When she came across Liam, she was almost surprised to see that Agnes was there with him. She looked almost confused, holding onto whatever he was saying. And Liam…
Liam was gesturing at the plants in front of them, his posture tense and proper. He was engaged but seemed like he wanted to be doing anything else. She moved closer quietly, trying to listen to what he was saying.
Is he… givin’ Agnes a lesson?
“Do ye remember what this one is called?” Liam asked, his fingers closing around a large leaf. He rubbed them together, clearly releasing the scent into the air. “Ye liked the smell, aye?”
“Aye,” Agnes said, her brow furrowing even further, “but I daenae remember the name.”
“This one, then,” Liam said, pointing to another plant.
“That one is mint,” Agnes said. “That’s easy.”
“And this one isnae?” Liam replied, sounding as if he truly couldn’t understand what a six-year-old would struggle with longer names. Perhaps it was because the child was so well-spoken. Katherine often forgot how young she was herself. “Ye truly cannae remember?”
“Nay,” she said, her frustration apparent on her face. “I am tryin’ but I cannae.”
Liam paused, his jaw tightening. It was clear he was struggling though he was trying his best. Katherine decided then, before he could get too upset, that it was time to step in.
“That one is marjoram,” Katherine said, drawing both of their attention.
His head snapped toward her. He frowned, looking more upset about being caught teaching Agnes than about being corrected. Agnes, however, grinned at Katherine’s presence.
“I have trouble rememberin’ the names,” Agnes admitted, stepping over to Katherine. “There are just so many of them, and all of them have different uses.” She pointed at the plant, the round green leaves swaying slightly in the breeze. “And some of them look so similar. What if I need somethin’ for digestion but grab somethin’ for a headache instead?”
“Well, it willnae hurt ye to treat a headache rather than a stomachache,” Katherine said thoughtfully. She looked at the herb garden, considering how overwhelming it would be for a girl as young as her to learn all the names and uses. “Perhaps we can devise a method that will help ye remember the names and what each plant does. But the names should come first.”
“Father wastryin’,” Agnes said, the frustration still there even though she was trying to be diplomatic.
She’s glad that he’s helpin’ her, even if she doesnae like the way he teaches her.
“I’m sure ye learned somethin’,” Katherine said with a grin. “Yer father is smart; ye saw it with how well he kent the lands. Some subjects are easier to teach than others. I didnae ken a thing about the lands.”
“I suppose ye’re correct,” Agnes sighed. She looked back at the marjoram. “I think that I will remember marjoram now, though.”
“Ye’ve done well today,” Liam said, finally speaking up. His surprise was gone, tempered by something that looked like fondness for the girl. “Ye can go back to the castle, Agnes.”
“Aye, Father,” Agnes said. She looked back at Katherine, gesturing for her to bend down. When Katherine’s ear was even with her mouth, she whispered, “Marigold brought berries today, and I’m goin’ to get some from the cook. Olivia should be bringin’ more tomorrow.”
With a giggle, Agnes ran off toward the castle doors. Katherine covered her mouth, her own laughs bubbling out of her. It seemed that Agnes became more and more like her every day.
“Ye undermine me,” Liam said, his tone surprising her. He was playful; the stiffness from her interruption now faded.
“I wanted to help her,” Katherine replied, stepping a bit closer to him. “I imagine it’s difficult to keep everythin’ straight. It took me a long while to memorize the plants that wouldnae poison me and even longer to learn what the ones that were healin’ did.”
Liam made a low noise of acknowledgment, turning to face her fully. He slid closer, and her heartbeat picked up. The air seemed to grow still. She could feel his breath against her skin, count each light freckle that had appeared on the bridge of his nose.
“Are ye plannin’ on doin’ that again?” he asked, so low she had to strain to hear him.
She was caught by his gravitational pull now. As helpless to his presence as the Moon was to the Earth. They were so near that she almost forgot that he’d asked her anything.
“I might,” Katherine finally said, barely above a whisper, “if it’s good for her.”
Liam laughed, a soft, incredulous chuckle. For a moment, he just studied her, the corner of his mouth lifted in a way that made him nearly irresistible. Then, he murmured, “She does better when ye’re the one teachin’ her.”
Her breath caught, the admission feeling so unlike him that she couldn’t quite wrap her head around it. Even weeks ago, she would have thought it to be impossible for him to admit that her methods were better than his. Or, at least, she wouldn’t have imagined that he’d admit it directly to her.
“Are ye admittin’ that ye’re wrong?” she breathed, laughing a bit despite herself at the ridiculousness of his words.
