23
Gracie sat cross-legged on the soft rug of the nursery, a small wooden horse in her hand, while Rose and Eden tumbled around her with laughter. It had been one week since their return to castle McMillan.
“Why isFaither nae here to play with us?” Rose asked, pouting and tugging at her Gracie's sleeve.
Eden chimed in,“Aye, he always goes ridin’ and never stops long enough!”
Gracie’s heartclenched at the sound of their voices, and she pulled them close, smoothing their hair with gentle hands.
“Me sweet bairns,”she said softly, “Yer faither is very busy with his duties at the castle just now, but he will come play soon, I promise. For now, let us play together, shall we? I would love nothin’ more than to spend this time with ye.”
The twins cheered,clapping their hands, and Rose picked up the toy horse while Eden grabbed a set of wooden blocks. Gracie followed their lead, laughing as she built a small castle, her attention caught by the sparkle in their eager eyes.
As they played,Gracie’s mind wandered, and a twinge of unease settled in her chest. She realized how little she had seen of Jaxon since their return from Glenmoor, how rare the moments were when he joined them in the nursery. He had not come to bed before she fell asleep these past nights, and though she understood why, it made her heart ache. Jaxon was consumed with the search for Edmund, riding out for hours or even a full day, leaving the twins and her waiting in the quiet of the castle.
Gracie glanced at Rose,who was stacking blocks carefully, and Eden, who was balancing the horse atop the makeshift tower, and she felt a surge of protectiveness. She wanted to shield them from disappointment, to be the warm presence that steadied their little hearts while their faither’s duties took him away.
Yet she could not helpbut think how Barnaby’s words had fanned Jaxon’s anger toward Edmund, how the betrayal of a brother weighed heavily on him.
“Can ye read us a story?”Eden tugged at Gracie’s sleeve, eyes wide and pleading.
Gracie smiledand lifted the storybook from the shelf, settling herself on the edge of the little bed with Rose on one side and Eden on the other. She read slowly, her voice soft and melodic,weaving through the pages until the twins’ eyes grew heavy and they fell asleep, heads resting against her shoulders.
She gently laidthe book aside and brushed a stray curl from Eden’s cheek. Gracie sighed, the quiet of the nursery settling around her, yet her thoughts remained restless. Tonight, she would speak to Jaxon. The twins had gone too long without their faither’s attention, and she could no longer ignore her own loneliness. The warmth of the room contrasted sharply with the chill of worry that had taken hold in her chest.
After a bit,she quietly slipped from the nursery, careful not to disturb the sleeping children, and made her way through the corridor to Jaxon’s study. The door was ajar, and she saw him hunched over the large table, quill in hand, his eyes tracing over a map spread before him.
“Jaxon?”she asked softly, not wishing to startle him.
He looked up,brow furrowed, and gave a curt nod. “Gracie,” he said, voice low but steady.
“What are ye doing?”she asked, stepping closer, folding her arms.
“I’m markin’on the map the areas we’ve searched for Edmund,” he replied, tapping a point with the quill. “He’s out there causin’ trouble, and we must find him.”
Gracie’s expression hardened.“I understand yer need to find yer brother, Edmund, but ye’ve been neglectin’ yer family duties. The twins need ye, and so do I. Ye cannae simply vanish for days and leave us to wait for ye to return.”
Jaxon’s jaw tightened,his scowl deepening. “I am the Laird, Gracie. Me duties come first. Edmund is a threat to the clan, and I must act.”
Gracie’s handsclenched at her sides. “Ye can spare an hour a day to play with the bairns. Just one hour, Jaxon. They will remember their faither more than any search or map markin’. Ye cannae give them nothin’.”
“I daenae have an hour to spare,”he said. “Every hour away from the search could let him slip through our fingers. Do ye think the clan’s safety rests on idle play?”
Her cheeks flushed with indignation,her voice trembling. “And what about me? I wait in the bedchamber, night after night, expectin’ me husband to join me. Ye come in late, groggy and distant, and leave me alone to wonder if ye’ll ever see me before the dawn.”
Jaxon groaned,rubbing his temple. “Gracie, I…”
“Nay.Ye daenae understand. I am as much a part of this family as the twins. I need ye here, fully, nae only for the sake of the clan but for us.” Her voice rose with each word, echoing off the stone walls of the study.
“I am doingwhat I must. Do ye think I enjoy leavin’ ye and the bairns? I do it for all our sakes.” His hands clenched into fists at his sides, frustration written on every line of his face.
Gracie shook her head,tears pricking her eyes. “Ye cannae put everything before those ye love, Jaxon. Ye cannae tell me that duty alone matters.”
Their voices reverberatedthrough the study, tension thick as smoke. Jaxon opened his mouth to respond, but Gracie spun on her heel and stormed toward the door.
“I’ve had enoughof yer excuses,” she said, her voice cracking with sadness. “I will nae be ignored.”
She flungthe door open and stormed out.
