Page 29 of A Highland Bride Disciplined

She hadn’t meant to grow this attached in six days, but already Elise felt like a limb. She was a part of her that moved and breathed and pulled her toward something new.

Still, she nodded and passed her carefully into Morag’s arms.

The transformation was immediate.

The formidable housekeeper, who barked at staff and stormed through corridors like a battering ram, softened visibly. Her voice dipped into something close to a coo, and she cradled the baby like she’d done it a thousand times before.

“I’ll be back down soon,” she murmured, brushing a thumb over Elise’s bonnet. “Daenae start any revolutions wi’out me.”

Scarlett watched them go, the door swinging gently shut behind them.

She sank back onto the rug with a quiet sigh.

Effie flopped beside her. “I daenae think I’ve laughed that hard since the goat got into the chapel and headbutted the minister.”

Scarlett grinned despite herself. “Aye. Tam may be fearless in battle, but Morag’s got sharper weapons.”

They sat in quiet for a moment, letting the fire crackle and the absence of the baby settle over the room like a cooling pan of bread. It was pleasant, but just a little too still.

“She’ll be back soon,” Scarlett murmured, almost to herself.

Effie glanced at her. “Ye mean the bairn?”

Scarlett nodded. “Feels strange wi’out her. Does it nae?”

Effie bumped her shoulder lightly. “It’s a good kind of quiet. A quiet for thinkin’.”

No reply came because her thoughts had already slipped somewhere else.

To a man with too many shadows and too few apologies.

To the way he’d looked at her in the study.

To the way she wanted to hate him, but couldn’t seem to make the feeling stick.

“Do ye think he’s still angry?” Effie asked, voice low and feigning distraction.

Scarlett arched a brow. “Laird Crawford? That man came out the womb fumin’ at the world. He’ll die angry.”

Effie chuckled but didn’t let it drop. “Still. Ye two had quite the row.”

Scarlett exhaled sharply. “Aye. A difference of opinions, ye might say.”

“Aye… as much of a difference as lightning is to thunder.”

Scarlett gave her a sideways glance. “We kept the furniture intact.”

“Only ‘cause ye were holdin’ a bairn between ye like a peace treaty. The whole keep might have heard ye.”

“I seriously doubt that.”

“I heard through the door.”

“Ye wererightoutside the door, Effie.” Scarlett huffed and leaned her head back against the wall. “He acts like I summoned him for sport. Like I wrote that letter just to twist his tail.”

Effie grinned. “Ye did, though.”

“Aye, I did. And I’d do it again.”