She smiled down at Codie.
“Well then, I’ll teach ye when we return. But for today, ye can ride with me. Would ye like that?”
Codie’s face lit up. “Really? Ye daenae mind?”
“Nae at all. It’ll be an adventure.” She helped him climb onto the mare first then mounted behind him, arranging her skirts as best she could. “There now, how does that feel?”
“Amazin’!” Codie practically bounced with excitement. “I’m so high up! I can see everythin’!”
Elijah guided his horse closer, his expression unreadable. “We’re travelin’ to Kilmartin village,” he said, his tone formal and businesslike. “There’s an annual harvest festival, and the Laird’s family is expected to attend.”
“A festival?” Iris felt her own excitement building. She’d always loved village celebrations—the music, the food, the sense of community. “But what about the village dispute?”
“Well, it’s nae much of a dispute,” Elijah responded sharply. “The festival’s a way to gather some useful information. Talkin’ to some of the villagers helps me ken if anythin’ is amiss, and we figure out how to take care of it. Besides, I daenae attend the festival for pleasure. It’s an obligation. The people need to see their leaders, to ken we’re present and involved in their lives.” He shifted in his saddle. “In previous years, I attended alone. But now that I’m married, we must present a united front and show the clan that the McMurphy line remains strong.”
Always duty with ye, nay fun. Just like a wet blanket.
“Of course,” she said aloud. “I understand the importance.”
But privately, she was already looking forward to it. When was the last time she’d been to a proper festival? Her parents had rarely allowed such frivolous outings, considering them beneath their station.
“Can we watch the dancin’?” Codie asked eagerly. “And will there be honey cakes? And puppet shows?”
“We’ll see,” Iris said, squeezing him gently. “But remember, we’re there to represent yer faither. We must behave appropriately.”
“I’ll be good,” Codie promised. “I’ll be the best-behaved boy in all of Scotland.”
As they rode out of the castle grounds, Iris felt a flutter of anticipation mixed with nervousness. This would be her first public appearance as Lady McMurphy, her first chance to meet the people she was meant to serve. What if they didn’t like her? What if she said something wrong, did something inappropriate?
Stop it. Ye’ve been managin’ fine with the castle staff. These are just people, like any others.
The journey to Kilmartin winded through rolling hills dotted with sheep and small crofts. Codie kept up a steady stream of chatter, pointing out landmarks and asking endless questions about everything they passed. His enthusiasm was infectious, and Iris found herself relaxing despite her nerves.
Codie leaned forward in the saddle, his small hands gripping the pommel as his eyes darted everywhere at once. “Look, Iris! See that stone wall? Henry says it’s been standin’ since the Romans.”
Iris followed his pointing finger and smiled. “The Romans? Here?”
“Aye,” Codie said with great seriousness. “Henry says they built roads all over Scotland. Do ye think ghosts of Roman soldiers walk on them still?”
“Perhaps.” Iris lowered her voice to a whisper, as if sharing a great secret. “But only when the moon is full. Otherwise, they sleep in their graves.”
Codie’s eyes went wide. “Truly?”
She hid a grin. “Truly. But daenae worry, they like children. They’d probably guard ye, nae haunt ye.”
He seemed satisfied with that and pointed toward a flock of sheep grazing nearby. “Which one do ye think gives the softest wool?”
“The dirtiest one, most like,” Iris teased. “The cleaner they look, the rougher the wool. Or so I’ve been told.”
Codie wrinkled his nose. “That’s silly.”
“Life is silly sometimes.”
He thought about that for a moment then pointed again, this time toward a distant hill. “See that big stone standin’ there? Henry says the druids put it up.”
Iris squinted. A single standing stone jutted from the hilltop like a sentinel. “Druids, hm? Did Henry tell ye why?”
“Nay.”
