Page 71 of Highlander's Wild Lass

“Aye, in a bit,” she said, looking around the kitchen. “I was wonderin’ if ye needed any help cleanin’ or cookin’ this mornin’?”

Mrs. Duncan was rendered speechless. “Y-ye want to help? Help m-me and the maids in the kitchen?”

Celestia nodded. “I need somethin’ to keep me busy and I always enjoyed cookin’...” She saw the look on Mrs. Duncan’s face. “Perhaps nae, then? I dinnae mean to overstep or—”

“Nay, nay, nay, Celestia. Ye just took me by surprise, dearie.” Mrs. Duncan snapped her fingers and a maid stood at attention at her side. “Get the lady an apron, will ye please, Faye?”

The maid’s eyes shot to Celestia in wonder and shock, but she said nothing and disappeared into the rooms just beyond the kitchen, quickly returning and handing the apron to Celestia.

“We’re gettin’ breakfast ready. So, if ye’d be kind enough to cut the onions. I’ll be mixin’ them into the egg dish I’m makin’.”

Celestia grabbed a knife and settled at the center table with a pile of onions to cut. She could have given a thousand excuses as to why she found herself here of all places, but Mrs. Duncan offered an old childhood comfort that she desperately needed at the moment.

* * *

Anthony had finished his work for the day, way too early for his liking. He was sitting in his study, avoiding Celestia with Sebastian standing before him, arms crossed and looking exhausted.

“Did ye have a good night?” Sebastian asked.

He only nodded. “Did ye?”

Sebastian smirked. “I always do. Where is yer new wife? She isnae in yer bedchambers.”

Anthony arched a brow. “Ye went into my room?”

“Nay, the door is wide open. I simply just peered in as I passed.”

Anthony shrugged. “I dinnae ken.”

“Ye daenae ken where yer wife is? I figured ye would still be in bed with her—marital bliss and all that, ye ken.”

Anthony closed his eyes. “It was blissful.”

“Then why are ye in here and Celestia is nowhere to be seen?”

He shook his head, steepling his fingers together and tapping them against his mouth. “She must be somewhere.”

“I’m sure she’s somewhere, but... ye almost seem distressed.”

Anthony stood up. “I am nae distressed.”

Sebastian lowered his voice to a near whisper and crept closer to Anthony’s desk as he said, “Was it nay good last night? Are ye not...compatible.”

“Nay, Bas! Good lord, nay!”

“Then what the hell is goin’ on?”

Anthony paced. “I truly dinnae ken. One minute I can’t stand her, even up to the moment before she agreed to the marriage. But now, after last night—maybe...even before—I think I care for the lass.”

Sebastian made a face. “Obviously, ye care for the lass. Ye wouldnae have put on a big show of askin’ her to wed ye if ye dinnae.”

“But she is...so...”

“Beautiful? Headstrong? Maternal?”

Anthony shot a sideways glance at Sebastian. “Of course, she is all those things.”

“Then what is it?”