“Not just any maid,” Isla replied. “Margaret. She and I are already getting on famously. I believe we might become the best of friends, and friendship with a girl my own age is something I feel as though I need just now.”
Margaret stifled a surprised laugh.Good gracious, I must have made quite a first impression, at that!she thought.
“But Margaret has already been promised to Bonnie,” Seamus said.
“ThenBonniecan have another maid,” Isla insisted. “Father, I want this dearly. And if you value my happiness—something I have had reason to doubt of late—then you will prove it by obliging me thusly.”
Seamus had no wish to prolong his daughter’s ire toward him. He needed her to go along with the planned wedding, so making any concession in the name of her immediate happiness seemed like the best course of action. Besides, she was right; another maid could be found for Bonnie easily enough. There were plenty of serving girls in the castle with good heads on their shoulders, and he supposed that one was just as good as the next when it came to keeping his children company and looking after them.
“Very well, lass,” he agreed. “Margaret shall be yer maid, then, and I have no doubt she’ll serve ye faithfully. Bonnie, I shall arrange for another girl to look after ye.”
“I wanted Margaret,” Bonnie grunted, folding her arms and pouting.
“It seems I am enormously popular today!” Margaret laughed. “I am so pleased to have met all of you, and Isla, I am sure we shall indeed be the very best of friends!”
I certainly hope so, Seamus thought, feeling the first twinges of a headache behind his eyes.Anything to make these next few weeks transpire more smoothly.
