For a moment, just a moment, Melody longed to believe it. Shedidbelieve it. Sophie spoke with such confidence, such ease, that perhaps she was right. Perhaps the unspoken ache in Melody’s chest would resolve itself. Perhaps Victoria would come, against all odds, and solve her sister’s problems for her as she had done so many times in the past.
Perhaps Melody would finally discover what it was she wanted, and how her wants connected to her strange betrothed.
“Was there anythin’ else ye wanted to ask me, then?” Sophie asked, almost as an afterthought.
“Actually, yes,” Melody admitted, leaning forward. “Callum said something strange when we were talking. About his wife. He said she?—”
A tap on the door made her flinch.
“Enter,” Sophie ordered, her expression turning distant. Melody guessed that the old woman knew what question she was going to ask, and did not want to hear it.
The door inched open, and Lucas stepped inside.
“I thought Kat might still be here,” he said, his face falling.
Sophie sighed. “Nay, lad. She’ll be at the healer’s chambers, and she’ll nae thank ye for an interruption. What did ye come for?”
“Oh, I brought ye this,” he responded, fishing an ornate piece of stiff card, covered in neat, looping copperplate. Sophie took it with an approving grunt.
“Is there anythin’ else, Lucas?”
“Nay, me Lady. I’ll take meself off. Good day to ye both.”
He bowed, retreating from the room and closing the door behind him.
“What’s that, then?” Melody enquired, craning her neck.
“Just the usual invitation,” Sophie responded, handing over the card. “Every year, the largest village near the Keep throws a festival. There’s food, market stalls, dancing, singing, that sort of thing. The Keep is nearly empty, with everybody gone. The Laird and his family are invited, too. They’ve invited ye too, this year. See, there’s yer name.”
Sure enough, there was Melody’s name—she was written down asThe English Lass, Lady Melody—at the bottom of the card.
“Oh,” she said, pleasantly surprised. “Well, that sounds like a lot of fun.”
An open-air market, with dancing and food? Out in the beauty of the Highlands? Yes, that seemed like a fine excursion indeed. Melody was surprised to feel a fizzle of excitement at the prospect.
“Oh, we’ll nae be goin’,” Sophie responded with a sigh.
At once, her hopes plummeted.
“Not going?” Melody echoed with a frown.
Sophie sighed. “I’m too old, and I cannae recall the last time Callum ventured outside of the Keep walls.”
“Well, that can’t be right. Surely a laird must travel through his lands?”
“He sends Lucas and other trustworthy men, I believe. Although…” Sophie paused, chewing her lower lip and eyeing the invitation. “This festivalwouldbe a wonderful way for ye to meet the people of the clan. Aye, the more I think about it, the more I think that perhaps yeshouldgo.”
“I should very much like to go,” Melody answered eagerly. “With Callum, of course.”
“Well, ye cannae,” came a deep voice from the doorway, making them both jump. “Sorry to disappoint, but I am nae goin’ anywhere, lass.”
15
Sophie flinched when Callum spoke and gave a squawk of rage.
“If ye daenae stop sneakin’ into rooms, lad, I swear…” she snapped, glowering at him. “I’ll…”
“Ye willwhat, Grandmother?” Callum shot back with a wry smile. “What will ye do?”
