Chapter 12

12

"Astranger?" Lana stormed around the room, fuming. "It isnae me who is a stranger, Me Laird. It is ye! Ye daenae even ken yer own daughter."

Now that she was alone in her chambers, Lana was screaming all the things she had so desperately wanted to say to Daniel. She was letting out everything she had been thinking when he called her a stranger.

"How can he say such a thing?" she asked herself. "After he kissed me like that?"

Thoughts of Daniel's lips on hers and his fingers beneath her dress sent a fresh bolt of desire through her body. She had almost lost control with the man, forgetting everything she believed in. But she had dreamed of love since she was a child, and she couldn't give up on that so easily. Though it took everything inside of her to do it, she found the strength to push him away.

Lana threw herself into a chair in front of the unlit fireplace. She was frustrated and angry at Daniel and his cruel words, but also filled with pent-up desire. She took a deep breath, trying to calm her rage. For the first time, she looked around, taking in her new home.

The room was a clean and quiet space, with muted colors that made her think of a spring day. The furniture in front of the fireplace was oversized and comfortable, the perfect spot for reading a book or talking with friends.

There was a large four-poster bed at the other end of the room, but it wasn't intimidating. Gauzy curtains surrounded the bed, giving it a more feminine feel.

Heavy curtains embroidered with swirling vines and

covered the row of windows in her room. Lana could see the sunlight trying to peek around the edges of the curtains.

With a burst of energy, she bolted from the chair and rushed toward the windows. With an elaborate flourish, she drew the curtains to feel the sun shine down on her. She had to squint against the harsh light. Lana moved to the next window and did the same thing, repeating until she had five open windows, with the beams of sunlight visible as they hit the floor of her room.

"Much better." She smiled.

It was amazing how sunlight could instantly improve her mood. She stood by the final window for a moment, letting the sunlight melt the chill that had seized her body since Daniel had sent her out of his study.

"Me Lady?"

Lana heard a gentle knock on her door, and she turned to see a maid standing in the doorway. With her spirits lifted, she smiled wide and welcomed the servant into the room.

"I was to show ye yer rooms," the maid said, her eyes downcast. She seemed apologetic, already worried she had done something wrong.

"Daenae worry," Lana assured, rushing toward her. She noticed that the girl was about her age or perhaps a few years younger. She took the girl's hands in her own and squeezed them. "I needed a walk. It wasnae hard to find the rooms on me own."

She was pleased to see the girl look up and her with a smile.

"What is yer name?" Lana asked, still holding her hands.

"It's Genevieve," the maid replied. "But most people call me Gen," she added in a whisper.

"Then that is what I shall call ye!" Lana declared. She released the girl's hands and guided her to the center of the room. "Thank ye to whoever prepared these rooms."

Gen shook her head. "There wasnae much to prepare," she said. "The space is the same as it has been for nearly five years."

Lana remembered Daniel's comment about the rooms. He had told her she could make whatever changes she wished. It was at this moment that she realized she was in the chambers of his first wife and Skye's mother.

Lana looked at the room with fresh eyes, trying to understand the woman from the fabrics and the colors she had chosen for the place.

"Did ye ken her?" she asked.

Gen squirmed a bit, as if she wasn't sure if she should answer.

"It's alright," Lana assured her. "I daenae mind if ye talk about her."

"I was young," Gen answered. "But me maither has worked in the kitchen for most of her life. She said Lady Evelyn was one of the kindest women she had worked for."

"Aye," Lana said with a smile. "If her daughter is any indication, then she must have been warm and friendly."

Gen nodded, and Lana could tell the maid had some affection for the little girl. It made Lana curious about how the household was run. It seemed that Gen had been a part of this household her whole life. If anyone knew something about daily life here, it was probably her.

"Can I ask ye somethin'?" Lana asked.

She walked to the chairs set up in front of the fireplace and invited Gen to take a seat. The maid looked uncertain. It was clear no one had invited her to sit down in the lady of the castle's chambers before. But Lana was pleased when she smiled and took a seat.

"Of course, Me Lady," Gen replied.

"The Laird," Lana started, but before she could finish, she saw darkness flash across the maid's face. "Ye daenae like him?" she asked.

Gen quickly shook her head, clearly worried that she had done something wrong.

"It's alright. Ye can speak freely."

"It's just… he is scary sometimes. Forgive me, Me Lady, I spoke out of turn, I…" Gen stammered out.

Lana nodded. She knew the feeling. She remembered how afraid she was of Daniel when she first met him. The scowling man with his eyepatch could be quite intimidating.

"Please, daenae worry. I'm merely tryin' to get to ken everyone here. So the Laird isnae friendly with the staff?"

Gen seemed to really think about this. It made Lana like her even more. She could tell the maid wasn't someone who would easily follow gossip or make negative statements without cause.

"He is… distracted," the girl finally answered. "He keeps to himself. He isnae unkind, but my mother says he doesnae speak with us the way Lady Evelyn used to."

"I see." Lana nodded. "Then he's always like that? Is he always brooding?"

