Talia blushed and squeezed the woman’s hand. “What should I do to set up a workroom?” she asked.
“Ye have to see Darragh,” Orlagh answered quickly. “He is the only one who has the authority to assign a room to ye for yer use.”
Devils!
Talia had thought she would be able to avoid him after he had treated her so rudely this morning, but it seemed it wasn’t to be.
She worried her lip between her teeth.
“Can I nae speak with Cohen?” she asked. “I’m sure?—”
“He would tell ye to do the same,” Orlagh cut in.. “Think of all the good ye could do when ye have yer own healing chamber, Talia. There are many like me afflicted by different illnesses. Ye would be helpin’ a lot of us, and even Darragh would be disinclined to refuse ye. ‘Tis yer right, after all. He pulled ye from yer life and yer work.”
That was true.
Talia had noticed a few people she could help if she had her herbs and medicines in the few days since she had arrived at the castle. It was the least he could do to make her stay easier, since she was doing what he had asked her to by meeting the suitors he brought to her.
“I will go and find him,” she announced, rising to her feet. “Surely he wouldnae deny me this request even if it’ll only be for a short while.”
“He wouldnae,” Orlagh assured her.
“Let me take ye back to yer chambers first, then I’ll go see him.”
“Oh nay, daenae worry about me, dear Talia. I will be fine,” she insisted.
“I daenae want to leave ye here by yerself.”
“I want to sit and enjoy the fresh air for a moment longer. Daenae deny an old woman her pleasure.”
Talia frowned as she contemplated whether or not to leave.
“Daenae worry, Talia,” Orlagh insisted. “I am well. The earlier ye see Darragh, the better.”
Talia nodded, relenting.
She made her way back to the castle and towards the one room where she knew Darragh would be, unaware of Orlagh smiling as she did.
Orlagh watched the girl go with the flame that she had lit well underneath her legs. If she were not looking forward to having her as her daughter-in-law, she would have felt guilty about sending her into a situation that may not leave her unscathed.
She laughed to herself, wrapping her plaid tighter around her shoulders. Soon, she would see her plan actualized.
“Oh, I have missed such squabbles,” she murmured as she walked through the gardens.
The moment she had seen her son and Talia’s interaction, she decided to help the two of them realize the attraction between them. Perhaps Jonathan had been hoping that the two would getmarried. That must be why he had included such an odd clause in his will.
Whatever it was, it made Orlagh happy to see her son have a passion for something other than fixing the mistakes his father had made. When he had stormed into the morning room, she was ecstatic to sense his jealousy and anger. And she decided that it was best to stoke his anger.
And what better way to do that than to send the object of his anger to him?
Perhaps his anger would turn into passion, and he would end up realizing his feelings towards Talia.
“It is indeed a beautiful day,” Orlagh sighed.
All she had to do now was find Cohen and make sure he didn’t ruin the plan she had set in motion.
“Me Laird, may I speak with ye for a moment?” Talia asked, stepping into the room.
Darragh stiffened, watching her as she eyed him warily. She looked determined to have him hear whatever she had to say, and he couldn’t help but wonder if she had come to pick a fight with him over what had happened this morning.
