Katherine chuckled, putting the linen aside and rising to her feet. “I am finished,” she said. More slowly than she’d normally move, she began to walk toward the doors, Agnes’ footsteps following her. “Let’s see if yer father will indulge us.”
As they walked to Liam’s study, trepidation began to sink into her bones. She had plenty of time to overthink every moment Liam had spent with her during the night she stayed in Agnes’s room. Tilly told her he had spent the entire evening with her, and the healer said that if it weren’t for his efforts to lower her temperature, Katherine might not have made it.
“Ye’re quiet,” Agnes said, glancing up at Katherine. “Are ye sure ye’re well?”
“I’m simply tired,” Katherine said, which was more true than she’d care to admit. “Are ye protestin’ me bein’ quiet? Ye miss me volume?”
“That’s nae what I said,” Agnes grumbled though she was smiling as she did.
When they reached Liam’s study, the door was pulled closed. Katherine nearly told Agnes that he was clearly busy, but the girl stepped forward and knocked on the door before Katherine could speak. A beat passed before Liam’s voice said, “Enter.”
Katherine took a deep breath as she grabbed the handle. When she pushed it open, Liam was already looking at the two of them expectantly. His eyes lingered on Katherine, his gaze feeling like a physical caress.
“Ye’re lookin’ well but distracted,” Liam said, folding his hands on his desk in front of him. He sounded much too formal, almost like he was forcing himself to check in on her. “Has somethin’ happened?”
“Nay,” Katherine said, allowing Agnes to step into the study. “I’d like to give Agnes a lesson on the lands around us, but she insists that ye have the best maps hidin’ away in here.”
“He does,” Agnes said to Katherine. Shifting her attention to her father, she said, “Ye told me ye keep the most accurate maps here. The ones in the library are dated.”
“Aye, ye’re correct,” Liam said, unmoving. Katherine braced herself to be sent away, but he continued, “I keep hold of the most accurate records though the maps in the library do accurately depict the major landmarks.”
“Then we will conduct the lesson in the library,” Katherine said, putting a hand on Agnes’s shoulder to lead her away. It was better to dismiss herself than wait for the dismissal to come from his mouth. “I apologize for?—”
“Come in,” he said, stopping her from rambling any longer. “And close the door behind ye.”
He’s… welcomin’ us? Me?
Agnes rushed forward, putting herself in one of the seats across from him. Katherine closed the door slowly, ensuring the latch caught. Then, she walked over and settled next to the girl.
Liam had opened his desk, pulling out several large, folded pieces of parchment. As he put away the document he must have been working on when they entered, he said, “It’s important to ken the lands and who owns them.” He unfolded the map on top, spreading it out in front of him. “And it’s even more important to ken who owns the land. We’re surrounded by allies, but the second ye go further than this area here, ye could run into enemies. The?—”
He cut himself off suddenly. Agnes didn’t seem to notice, but as he tapped his finger against the parchment, Katherine saw how his jaw clenched. If they had been alone, she might have questioned him, but whatever it was, she could tell he was protecting his daughter from it in the same way he was shielding her.
His finger traced a circle, marking the zone he’d designated as safe. Agnes stood, getting closer. She asked, “So, if I ken whose lands I’m on, I ken whether or nae I’m safe?”
“Nae necessarily,” Katherine said, trying to memorize the places his fingertip touched. “There is always the chance of bandits or ill-intentioned men.”
“Precisely,” Liam said, meeting her eyes again.
The praise and heat in his eyes made her heart race in her chest. Despite wanting to look away, she didn’t. It felt like the world had narrowed down to just the two of them.
“Then why does it matter if the land belongs to our allies or nae?” Agnes asked, pouring water on the fire that she hadn’t realized was starting to burn.
“For one thing,” Liam said, clearing his throat and returning his gaze to his daughter, “if our allies find ye, they’re nae goin’ to imprison ye. And ye’re goin’ to be much more welcome on our allies’ lands than on the lands of those we daenae have agreements with.” He pushed the map closer to Agnes. “But, as ye can see, our lands cover quite a large amount of the surroundin’ area. As long as ye’re on our lands, there will always be guards nearby to keep ye safe.”
“I will admit that I daenae ken exactly where the boundaries lie,” Katherine said, reaching over to trace the line that represented the river. “This, I ken. But if there’s nae any natural borders, I’m a wee bit lost.”
“I should take ye both out and show ye the lands that belong to us,” Liam grunted, not looking away from the cartography in front of him. “I’m aware that ye’re ridin’ Brimstone about. I’d rather the two of ye ken the places that are safe than pretend ye’re nae goin’ out. Though I can make it clear that I’d prefer ye didnae go without me accompanyin’ ye.”
“Does that mean we can all go out ridin’ soon?” Agnes asked, her eyes sparkling. “Could I ride me own horse?”
“Ye’ve nae learned how to ride yet,” Liam said though his tone wasn’t unkind. “Once ye’re older, we can all ride our own horses. For now, ye’ll have to ride with Katherine or me.”
“Are ye…” Katherine began, looking between the two of them. “Are ye sayin’ that ye’d like to go on a ride with us?”
Was he nae doin’ everythin’ in his power to avoid me just last week? What has changed? Can I trust it?
“As part of Agnes’s education,” Liam replied. There was a quality to his voice that she didn’t quite recognize. “And yers as well. I cannae have either of ye ignorant of somethin’ as simple as the boundaries of our land, but I willnae send ye out to discover it yerselves.”
