Page 7 of A Highland Bride Taken

She took a step towards them, then remembered she wasn’t alone and turned to the Laird, who watched her suspiciously. The boys gave her the same look, and the similarity between them threatened to coax a smile onto her lips.

They would certainly grow into handsome lads, much like their father had been. She hoped one of them would take their mother’s beautiful features.

“I didnae bring ye here to stare at them,” the Laird said suddenly. “I need ye to feed them.”

She nodded and approached the bed, her heart sinking when they shrank away. She held out a hand, placing the other on her chest.

She eyed the tray that had been placed on the side table, laden with bread and braised fish. She frowned as a memory rose to the fore—Layla had written to her that the boys had a strong aversion to fish.

“May I trouble ye with changing the tray?” she asked, turning to the Laird. “Have them bring some fruit instead. Apples and berries, if there are any in the pantry, with soft bread and milk.”

She smiled when she heard an excited intake of breath behind her, but didn’t turn to look at the children just yet.

The Laird didn’t look pleased by her suggestion, but he nodded, and the maid cleared the tray.

Mabel turned back to the boys but waited uncomfortably for the new tray to be brought in.

She was aware of his eyes on her all the while, and that knowledge caused her breath to hitch as she muttered a silent prayer that they would ultimately not refuse her.

She didn’t know how long they had gone without food, and the thought rattled her to her bones.

The door opened, and the new tray was brought in, which she accepted before turning to the boys.

“Me name is Mabel,” she began. “I have here blueberries and apples, as well as fresh bread and milk. Something tells me ye both like blueberries.”

She attempted a few steps forward and sat on the edge of the bed, tray in hand.

“They are for ye, but if ye dinnae eat, then I will enjoy them,” she said, taking a bite of the apple. “It will be a shame to waste such a lovely morsel.”

“Yer name is Mabel?” Connor asked softly.

Her eyebrows rose at the question, but she nodded.

Their eyes narrowed in concentration and then widened in recognition. No doubt Layla had told the boys about her, and that fact made her smile.

Mabel moved closer to them, knowing they wouldn’t refuse her now.

“What is yer name?” she asked, even though she already knew.

“Connor,” he answered. “Me braither’s name is Ollie.”

“‘Tis verra nice to meet ye both,” she answered.

“Ye’re verra bonny,” he mumbled, hiding his face in his brother’s hair.

She smiled and ruffled his hair, fighting the urge to pull them into her arms.

“Ollie, do ye think I’m bonny too?” she asked, trying to draw the younger boy out of his shell.

Ollie snuck a peek and hid his face again, but she caught a small imperceptible nod.

“Well, if ye both think such, I must thank ye.” She smiled. “But I must also ask ye to eat. As men, ye have to do whatever a bonny lass says.”

Connor wrinkled his nose and nodded. “Me da did whatever me ma said.”

At the mention of their parents, tears stung her eyes, but she blinked them away.

“So, ye will eat?” she asked, holding out a piece of fruit to him.