Laura tried to stand in her usual manly way, her gaze resting on Lennox in the doorway, who smiled instantly upon seeing her.
“Ye must be Billie!” she said with delight and hurried across the room to her side. “I have heard so much of ye. Forgive me, me forwardness, but after hearin’ so much of ye, I practically feel I ken ye,” Lennox was a fast talker indeed, reminding Laura of what Tam had mentioned of her always talking. Lennox was a little taller than her, looking down with dark brown eyes and a blushing tinge to her cheeks. “I’m so pleased to meet ye at last.”
“It’s good to meet ye too,” Laura lowered her husky tone to something deeper and bowed to Lennox.
“Nay need for that,” Lennox waved the action away. “I am a merchant’s daughter, and I am hardly a lofty person. Ye daenae need to bow to me.”
“Tea, Lennox?” Magret’s voice came from the doorway.
“Aye, please.”
“All that talkin’ ye do, pah! I’ll put some honey in it too, will soothe yer throat,” Magret chuckled as she went off to prepare some tea.
“Should I thank her for that or not?” Lennox smiled as she turned back to Laura, prompting her to laugh. There was something easy about Lennox to like, good humor and an easy conversationalist. “Now, while she is gone, come, I have a message for ye.” Lennox beckoned Laura to sit with her on the window seat. “Erskine came to me this afternoon. He wanted me to tell ye that he has been called away to the villages on the mountain side of the clan.”
“We saw the soldiers go,” Laura said, feeling her voice tighten at this news. “Has something happened?”
“Aye. Found it out just now meself,” Lennox spoke quickly. “Erskine came to fetch Tam, ye see, he has gone too. There are brigands attackin’ the villages. They have ridden off with the soldiers to go and stop the attack.”
“Oh,” Laura’s heart sank. Not only because she would not be able to see Erskine for a while, but because he was riding into battle.
What if he is hurt? What if he…no! Do not think it.
“Ye must nae worry,” Lennox patted Laura’s hands that she had bundled into her lap. “Erskine and Tam are excellent soldiers. They have survived many battles in their time.”
“You are not worried then?” Laura kept her voice deep. “Forgive me, Tam said you and he were good friends when we were traveling.”
“Aye, we are,” she blushed at this and looked down at her lap too, before looking up again, “and of course I am worried, but what kind of person would I be if I sat here beside ye worryin’ for them too? Nay, we have to be optimistic, cheer each other up, and look at the good things in life. I am sure they will be fine. They are both strong fighters.”
“I admire your optimism,” Laura felt her deep voice crack slightly with the truth of her statement.
“It’s an interestin’ voice ye have there,” Lennox smiled suddenly and sat back in the window seat, crossing her arms.
“Interesting?” Laura repeated, clearing her throat. “Just a little tickle in me throat, that is all.”
“Oh really?” Lennox clearly did not believe her, but she still kept a smile with it. Lennox waited a beat of silence before looking back to the door, clearly ensuring Magret was nowhere nearby. Hearing the sounds in the kitchen beyond, Lennox leaned toward Laura, dropping her voice to a whisper. “Tell me, does Magret ken yer secret?”
“What secret?” Laura pretended innocence, but her hands balled into fists, seeing the perceptive gaze of Lennox.
“That ye are nay more a boy than I am,” Lennox smiled again, and Laura’s jaw dropped in surprise.
Even Erskine had not discovered her secret without seeing the drawing of her.
How could Lennox just look at me and know?
“How did you know?” Laura gave way, seeing there was no point in trying to deny it from the way Lennox was staring at her.
“Oh, I had me suspicions before today,” Lennox continued whispering. “Things Tam and Camden said about ye, then just now, lookin’ at ye, it’s as though I’m lookin’ at me sister when she used to play dress up. She was always stealin’ the stable boy’s clothes,” her laugh prompted Laura to laugh too. It was one of relief before the truth settled in.
Someone else knows my secret.
“Lennox, please, I’m begging you, don’t tell anyone,” Laura implored her, her hands clasped together.
“Daenae worry about that,” she shook her head. “Yer secret is safe with me. Whatever it is ye’re runnin’ from, it must be bad for ye to come all the way to Scotland and dress as a boy for so long, am I right?”
“Yes,” Laura nodded. “It was bad.”
“Then daenae ye worry, I promise the words willnae cross me lips,” Lennox made an appearance of buttoning her lips shut.
