Looking around at the maidens still sitting in the breakfast hall, she wondered which one of them was sharing the Laird’s bed instead of her. Her father had had a mistress for many years, so she was aware of the practice.
She looked down at her bowl of porridge, picking up the spoon and taking a bite. She made a face, since she never liked thethick, lumpy slop, but she tried to swallow a few more spoonfuls anyway.
“Would ye prefer something else?”
She jumped, looking up just in time to see Kayden slide into the bench beside her.
Her eyebrows rose. “I beg your pardon?”
“Ye daenae seem to like porridge. Would ye like something else? Poached eggs, perhaps?” He smirked at her.
Lilliana gasped, at a loss for words. She looked down at her porridge, deciding to trust that Kayden was acting with good intentions. “It is fine, thank you.”
He made a non-committal sound before turning to speak to someone on his other side.
Lilliana continued to take small spoonfuls of her porridge and tried to slow her racing heart.
Moira came in and sat on her other side. “It seems a gloomy morning. Does the porridge nae suit?”
Lilliana swallowed hard, wondering why everyone was asking her the same question. “The porridge is fine.”
The housekeeper frowned. “Cameron can make something else for ye if ye like. Ye just need to tell me whenever ye are ready.”
Lilliana tried to smile. “It is fine. Thank you.”
Moira expelled a breath, her brow furrowing. She did not speak again for some time as Lilliana made more of an effort to look like she was enjoying her food. She did not want anyone else to ask if there was something wrong with her meal or think she was trying to be rude by scorning it.
“Ye can visit the village after yer meal if ye still want to. I have supplies that need be delivered down there. I will have the girls pack yer basket of simples, shall I?” Moira peered at her closely, still looking concerned.
Lilliana’s head snapped to Kayden. She noticed the flicker in his eyes, but he gave nothing away. In fact, he was so stoic that she thought he had not heard Moira’s suggestion at all.
“Is this truly allowed now?” she asked, after forcing down the porridge in her mouth.
Kayden turned only slightly, his eyes meeting hers. “Moira would nae contradict me so carelessly unless I had allowed her to do as much.”
“So, I may go to the village now? Truly?” she repeated as he lifted his spoon to his mouth and took a bite.
She waited patiently as he contemplated his own porridge. She needed to hear the words directly from his mouth.
“Aye,” was all he said, before shoveling another bite into his mouth.
Lilliana twisted around to face Moira once more, nodding vigorously. “Yes, please.”
“Well then, that’s settled. Ye can take that maid of yers and a groom who will show ye the way.”
Lilliana gave her a tremulous smile. “Thank you.”
“Ach.” The housekeeper waved her hand dismissively. “We will get ye all set up and ready to go after ye have changed, Me Lady.”
She turned and walked towards the kitchens, pointing at a maid and chastising her for something.
“Moira sees ye as a sad puppy moping around all the time, and she wishes to put a smile on yer face,” Kayden said in a hushed tone.
Lilliana turned to face him again.
“I daenae blame her. With those doe eyes of yers, anyone would be tempted to give in to ye. But it isnae safe. Just remember that ye are asassenach, but ye are also me wife. So, yer originsdaenae mean the redcoats willnae hurt ye. And ye wish to strut around with just yer maid for company, who doesnae ken the land?”
He was too close for her to risk looking him right in the eye. She feared she might do something silly if she did. She could not help the warmth that his words evoked.
