Page 96 of The Laird’s Wrong Wife

“Come, sweetness,” she said. “We must show Paisley what ye have made.”

Tommy took her hand, and Ness followed with the crown tilted over one eye. They walked toward the castle, leaving Oscar beside the wall with the distance he had chosen.

Later that afternoon, Ceana knew she wanted to get this over with as soon as possible, so she found Mairi in the upper passage and waited till she finished directing the maids who stood with her.

“Which chamber can be prepared tonight?” she asked as the last maid left with her new tasks.

Mairi paused with her ring of keys in one hand. Across the narrow passage, an oak door stood a few paces from the chamber Ceana had shared with Oscar.

“That one, me Lady. It is smaller, though it has a sound bed and fireplace. The latch is also secure.” Mairi glanced toward the guest stairs. “There is a larger chamber further down.”

“I am stayin’ in the family wing. Prepare the room, and have me belongings moved out of the Laird’s chamber.”

Mairi’s thumb passed over the edge of a key. “Did he order ye to move out?”

“He asked for separate chambers.”

“Ah, I see.”

Ceana kept her gaze on the opposite door. “I need it ready as soon as possible.”

Mairi asked nothing further. She unlocked the smaller chamber, then called two maids from the stairs and gave them their directions.

The transfer began immediately. Folded gowns crossed first in a maid’s arms. Another maid brought Ceana’s night rails and returned for the combs and ribbons beside the washstand. Ceana gathered Daphne’s letters herself, tied the packet closed, and placed it in the chest at the foot of her new bed. Her books followed with her workbasket.

The door to Oscar’s chamber remained open. Each time Ceana crossed the passage, she saw more bare wood where her belongings had once been. The turned cover exposed the side of the bed she had occupied.

Her stomach tightened at the sight of the hollow in the mattress. She could almost feel the weight of Oscar’s arm against her waist.

“Shall I remove the second pillow?” Mairi asked.

“Leave the room as it is.”

A maid carrying the last of Ceana’s linen nearly collided with Tommy outside the children’s rooms. He had Ness’s battered flower crown in one hand, retrieved after the goat shook it off beneath the stairs.

“Why is she takin’ yer things?” His eyes followed the maid into the opposite chamber. “Are ye goin’ away?”

Ceana went to him at once and took his free hand. “Nay, sweetness. I am stayin’ here.”

Paisley stepped out of the schoolroom. She stopped beside the door, her hands pressed flat against her dress.

“Yer faither and I will sleep in different chambers for a while,” Ceana explained. “This has nothin’ to do with either of ye. Ye will find me at breakfast tomorrow, and I will spend the family hour with ye as always. If ye need me sooner, come to me.”

“May I still come into yer room?” Tommy asked.

“Ye and Paisley may always come.”

Paisley’s fingers loosened against her dress. “I will.”

Tommy considered the open chamber, then hung Ness’s crown on a peg beside the door. “So she will ken which one is yer room.”

Ceana touched the crushed white flowers. “That is quite sensible.”

By the time Muriel stepped into the passage carrying fresh bandages, the maids had finished folding Ceana’s gowns in the chest. Muriel watched one of them leave Oscar’s chamber with an empty basket.

“I passed by me braither downstairs,” she said once the servants had gone. “He answered two questions with one word. He only does that when somethin’ frightens him.”

“He has requested separate chambers.”