Mazey frowned and cast her eyes to the ground. “Ah’m sorry.” She didn’t even know what she was apologizing for.
Baile stood again and kissed her gently on the lips. The sweet kiss left her with warmth, rather than passion. “Don’t apologize, lass.”
Chapter 6
“Siusan, pack yer things. Yer faither wants to leave. Put that doll down right now and help me pick up this room and pack yer clothes.”
Siusan glared at Mazey and pursed her lips into a thin line. “Ah don’t wanna go without ye. Why can’t ye go with us?” The last part she said in a whiny voice that always drove Mazey’s nerves up a wall.
“Because ah wasn’t invited. That’s why. Now help me.” Mazey strode about the room, picking up all the little things scattered on the floor over the past couple days.
Siusan took advantage of Mazey’s diverted attention. The last thing Mazey heard was the door slamming. “Why me?” she exclaimed to nobody in particular. She chased after the mischievous child.
Siusan wasn’t in the hallway. That wee’un was so fast when she wanted to be. Too bad she couldn’t move that fast when Mazey wanted her to clean up her room or leave the stables after time with the horses. She knocked on Baile’s study, but there was no answer so she moved on to Baile’s quarters. Nothing. A child defeated her. Why did she even try to get Siusan to help? She could have packed everything herself.
She sauntered over to the dining hall, leisurely. No need to rush now. Wherever she headed, she would be there by now. It would take at least half the hour to persuade her to come back and help.
People moved in and out of the dining hall, cleaning up and getting everything ready for supper. There was always a large crowd in the beginning—guards, people that worked in the keep, family of the clan chief and family of high up servants. Baile wasn’t in the dining hall either. The only other place she could think of finding the girl was the kitchens, but they bustled with activity. Perhaps she went outside.
The gardens were quiet, so it was easy to spot Siusan. She sat next to her father on his favorite bench. She looked pleased with herself. That only served to further irritate Mazey. She became comfortable enough with Mazey that she now sassed, ran off and didn’t listen just as much as any other child.
“Maze!” Siusan called out when she saw her approaching.
Baile motioned for her to join them.
“Siusan, ah’m crass ye ran off on me like that.”
Siusan hung her head, approximating appropriate remorse, although Mazey could see a lingering grin on her face. “Ah’ll go finish packing.” She jumped up and ran off towards the keep. Mazey wondered why she escaped.
“Ah need to speak with ye,” Baile said from the bench. “Relax, ye’re not in trouble.” He must have been able to tell—every time he had ‘something to say to her’, she always thought the worst. She was sure her face betrayed her inner thoughts. “Siusan told me something ah didn’t think about, and now ah feel awful for not considering.”
She sat next to him and swore she would make Siusan go to bed early.
“She told me that ah forgot to invite ye on our trip. She would appreciate it if ah asked ye along. She doesn’t want to go without ye.”
“Ye don’t have to invite me,” Mazey objected. The last thing she wanted was to burden Baile and take time with his daughter.
“Ah know ah don’t have to, but ah didn’t really consider it before. Ah figured ye wouldn’t want to spend yer time with an old man like me. Ah’m assuming ye want to spend time with people yer own age. Ah just worry ah’m not giving ye enough time on yer own.” His voice was low and gravelly, but kind.
Mazey put her hand on her belly. The bairn inside her was calm, but moved now and then, brushing limbs against her belly. “Ah enjoy my time with ye and Siusan more than with anyone else.”
Baile was silent for a moment. His expression was thoughtful. “May ah speak plainly to ye? Ah don’t think ye would have trouble finding a husband to care for ye. Not everyone is as terrible as Hume.”
She heard him say this before, but this time despair filled her. Had his affection to her meant nothing? It hadn’t. She was a lowly servant and he the Laird of the clan. “Ah have nothing to offer.” Grief overwhelmed her. She dare not ask if he cared for her. The answer could tear her apart.
Baile put his hand on her back. “Ah’ll say it again, Mazey. Ye’ve got more to offer than wealth. Ah love watching ye play make believe with Siusan. Ye can cook. Ah know because ah’ve seen ye in the kitchens with her. The food ye make always tastes delicious. Ah love the needlepoint ye do and the clothes ye make.” He was staring at her so intensely she wanted to break eye contact. She worked on taking compliments without dropping her eyes or slouching. “Ye have the kindest heart ah’ve ever seen. Ah don’t know what ah would do right now without ye. Ah don’t want ye to feel tied down here.”
She swallowed at the knot in her throat, but it wouldn’t go away. She teared up and there was nothing she could do about it. Since she became pregnant, she cried a lot and it intensified the farther along she got.
“Ah’m sure ye’d get on just fine without me. Ye were doing fine before.” Mazey tried to keep the quiver out of her voice.
“Nay, ah struggled. After Malmuira left, my plate was too full. Ye really helped me take a load off. Now, if ah may, will ye come with us? If ye’re not feeling like ye need a break, it would be a joy to bring ye along.”
It would be fun. She loved spending time with Siusan and Baile. It was like she had a family. “Aye, ah’ll go, but only if ah won’t be in the way.”
“Ye’re never in the way.”
She felt a tingling sensation in her chest. “Ye’re not an old man.” It needed said despite her embarrassment at giving a compliment.
