Page 13 of A Virgin for the Icy Highlander
“It’s true,” Maddie agreed. “I am forever asking her to do the illustrations for my research. She has drawn a thousandbutterflies for me.”
“A… cat?” Elspeth said, her eyes brightening.
“Oh, without a doubt!” Lilian chirped, beaming. “Any cat you like. I shall draw it so well that you will think it is about to leap from the page.”
The child slowly stepped from behind the drapes. “A… butterfly cat?”
“Now,thatwould be a fine thing, indeed,” Grace agreed, winking at Lilian. “What do you think? Could you draw a butterfly cat?”
Lilian nodded eagerly. “Certainly. Why, now that you mention it, I should verymuch like toseea butterfly cat. Maddie, do you think there might be one in the gardens?”
“It would be a rare sight, indeed, but perhaps if we look very carefully…” Maddie replied, all three ladies working together instinctively, keenly attuned to one another after their years of friendship.
The little girl let the drape fall back and tentatively stepped forward. Grace didn’t move a muscle, remaining crouched, keeping her hand extended, though her thighs and arm were beginning to burn. She would do anything to avoid startling the girl or sending her back behind the drapes.
Meanwhile, the maid who was obviously in charge of the child looked on in bewilderment, as if she thought the three women were quite mad.
“You will have to show us your room too, Elspeth,” Grace added.
“Ellie,” the girl said quietly, coming closer.
Grace smiled, her hand almost within reach of the child. “That is the name you prefer?”
Ellie nodded.
“Does this mean you accept the task of being our courageous leader?” Grace asked.
A hesitant smile appeared on the child’s pale, elfin face. Her coloring was that of her father, through and through, with her dark hair, blue eyes, and striking bone structure. Yet Gracecouldn’t help but look at the girl and wonder what features she got from her mother.
“I… dinnae have anythin’ to show,” Ellie said in a hushed voice, staring at Grace’s outstretched hand like she wasn’t sure she was allowed to take it if she didn’t have something to offer in return.
Grace boldly decided to close the distance, taking hold of Ellie’s little hand. “That doesn’t matter one bit, Ellie. All we would like is your company, and if it is a collection of your own that you want—why, we are very good at gathering things: stones, flowers, beetles, feathers, all sorts of treasures that can be found right here, in your home.”
The girl furrowed her brow, and her lips moved like she was chewing on the inside of her cheek. “This isnae home,” she mumbled a moment later. “I came here last night, after…” She shook her head, clamping her mouth shut.
“After the dancing?” Grace prompted.
Ellie nodded, dipping her chin to her chest, no doubt remembering how that had ended. Even Grace couldn’t forget the way the child had called out in her defense, fearing the worst from her father. It was a sad state of affairs, but with a rush of fresh determination, Grace decided that—for today at least—it didn’t have to be.
“Then let us make it your home,” she declared brightly. “We will begin with our rooms, making them entirely our own. What do you say?”
Ellie raised her head, that nervous smile creeping back onto her lips. “I say… aye.”
“Wonderful!” Grace got up, smothering the groan that tried to escape her throat because her thighs were on fire. With Ellie’s hand in hers, she turned to the waiting, bewildered maids. “Please, show us to our chambers.”
It took Grace, Maddie, and Lilian three hours to transform Ellie’s sparse, miserable bedchamber into a room that any little girl could be reasonably proud of.
What had once been a near-empty cell with nothing but a bed, a desk, and an armoire now resembled somewhere that a person lived. It became vivid with color from the rugs, tapestries, drapes, and fabrics that had been procured by the confused servants.
Several old gowns had been torn up and sewn back together to make a canopy for the girl’s bed. The walls were now covered with the swift and detailed sketches that Lilian did so well, bringing Ellie’s imagination to life. And the sweet, quiet child had begun a collection of her own, consisting of one pebble, donated by Grace, a shiny beetle carapace, donated by Maddie, and a silky red ribbon, donated by Lilian.
“More blackberry wine, darling?” Grace asked, affecting the sort of voice her older sister used in company.
Ellie snorted a laugh, sticking out her teacup. “Oh, yes, please.”
“Magnificent, darling. Imustask the butler about the vintage.” With a wink, Grace poured more of the stewed berry tea into Ellie’s cup and nudged a plate of currant scones, thick with butter, toward the girl. “Dearest angel-pie, you simplyhaveto have one of these; they are a rare delicacy, all the way from India.”
And you are so very thin…
