“That may be true,” said Redfern. “But you may still underestimate the lengths to which he will go to get what he wants.”
“If I may be so blunt,” said Halvard, leaning a little closer to the man, “why are ye tellin’ me all this?”
“Because, Laird MacLeod,” said Redfern with a small smile, “believe it or not, my business is to support peace, not to support the English. If Harcourt begins a war here, I will have failed my duty and my king.”
With that, Redfern’s hand slipped from Halvard’s shoulder and he stepped to the door, leaving the study with a final bow to him. And despite it all, Halvard couldn’t help but think he had a good man on his side.
“What’s that?”
Halvard looked at the letter in his hands as he and Elsie sat in the solar, taking their breakfast. Ever since they had sat down, he had kept that letter in his hand, and Elsie had fought her curiosity for as long as she could. But she could no longer help the urge to ask.
At her question, Halvard’s gaze snapped up to her and he gave a small shrug. “A letter from a soldier… his family lives at the village.”
Elsie hummed softly, the memory of that day returning to her with a vicious edge. She remembered the screams, the smoke filling her lungs, the way her heart had almost leapt out of her body when Halvard decided to run into that burning house. She chased the memory away quickly, her stomach churning the more she thought about it. Instead, she put down her honeyed bread ad braced herself on the table, leaning a little closer.
In the back of her mind, her governess’ voice echoed, telling her to not behave so savagely.
The more I stay here, the more I forget my manners.
Halvard let out a soft chuckle. “I cannae forget that day.”
“I don’t think any of us can,” said Elsie with a sigh. “But that’s a good thing, no?”
“Aye, I suppose it is,” said Halvard. “I shall go an’ meet with him today, in the village. Sten was supposed tae come with me, but now he’s got trainin’ tae dae.”
“I’ll come with ye,” said Elsie, jumping on the opportunity. Ever since the fire, she had wanted to go back and see how everyone was doing, but naturally, she could not go alone. Now seemed like the perfect chance to visit those people and accompany Halvard on his short trip.
This is my role now anyway. I’m the Lady of the Clan, I should be seen with him.
“Ye?” Halvard asked, sounding surprised that she offered. “It will take us all day.”
“Yes, I assumed it would,” Elsie said. “I don’t mind.”
Something in Halvard’s expression seemed to soften then as he looked at Elsie, and she felt her heart skip a beat.
“Very well,” said Halvard as he stood from the table. “Let us get ready then. The day’s passin’.”
Elsie stood with one last bite of her honeyed bred, dusting her hands as she followed Halvard to their chambers. After dressing for the journey and heading to the stables, he handed her a horse, saddled and ready for her to ride, and she quickly climbed on—only for Halvard to give her a puzzled frown.
“Ye should ride astride,” he said. “It’s a treacherous road.”
“I’m perfectly fine like this,” Elsie said. “I have ridden like this me whole life. I doubt a bit of treacherous terrain will make any difference.”
“I would be more comfortable if ye rode astride,” Halvard insisted. “In England, lass, it might be fine fer ye tae ride like this, but here ye’ll slip an’ find yer death.”
Elsie couldn’t help but roll her eyes at how dramatic Halvard made it all seem. She wanted to point out that she had defeated Margaret in a race, but Halvard would probably insist the terrain was smooth. He had that look in his eyes that Elsie had seen before, the kind that bore no room for disagreement.
“Fine,” she said, forgetting everything she had been taught in favor of riding astride—but she didn’t even know where to begin.Her dress suddenly seemed too bulky, her skirts gathering around her legs as she tried to swing the right over the saddle. For a short while, Halvard only watched her, his arms crossed over his chest as he gave her that infuriating skirt.
“So ye dinnae ken how tae ride astride?” he asked when Elsie gave up with a huff.
Her hair was beginning to fall out of her intricate, carefully pinned updo. A bead of sweat formed on her brow, and she was suddenly too hot, even in the chilly morning air.
“I’ve never had the need,” she said. “Or the opportunity.”
“That’s alright lass,” said Halvard as he approached her. “I’ll show ye. Come, let me help ye.”
Elsie truly had no choice but to let him, but when he pulled a stool closer, standing on it to reach her with ease and grabbing her by the waist, she couldn’t help the rush of blood to her face, her cheeks flooding with color.
