She pouted. “I hate it when grown-ups say that. It just means ye daenae want to talk about it anymore.”
“Well, if ye ken that already, then why daenae ye do as I ask? I’m very busy, Daisy. I cannae just spend a day shopping when I have things to do,” Finlay pointed out.
She took a big breath, letting it out in a long, dramatic sigh as she folded her hands on his desk and rested her head atop them.
“But I want more sweets,” she whined. “And I didnae get to tell Thalia to bring back some before she left this mornin’.”
“Ye’ll be fine,” Finlay said.
He picked up his quill again to finish writing the letter he had been working on.
“I did go most of me life without them before.” She let out a long sigh again. “I suppose I could do it again.”
The quill froze in midair as Finlay considered her words. The young girl sure could put up a fuss when she wanted to, and she was learning fast how far she could push him until he would give in.
He shook his head. No, he would not let himself be controlled by a seven-year-old girl.
“I told ye nay, and that is final.” This time, he injected some firmness into his voice.
Daisy stood straight and crossed her arms over her chest again. She dipped her face and said in a voice barely above a whisper, “Are ye and Thalia fightin’ again? Is that why ye willnae go to town with her?”
Finlay looked up from the letter. A stab of concern hit his chest when he saw her lower lip wobble like she was trying not to cry.
“We arenae arguin’,” he tried, but she didn’t look convinced.
She sniffled. “Is it because of me?”
“Nay, nay.” He stood, rounded his desk, and kneeled down so he was at eye level with her. “It has nothing to do with ye. ‘Tis all me, I swear.”
She swiped her sleeve across her face. “It is?”
“Aye, I’m the one who keeps losin’ me temper around her.”
It wasn’t the full truth, but he hoped that it was enough to help Daisy understand that she was not at fault. He could not bear it if she tried to blame herself again.
“But… ye care about her, do ye nae?” she asked.
“Aye,” he admitted, curious to see where she was going with this.
“And havenae ye said that it’s best to own up to our mistakes and admit when we are wrong?” She blinked up at him innocently.
Finlay narrowed his eyes at her. “Aye.”
“Then if it really is yer fault, ye should go and apologize to her,” she concluded with a firm nod. “And bring me sweets.”
Finlay bit his cheek to keep from laughing at her boldness. She was not only using his own words against him, but she was also pushing for him to do something that would let her get everything she wanted as well.
She really was too smart for her own good, but he decided to give in. Just this once.
“Aye, all right. I’ll go.” He shook his head as he got back to his feet.
Daisy’s face split into a wide, mischievous grin. “Thank ye!”
She wrapped her arms around his waist as he ruffled her hair. Then, with her mission complete, she turned and skipped happily out of the study.
He finally let out the laugh he had been holding in once he knew she was out of earshot. She had been right, in her own way. He did care about Thalia, and he did often get frustrated with her for his own selfish reasons.
Ava had already informed him that she had not gone to Inverness as planned, but had instead chosen to go to a nearby village. Beauly was the closest, so he would stop there first. They would shop together, and he would try to make up for the way he had been behaving of late.
