Page 100 of Stealing Sophie

“Look.” Sophie pointed toward the mountains. “You played the sun awake.”

“Yer oatmeal pudding is ready,”Mary said, coming into the large garden to find Sophie, “and Kinnoull and Neill will be here soon, and likely hungry. Unless ye need me, dear, I will go back to Balnaven with Neill when he arrives. Unless you want me to stay and serve supper? Though I canna find the wee pewter tankards, and that is odd. Nor can we use the wineglasses Connor’s mother had, for ye’ve planted them in the garden.” Mary gestured toward a neat row of upended glass goblets, rims sunk into fresh earth. “Though I will admit, that is a good use for them, as so little wine is taken in this house.”

“I thought to use them as cloches for a bit,” Sophie said, wiping her hands on her apron. Mary laughed with her. “Just so they could protect the flower seedlings until the weather is warmer. I hope you do not mind.”

“Hinny, whatever is in this castle is yers now,” Mary said. “Though I do wonder what has become of the wee tankards. Perhaps Kinnoull and the lads shared a few drams and left them behind. Well, I will go home then, if ye dinna need me further.”

“Thank you, Mary.” Sophie walked with her toward the garden gate. “Go on home, please, and do not worry about Glendoon—I can see to things here for a bit.”

As they left the garden, Mary smiled. “I believe ye’ve made this old place a home now for the laird. He needs that, does Kinnoull.”

Sophie felt a little swirl of happiness. “Thank you.” She did not add that she realized, now, that she needed him as well. “I hope he—needs me here.”

“Oh, I do think so, now and all the years to come. Auld Neill needs me more than he knows, now that we have been wed so long,” Mary added, her eyes sparkling.

Sophie laughed in appreciation. She wanted that sort of lasting love in marriage, too, and could only hope that her hasty marriage could weather its tumultuous beginnings to flow into years of happiness and contentment.

As she and Mary walked, she glanced toward the gate to see Connor and Neill just entering the castle yard. Mary went to her husband, while Sophie stopped, waiting. As Connor looked around then, he saw her and lifted a hand. Tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear, she smoothed her skirts and the garden-stained apron and walked toward him.