Once again, Gen tried to choose her words carefully before speaking. But this time, before she could speak, a little voice cried out behind them.

"Aye, if brooding means serious."

Lana spun around to see Skye's small figure standing there, her hands on her hips in a way that looked far too mature for a child.

"Lady Skye!" Gen was on her feet immediately. "Ye shouldnae enter a room without permission."

Lana saw the girl look up at Gen with large, round eyes. She even pushed out her bottom lip in a slight pout.

"I'm sorry, Gen," Skye murmured. "But the door was open."

That this was true. When Genevieve had entered, they had forgotten to close the door. Lana knew the temptation would be far too much for a curious little girl who had someone new in her home.

"Even so, ye must knock. Come, let's give the Lady some privacy."

"Oh, Gen," Skye cried out. Lana felt the girl's eyes on her, rather than Gen, as she pleaded. "Please, can I stay? We've never had any guests as long as I've lived."

"Ye ken that's nae true," Gen scolded. She took the girl's hand and started leading her toward the door.

Daniel's words rang in Lana's ears. She knew he would want her to let Gen lead Skye away without a word. But everything inside her was telling her to stop them. After all, Daniel expected her to teach his daughter how to be a proper lady. Shouldn't she do what she could to get to know her?

"Wait," Lana said, standing up. Skye looked at her like she was an angel sent from heaven. It nearly made her laugh. "Ye daenae need to leave."

With a twist of her wrist, Skye released herself from Gen's grasp. She rushed forward and threw herself into the plush chair next to Lana's.

"Skye," Gen warned, surprised by the girl's boldness.

Lana shook her head. "It's alright," she assured the maid. "She can sit wherever she likes."

Skye looked over at her and beamed, showing a missing front tooth.

"Ye daenae mind, Me Lady?"

"Nay. Why do ye nae leave us, Gen? I'm sure ye have other work to get back to."

Gen considered this. She looked at Skye, who was bouncing her legs against the cushion of the chair, and then back at Lana.

"If ye are sure, Me Lady."

"Aye." Lana nodded.

"Very well. Dinner should be ready soon. I'll come get ye."

"Thank ye, Gen."

The maid cast a final glance at Skye and then exited, closing the door behind her.

Finding herself alone with the girl, Lana suddenly felt nervous. What should they talk about? But she soon realized that the child had no shortage of topics.

"Isnae this room beautiful?" Skye asked.

Lana crossed over to sit down next to her. "It is. I'm very happy to be stayin' here."

"How long are ye stayin'?"

The question rendered her speechless.

"For yer visit," Skye explained, thinking Lana hadn't heard her. "How long will ye be here?"

Lana swallowed hard and repositioned herself on the chair. She leaned closer to Skye, wondering if she should take the girl's hand.

"Little one, hasnae yer faither told ye why I'm here?"

Skye seemed to understand the seriousness of this question because she sat still as she stared back at Lana. She bit her bottom lip as she pondered the question, and then she slowly shook her head.

Lana sighed. Of course, Daniel hadn't told her.

"Sweetheart, I'm here because yer faither and I… well, we're gettin' married."

Skye blinked those large blue eyes, and Lana saw how long her eyelashes were.

"Will ye be me new maither?"

This question was even more surprising, but all Lana could think about was the hurt the little girl must be feeling. She reached out and took Skye's hands in her own, squeezing them comfortingly. Tears formed in the child's eyes.

"Daenae fret," Lana soothed, smiling at her. "We will have some time to get to ken one another. I would like to learn more about ye—if that's alright with ye, that is."

"Aye." Skye sniffled. "And then ye will be me maither?"

Lana didn't know which answer would upset Skye more. All at once, she was starting to understand why Daniel had cautioned her about getting too close too quickly. What had seemed like a ridiculous command was suddenly more reasonable. Maybe Daniel had the little girl's best interests at heart, after all.

"I would like to be yer friend first," Lana said, choosing to avoid the question entirely. "Then ye can decide what to call me when we ken each other better. How does that sound?"

This solution seemed to please Skye, and she nodded with enthusiasm. Lana gave her hand a final squeeze before releasing it, glad they had avoided tears.

"I daenae have any friends," Skye announced. "Ye will be me first friend!"

"Well, that's nae true," Lana said, keeping her voice light, though the girl's statement tugged at her heartstrings. "What about yer new kitten? She's yer friend, is she nae?"

"Aye!" Skye suddenly remembered the little ball of fur probably wreaking havoc in her bedchambers as they spoke. "Now I have two friends."

"Well, me new friend, can ye do me a favor?"

The prospect of helping Lana was exciting to the girl. She relished the idea that they could help each other out so quickly after their newly formed friendship.

"Me maither is stayin' here for a few days, until the weddin'. She would love it if ye would call her Grandmaither. Could ye do that?"

Skye's eyes grew round at the request. "Aye." She nodded. "I've never had a grandmaither either!"

All of these statements made Lana want to gather the child to her chest and hug her. Luckily, Skye didn't seem very upset by them. Since she didn't know any different, she didn't dwell on these hardships.

"Alright, me new friend, what do ye say we go downstairs for dinner?"