“Aye.” Violet scooted from the bench and delivered the basket of eggs.
It was quick work to scramble eggs with salt and spoon two servings into bowls. Hannah moved to the table and set them down, before sitting next to her sister.
Her chest warmed as they sat together, eating eggs and listening to the rain pour. Something they’d done together as children.Their parents were missing, but it still stirred a childhood memory of eating breakfast curled together in the early morning, listening to the rain.
Violet’s head dropped on her shoulder, and Hannah jumped, immediately looking down at her sister with alarm.
“I miss Ma and Da.” Violet’s voice was quiet.
Hannah felt her heart ache, and she realized this was the first time Violet had really talked about them, perhaps brought on by the night before.
“Me too, Vi,” she murmured, dropping her cheek onto her sister’s head and breathing in woodsmoke and her unique scent.
“Why?”
“Why do I miss them?”
Violet chuckled a little. “Why did they have to go?”
Hannah rubbed her cheek against her hair. “I daenae ken. And before ye ask, it wasnae fair. But ye have to stay here, ye hear?”
Violet laughed softly.
“They went so fast.” Her voice was still small. She was the one who had found their parents, and Hannah knew it had hurt her.
“I ken.” She stroked her hair. “It wasnae fair. I wish ye’d had as much time with them as I did. I wish we’d both had more time.”
Violet nodded and then mumbled, “There’s nay way ye’re riding out in this storm.”
Hannah grimaced. “Aye, I would prefer nae to. I’ll see how the afternoon looks.” She paused, then announced, “Alright, Vi, I’m making bannocks.”
The afternoon had calmed the storm, and the driving rain had given way to a surprisingly pleasant ride.
The trek to MacBain Castle had been much shorter than the one to Calder, and Hannah was surprised by how near it was. She had never needed to go there, but at least she knew the way after her failed effort to go to Calder Castle two weeks ago.
She arrived a day early, telling herself she wasn’t eager to see Aiden. She was just being expedient.
She left her pony to graze and made her way to the massive castle. It was much bigger and older than Calder, certainly far larger than her modest cottage. She fought not to gawk like a stunned child.
As she approached the door, a guard stepped forward. “State yer business,” he said simply, but not unkindly.
Hannah swallowed and automatically touched her satchel and the whiskey bottle within. “Ah… I’m here to see the Laird.” Her voice was too small. She straightened up. “I’m Hannah Leon.”
The guard eyed her and seemed to decide a girl wasn’t a major threat to the castle. He stepped aside and waved her through the door.
A maid greeted her inside. She was a pretty girl, with round cheeks and blonde hair tied up in a tidy bun. “How may I help, miss?”
“I’m here to see Laird MacBain,” Hannah replied. “He’s expecting me arrival. I’m here at his invitation.”
The maid’s eyebrows rose before she could catch herself and school her face. Hannah had a distinct impression that Aiden hadn’t had many visitors since he’d arrived six days before.
“Of course, he instructed us to bring ye straight to him when ye arrived.” The maid curtseyed and turned. “This way.”
Hannah trailed her, gazing around the castle. She saw the MacBain crest again on the walls, a large fireplace, and an impressive elk rack displayed.
The maid led her down a hall and eventually stopped before a large, ornate door. She knocked and then opened it at the muffled “Enter.”Hannah smiled at her in thanks and stepped inside.
The sight that greeted her was so unexpected that she froze in place, jaw dropping.
