The mention of the children,and by extension, their father, made Piper’s stomach clench with anxiety.
Piper’s curiosity,which she’d been trying to suppress since yesterday, suddenly surged forward.
“Can I ask…”She hesitated. “What was she like? The Laird’s late wife?”
Amara’s expression shifted,and for a moment, Piper saw something complicated flash across her face. Sadness, maybe. Or regret. But then it was gone, replaced by a gentle smile.
“Catherine was… very beautiful,”Amara said slowly, moving to help Piper out of her robe. “Absolutely stunnin’. Dark hair, gray eyes, a figure that made other women weep with envy. She could have had any man in the Highlands.”
Something cold settledin Piper’s stomach.
Of course,she was beautiful. Of course, she was thin and slender and tall.
“He was young when they married,”Amara continued, helping Piper into the blue dress. “—only nineteen—but from the moment he saw her, he was besotted. Would have done anything for her. Given her anything she wanted.”
Piper stood stillas Amara began lacing up the back of the dress, each word feeling like a small knife to her chest.
“What happened to her?”Piper asked, even though she wasn’t sure she wanted to know.
“They were ambushed.”Amara’s voice dropped, becoming softer. Sadder. “On their way back from a visit to a neighborin’ clan. Bandits attacked their carriage and killed the guards. Elijah fought them off, killed most of them, actually, but he was too late. One of the bandits had already gotten to Catherine.”
“That’s terrible,”Piper whispered.
“It was.”Amara’s hands stilled on the laces. “She died in his arms. And Elijah… He’s never forgiven himself for nae bein’ fast enough. Strong enough. For failin’ to protect her.”
That’swhy he’s so obsessed with protection. He thinks if he lets himself care, he’ll fail again.
“He’s never beenthe same since,” Amara continued, resuming her work on the laces. “Before Catherine died, he was different. Warmer. He smiled more, laughed more. But after, it was like somethin’ in him died with her. He threw himself into bein’ Laird, into his duties, and pushed everyone else away. Even his own children.” Amara’s voice was higher than normal while talking about Catherine, but Piper ignored it. It must have been because she didn’t like talking about the woman her son loved and lost.
Piper feltthat irrational jealousy surge again, hot and sharp. The image of Elijah smiling at a beautiful woman—holding her, loving her, beingbesottedwith her—made something twist painfully in her chest.
What am I doin’?Why do I care?
But she did care.That was the problem. Despite knowing him for only a few days, despite the obvious reasons she should keep her distance, she cared what Elijah thought. Cared that he’d loved someone else so completely. Cared that he’d looked at another woman the way he’d never look at her.
“There.”Amara tied off the laces and stepped back. “Let’s see how it looks.”
Piper turned to face her,and Amara clapped her hands together with obvious delight.
“Perfect!Well, nearly perfect. It’s a bit loose in the bodice, but that’s easily fixed. Ye look lovely, dear. Truly lovely.”
Piper movedto the small mirror, and what she saw surprised her. The dress did fit—well enough, at least. The blue color brought out her eyes, and Amara had somehow managed to make the garment hang properly despite Piper’s curves.
But when shelooked at herself, all she could see was the ways she didn’t measure up. Her face was too round. Her body too soft. She would never be the kind of woman who made men besotted. Would never be a Catherine.
Stop it,ye’re here to teach his children, nae to compete with a dead woman.
“Come,”Amara said, linking her arm through Piper’s. “Let’s get ye down to breakfast before everything gets cold. And I can introduce ye properly to Connor; he’s much more agreeable than his sister, I promise.”
They leftthe chambers and made their way through the castle’s corridors.
In the morning light,Piper could see details she’d missed last night—the tapestries depicting the clan’s history, the weapons mounted on walls, the way the stone itself seemed to breathe with age and strength.
“The childrenhavenae had a woman’s presence in their lives for so long,” Amara said as they walked. “Well, except for me, of course, but I’m their grandmaither. It’s nae the same as havin’ a young woman around. Someone who can teach them, guidethem, show them that there’s more to life than just duty and responsibility.”
“I’ll do me best,”Piper said with more confidence than she felt. “I signed a contract. I gave me word. I’m nae the kind of person who breaks her promises.”
“Good.”Amara squeezed her arm. “Because I have a feelin’ ye’re exactly what this family needs.”
