Page 65 of An English Rose for the Highlander
“And what is all this that I hear of ye leaving?” Oskar stopped in front of her, Peggy struggling to keep up behind him, her breathing hurried.
“I tried to tell him, mistress. Be he could not be reasoned with.” Peggy glared playfully over at Oskar, and it was the first time Rose could see that air of friendliness in Peggy’s eyes behind the familiar gesture.
“I see. Well, yes. I will be returning to England with my parents. Someone must be there to hear the Crown’s judgment, and I will better serve the situation in London, where I can be a part of it.”
“Is that so?” Oskar looked as if he believed her as much as he believed the sun was purple. “And ye talked this over with the Laird?”
The mention of Dominik was a swift kick to her gut, like Rose had made the mistake of walking behind an agitated horse. She nodded slowly, doing her level best to school her expression into one of indifference.
“I have. He assured me that I could do whatever I wished.”
Oskar’s typical snarky expression shifted, genuine surprise and then concern washing over his handsome features. Peggy shrank into herself at the words, flicking a nervous glance up at Oskar before pinning it on Rose.
“He said that?” Oskar stepped forward as he asked. “What in the bloody hell is wrong with him?”
“Oskar!” Eilidh snapped, whacking him on the arm with the back of her hand.
He only flinched slightly, rolling his eyes as evident exasperation filled his expression, saying, “The two of ye. I think that conversation was as honest and straightforward as speaking with one of the unseelie.”
Rose didn’t quite understand what Oskar was saying, though she’d been educated in the folklore of fairies since her arrival. If she had parsed it out correctly, Oskar knew that speaking to her with the Laird had undoubtedly been a conversation of hidden motives and lies of omission.
“You are quite sure that leaving is the best course of action, mistress?”
Utterly shocked to hear the words from Peggy of all people, Rose didn’t bother to hide her surprise.
“Of all the people. Peggy,youwish for us to stay?”
Her maid blushed, lowering her face toward the floor. “I…I would not presume to tell you what to do, my lady. Though I will admit that I have grown to…enjoy my time here.”
Oskar snorted, chuckling as he nudged Peggy in the arm with his elbow.
“See. I told ye that we’d win ye over.”
Rose could see Peggy retreat into herself, her shyness taking charge. “Yes, you did.”
“It is for the best, I’m afraid.” All eyes in their small group shot to Rose, and she nodded once—firmly and resolute. “I must ensure we are ready for departure, but I have been instructed by ourlovely Eilidh that a send-off dinner will take place tonight. I will see you all there.”
Falling into old habits, Rose curtsied, quickly fleeing the room before her emotions could get the best of her. Instead of dwelling in them, allowing them to drag her down, Rose proceeded straight to her parents’ borrowed chamber.
It did not take her long to navigate the paths of the castle, now well-known to her after all this time in the keep. She arrived at her parents’ room and knocked on the door.
A moment later, her mother answered. “Rose, darling, come in. We were just discussing our journey back to the city.”
“Perfect.” Rose stepped inside, her body feeling tight and wrong. “I wanted to ensure that we were ready to leave following dinner. The keep is providing us with a farewell meal.”
“Oh, that’s lovely.” Horatia walked back to the small settee in the room and sat next to Baldwin, who looked as confused and oblivious as always. “I simply cannot wait until we are at last back home, of course.”
“Of course.” Rose knew she sounded flat, her tone distant and hollow. But she was surprised when her mother frowned at her, picking up on it, too. That was decidedly not her mother’s forte, and her reading Rose’s emotions now was nearly enough to make the tears fall once more.
“Dearest, you do not appear to be as excited about our return. Is there something you wish to say?”
Rose wasn’t sure what it was about the question, but it was enough to send her right over the edge, the burning frustration and sorrow in her boiling over like an overfull pot.
“Excited? Mother, have you paid no attention to anything I’ve said since you arrived? For the entirety of my life, in point of fact. No. I am not excited. I love it here. I have settled in and become part of the people. I was terrified when the fire was consuming the main entrance. I treated burns and bleeding with Fiona, feared for the lives of the people whom I have seen every day since arriving.”
Her words were vulnerable, raw. Rose could not bring herself to even bother to hide her emotions.
“Darling, what’s gotten into you?” Horatia stood up from the settee, walking up to Rose where she stood in the middle of the room, and taking her hands. “You are never like this.”
