“Ye did exactly right,” Noah said firmly. “Esther needed someone to stand up for her. Thank ye.”
The pink in Ava’s cheeks deepened. “I just... I couldnae stand there and watch her be cruel to a child who’s been through so much.”
“I ken.” And he did.
That was what made Ava so perfect for this; she genuinely cared. Not because it was her job, but because something in her recognized Esther’s pain and responded to it.
A young woman with auburn hair and a friendly face appeared at his elbow, bobbing a quick curtsy. “Me Laird? Ye called for me?”
“Aye, Caitlin.” Noah gestured to Ava. “This is Miss Ava Harris. She’s Esther’s new minder. I need ye to show her to her rooms, the ones adjacent to me chambers, across from Esther’s.”
Caitlin’s eyes went wide, flickering between Noah and Ava with obvious curiosity. “Right next to yer chambers, me Laird?”
“Aye. So she can be close to Esther.” Noah’s tone suggested the topic wasn’t up for discussion. “Show her the way, help her get settled. And make sure she has everythin’ she needs.”
“Of course, me Laird!” Caitlin turned to Ava with a bright smile. “Come with me, Miss Harris! Oh, ye’re goin’ to love the rooms, they’ve got the most beautiful view of the gardens, and the bed is so soft, and...”
She was already leading Ava away, chattering enthusiastically. Ava glanced back at Noah, looking slightly overwhelmed, and he felt his mouth twitch with amusement.
Before Noah quite knew what was happening, Esther wrapped her arms around his legs in a fierce hug.
He froze for a heartbeat, knelt down, then carefully wrapped his good arm around her, holding her gently. “It’s all right, wee one. Ye’re home now. Ye’re safe.”
When Esther finally pulled back, tears streaked her cheeks, but she was smiling. She hurried off in the direction Caitlin had led Ava, leaving Noah alone in the courtyard. He straightened up, his arm throbbing now that the immediate crisis was over, and headed toward his chambers.
The healer would be waiting.
And after that, council reports. Border updates. The correspondence that had been piling up on his desk for four days while he’d been riding from village to village chasing Esther.
Things were back to how they should be. Esther was home, safe, with someone competent watching over her. He could focus now, do his work, and run his clan the way it needed to be run.
Ava Harris is me employee. Nothin’ more, nothin’ less.
“—and then there was the time that the Laird’s brother came visitin’, though that was before me time, but Agnes told me all about it, and apparently there was quite the row, shoutin’ and everythin’, and... Och!”
Caitlin stumbled over absolutely nothing, her arms wind-milling wildly before she caught herself against the stone wall.
“Are ye all right?” Ava asked, concerned.
This was the third time in as many minutes that Caitlin had tripped.
“Oh, aye, I’m fine!” Caitlin laughed, waving it off. “I’m terribly clumsy, always have been. Me mum used to say I could trip over me own shadow. Now, where was I? Oh, right! So the Laird’s brother, William, that’s his name, he’s the one who left wee Esther here, did ye ken that?”
“I... aye, I’d heard somethin’ about it.” Ava was still frowning at Caitlin’s near-fall, but the maid seemed genuinely unconcerned.
“Terrible business, that. Just abandoned the poor lass on the doorstep and rode off. The Laird was furious! I mean, I wasnae there, but everyone says they’d never seen him so angry. And he’s been raisin’ Esther ever since, though he’s nae the warm and cuddly type, if ye ken what I mean.”
They turned down another corridor, this one wider and more brightly lit. Portraits lined the walls, featuring stern-faced men and women who Ava assumed were Noah’s ancestors.
“He seems to care for her,” Ava said carefully. “In his own way.”
“Oh, aye, he does! But he has nay idea how to show it properly. That’s why ye’re perfect for this!” Caitlin beamed at her. “Ye’re already better than Margaret ever was. That woman had a heart of stone, I swear it.”
“She seemed... severe.”
“Severe? She was miserable! Always complainin’ about how difficult Esther was, how the child wouldnae speak, how she was too much work. I wanted to tell her that maybe if she was kind to the lass, Esther might warm up to her, but it’s nae me place to say such things.” Caitlin lowered her voice conspiratorially. “But between ye and me, I’m glad she’s gone. And I’m glad ye’re here! Esther needs someone like ye.”
They stopped in front of a heavy wooden door. Caitlin pushed it open with a flourish. “Here we are! Yer new chambers!”
