her belly.
“Ye seem to be verra comfortable with the young ones. Do ye have bairns of yer own?”
Diana blushed at the implied question she could see in her eyes. Did Eleanor really just ask her if she was pregnant? She decided she would rather face the accusation head on. She raised an eyebrow in challenge.
“I don’t have any children of my own, nor do I plan to have any immediately if that is your concern, but I have a very young sister,” she replied, pulling her hand away, even as her stomach lurched again. “I practically raised her after the death of my mother and we have always been close.”
“I didnae mean—” Eleanor began.
“Yes, you did,” Diana cut her off. “I can see that you are protective of your brother and I understand. If my sister had presented me with a man I had never met before and told me they were betrothed I would likely react in the same way but let me reassure you that I have no nefarious plans. Your brother and I only wish to be together.”
Eleanor seemed stunned at Diana’s words, as if she had not expected her to be so forthcoming. Her surprised look melted into one of deep thought and for a few minutes, the only sounds around them were the gentle chatter from the rest of the Clan members sitting around them and the occasional clatter of cutlery.
“I can see that I misjudged ye,” Eleanor said finally with a sigh. “With me Mither out of the Castle right now, someone needs to look after him. I cannae say that I am pleased that me brother isnae settling with a nice Scottish lassie, but perhaps I was too quick to make judgement.”
It was not exactly a ringing endorsement, but Diana would take what she could at this point.
“Thank you,” she said. “I can’t change who I am, but I promise that the good of your brother and this clan are important to me.”
Not exactly a lie, but also not the full truth. While Gordain had become rather important to her and she had come to appreciate that quiet, busy life of the Castle, her priority was, and would remain, to get back home to her own time and her sister.
