Alex watched the trail she left. Small words and simple praise. Names gathered and held. She did not play grand. She did notpretend this was her house. She acted as if she meant to live in it with care.
She had only been here for two nights, and she already knew the names of most of the servants.
This is nay ordinary woman, is she?
The thought lingered in his head until she reached the table.
The girls slid half off the bench without meaning to. Alex lifted his hand a finger width, and they sat again, bouncing once on the wood.
“Good evening,” Erica greeted, soft for the space between them.
“Good evening,” Bettie said. “Ye are on time.”
“I try,” Erica said.
“Will ye sit by us?” Katie asked, already scooting over.
“She will sit where she wants to,” Grandmamma said pleasantly.
Erica did not flinch. “I will sit where I want to.”
Alex stood up because the hall was watching.
“Welcome to dinner,” he said for any ear that had not yet believed the day. He touched the back of the chair to his right and watched as she took the seat without fuss.
The first bowls came out. Bread, broth, and a joint of ham. He reached for the knife and cut meat for the girls before he slid it onto their trenchers. They took it with quick thanks, eyes already back on Erica.
“Did ye see the garden?” Bettie asked.
“Aye,” Erica said. “Leah walked with me. She kens her plants.”
“Leah is the best,” Katie declared. “She can make the small white ones grow even when it is cold.”
“Sweet rocket,” Erica said.
Katie blinked. “Aye.”
Alex kept his eye on his plate and listened. Erica’s voice held no tremor, and the laughter that came at the right places did not sound strained. She tilted her head to hear the children’s fast stories and did not turn away until the end. Then she slipped into conversation as if the seat had been waiting.
The warmth unsettled him more than any argument would have. He had planned for a woman who would need steadying. He had not planned for this level of ease.
Calum sat down and watched the scene with his usual calm. When he caught Alex’s eye, he raised a brow a fraction. Alex answered with nothing.
“Tell her about the pup,” Bettie said to Katie.
“There is nothing to tell except that he is a bad dog. He steals our boots,” Katie said. “Da says he will be a thief if we daenae set him straight.”
“Then keep yer boots off the floor,” Erica advised. “He cannae steal what he cannae reach.”
Katie looked at Grandmamma, impressed, and the older woman allowed the edge of a smile.
A captain down the table raised his cup. “To the house,” he said.
Alex lifted his. “To the house.”
Erica matched them with a nod, no show. “To the house,” she echoed, then drank.
Alex noted the way Calum watched her over the rim of his cup. He was certain to hear from him later.
