Page 27 of The Highlander’s Savage Vow

CHAPTER TEN

The door closed behind Ruaridh with more force than necessary, and Iona winced at the sound. Something she'd said had displeased him—she'd heard it in the roughness of his voice when he'd promised to find her something to do.

He thinks I'm ungrateful. Here he is, keeping me safe, and all I dae is complain about having naething tae occupy me time.

She was still berating herself when a soft knock came at the door.

"Come in," she called, expecting one of the servants with water for washing.

Instead, Alba entered with her usual bright smile, though today she seemed particularly pleased about something. "Me lady, Lady Niamh has sent me tae fetch ye. She's hoping ye might assist her with some preparations in the storeroom."

Iona looked up from her seat by the window, surprised. "She... she asked fer me specifically?"

"Aye, me lady. Said she could use yer help with the summer solstice planning." Alba's eyes sparkled with something that might have been knowing amusement. "Seemed quite eager tae have yer input, if ye dinnae mind me saying so."

Relief flooded through Iona so suddenly it nearly brought tears to her eyes. After the morning's conversation with Ruaridh, after feeling so utterly useless, here was someone actually requesting her help.

"Of course," she said, rising quickly. "I'd be honored tae assist her."

"Wonderful! She's in the main storeroom, checking supplies." Alba paused at the door, her expression growing thoughtful. "If ye dinnae mind me saying, me lady, it daes me heart good tae see ye settling in. The young master seems... lighter somehow, since ye arrived."

The comment sent warmth through Iona's chest, though she wasn’t certain she deserved such credit. "Thank ye, Alba. That's kind of ye tae say."

As they made their way through the castle corridors, Iona found herself wondering what had prompted Niamh's sudden request for help. Not that it mattered—she was simply grateful to have something meaningful to do.

They found Niamh in the castle's main storeroom, surrounded by sacks of grain and barrels of ale. Her sleeves were rolled up, and there was a smudge of flour on her cheek, but she looked utterly in her element.

"Iona!" Niamh's face lit up when she spotted her. "Thank ye fer coming so quickly. I was just thinking how much I could use a fresh perspective on these preparations."

"I'm happy tae help," Iona said, meaning every word. "What would ye like me tae dae?"

"Well," Niamh said, glancing around the organized chaos of supplies, "me son mentioned this morning that were feeling a bit... underutilized. He suggested I might benefit from yer assistance with the festival planning."

Iona's breath caught. "Ruaridh... he asked ye tae include me?"

"Aye, and I was grateful fer the reminder. I've been so caught up in managing everything meself, I forgot how much I could use another pair of capable hands." Niamh's smile was warm and genuine. "Especially hands belonging tae someone who'll soon be taking over these responsibilities herself."

But even as she spoke, her mind was racing. This morning she'd poured out her frustrations to Ruaridh about feeling useless, about having no purpose beyond being his unwanted wife. And now, mere hours later, his mother was requesting her help with something important?

He actually listen tae what I was saying…

The thought sent an unexpected flutter through her chest. She'd assumed her complaints had fallen on deaf ears, that he'd dismissed her concerns as feminine foolishness. But if he'd gone to his mother, asked her to find meaningful work for his wife...

Could he truly care about me and what I feel? Or am I reading too much intae what might be simple coincidence?

She studied Niamh's face, looking for any sign that it was not genuine need. But the older woman's expression showed nothing but warm welcome and the harried look of someone with too much to accomplish in too little time.

For the next several hours, they worked side by side, planning menus and checking supplies. Niamh asked for her opinion on everything from the arrangement of tables in the great hall to the selection of musicians for the dancing.

"What dae ye think about having the children perform first?" Niamh asked, consulting a list written in her neat hand. "They've been practicing a song about the clan's founding."

"That sounds wonderful," Iona replied, surprising herself with how easily the words came. "It would honor our history while including the youngest members of the clan."

"Exactly what I was thinking." Niamh made a note on her parchment. "And fer the feast itself—should we serve the lamb with rosemary or thyme?"

"Both," Iona suggested. "One for each course. It would show the abundance of the season."

"Clever girl." Niamh smiled approvingly. "Me son made a wise choice tae marry ye."