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Margaret had some experience dealing with wanton acts of rebellion.

I ‘ave spent most of me life lookin’ after my brother and sisters as if I was their mother, and this little demonstration put on by Mr. Jeffries is nae different to how they would act out when annoyed.

The easiest way to deal with it, she had always found, was not to rise to anger, but to pretend that it was all just a misunderstanding, giving a chance for the right to be wrong without either side losing face.

“I apologize,” Mr. Jeffries said.

“Oh, there is nae need.” She waved him down. “As I said, I am sure this was all one big misunderstanding. I just hope that there will be nae more.”

He forced a smile and then bowed. “Not if I have anything to say about it.”

“Wonderful.” She breathed a sigh of relief.

“I will be leaving ye – I ken this is your hour, and I would nae wish to trouble ye. However, once ye are ready, I do expect ye to instruct the staff as is warranted. Just as I will expect to return to me room within the next two hours to find everythin’ unpacked, and even a warm bath waitin’ for me. ”

“It shall be done.”

“Guid. See that it is.” Another smile, and she turned and left the library.

It was a small victory. Hardly even that, truth be told. But it had Margaret smiling to herself, a sense that finally she was getting control of her life. That she wasn’t completely powerless.

With two hours to kill, she decided to get some sun on her face. Still dressed in her nightgown, she decided to walk the back garden, as at least that way there was no chance of being seen by anybody. Or so she had hoped…

It was almost as soon as she stepped outside that she spotted a young girl of eleven years old lurking on the edge of the balcony.

She had dark hair, was tall for her age, and stood with her hands behind her back, her gaze fixed across the garden as she rocked back and forth on her feet, a decision being made that she was trying to work up the courage to see through.

Margaret hesitated when she saw her. The duke explicitly told me nae to speak with his daughters. And I sensed that was one command I should nae challenge . And she very nearly turned and walked away with this in mind. Only…

The more that Margaret thought about it, the more ludicrous the command seemed.

If she were to be living here for the entire Season, there was no way that she could possibly avoid speaking to his daughters.

It was absurd! And besides, Margaret had always liked children; they had always liked her, and she felt that familial pull tugging at her in a way that she could not possibly resist.

“Guid morning,” she said as she approached the young girl, who could only be the eldest of the two daughters, Aurelia.

“Oh!” Aurelia spun about, eyes widening when she saw Margaret coming. She had the sharp features of her father, but her eyes were large for her face, and behind them, Margaret sensed a wild nature that even her father did not possess. “I wasn’t going to do it!”

Margaret frowned. “Da what?”

She grimaced. “Nothing. I…” She looked away as if embarrassed. “I was only looking, is all. I promise.”

“Looking at what?” Margaret looked past Aurelia to try and see what had caused such fright in the little girl.

“Oh.” The girl blinked. “I know who you are. You’re Margaret – Her Grace,” she corrected quickly. “Sorry…” She looked down at her feet. “Please do not tell Father. I did not mean it.”

“I promise I will nae,” Margaret said. “But only if ye call me Margaret and nae Your Grace.” She curled her nose. “Too formal, I think.”

The girl giggled. “Truly?”

“So long as I can call ye Aurelia.”

Aurelia beamed. “I like your accent. Father says you are from Scotland.”

“I am,” Margaret said. “But to me, ye are the one who has an accent.”

“I do not!”

“Well, maybe not here,” she said with a wink. “But if ye ever came to Scotland, we all talk like this, and ye would be the oddity.”

She giggled again. “I would like that.”

“Maybe one day I will take ye.”

The girl beamed, and Margaret beamed back.

I had forgotten how much I enjoyed speaking with bairns.

So innocent. So naive. Everything is new to them, and they simply love it when their small world grows.

There was a sadness that came with it, however, and Margaret felt it stab at her chest. A reminder that she would likely never have a family of her own.

Not if this marriage continued as it was. And there is nae sign that it will nae.

She shook her head to dispel those thoughts. “Tell me, what were ye looking at jus’ now?”

The girl’s eyes widened with panic. “Nothing!”

“It dinnae look like nothing.”

“I…” She grimaced. “Father would not like it. And I swear I was only looking.”

“As ye can see…” She gestured to herself. “I am nae ye father. Unless he enjoys wearing women’s clothing?” She frowned. “Although somehow I doubt that.”

Aurelia giggled. “You are silly.”

“I’ve been told. Now, come on, what were ye gazing on?”

Aurelia sighed and turned back, pointing across the garden toward the stables. “The horses,” she said with a sense of longing in her voice. “Father does not like me riding them, but I love it so much. He says a young lady has no need for horses, and he refuses to let me ride.”

“What? That is crazy. Of course ye should learn to ride.”

“Really?” Aurelia looked at her as if she didn’t believe it.

“A young lady should learn ta da whatever her heart desires of her, and if riding is that thing…” She shrugged. “I do nae see why you cannae.”

“But Father…”

“I am nae your father,” she said with a wink.

Then she considered the situation and how best to approach.

She did not wish to go against the duke’s orders, and she certainly did not wish to get on his wrong side any more than she might have already.

But there was a kinship developing between herself and Aurelia, and beyond that, Margaret sensed the little girl needed a friend.

Even an ally. “I cannae let ye ride, for ye father…” She shuddered purposefully. “I am nae so bold as that.”

“I know…” Aurelia sighed and hung her head.

“But perhaps we can look together?” Margaret offered. “Surely, there is nae harm in that?”

“Re–really?” Aurelia brightened.

“I willnae tell if you dinnae.” She held her hand out for the girl, who took it immediately. “Remember, we are only looking. And this is our secret.”

“I won’t tell!” the girl cried with excitement, buzzing now because she was so thrilled. “I promise.”

“I believe ye,” Margaret said, smiling warmly. “Now, come, before anyone sees us.”

Together, Margaret and Aurelia made their way across the garden and toward the stables.

It was such a small thing, really nothing to be too excited over at all.

And yet Margaret could not help but smile as she went.

A friend had been made today. Proof that these next few months might not be so bad.

And if the duke found out and became angered…

a thought that excites me for some reason . Yet somethin’ else ta look forward ta.