Page 29 of The Highlander’s Fake Wife (Legacy of Highland Lairds #4)

O livia wanted nothing more than to flop into bed and sleep forever.

Though their trip hadn’t been too terribly long, she still wasn’t entirely used to sleeping on nothing more than a thin blanket and the hard ground.

Feeling the plush mattress beneath her aching back was heavenly; she almost forgot about the lady of the keep sitting in a chair across from her.

Almost. “Thank ye for the company while I unpacked,” she said, sitting upright along the bedside.

“Nay worry, hen! Truth be told, I was hopin’ to catch a glance o’ yer gown.

” A quiet whimper came out from the baby’s bundle and Alison let out a sigh, suddenly appearing far more tired than she had before.

“Ah, Forrester; yer hungry again so soon?” She attempted to undo her arisaid from around her chest, though was visibly struggling to do so while holding fast to the babe.

“Olivia, love, would ye mind holding him while I get this off?”

“A-Aye, of course!” Olivia immediately jumped to her feet, nearly tripping over Maesie and the pup, who had long-since fallen asleep on the floor beside her.

She stretched her arms outward to accept the bundle, Alison nodding her thanks.

Olivia couldn’t hold back a soft squeal as the babe’s eyes fluttered open, pressing Forrester close to her chest. “Aw! He’s so handsome, yer ladyship.

His eyes especially–they remind me of a blooming flower.

Blue inside, then green around the petals’ edge. ”

“’Tis the same with me own hazel eyes,” Alison chuckled. “Duncan says it’s one o’his favorite parts about me. Though, our son gets the blue from his faither.”

“They’re lovely, yer ladyship.”

Alison’s arms stretched outward, arisaid draped along the chair’s arm and breast exposed for nursing.

Olivia passed the squirming babe back, who immediately rooted out his mother’s milk and suckled noisily away.

“He got his appetite from his faither, too,” Alison laughed.

“Pray yer first bairn isnae so ravenous.”

Olivia offered a small smile, fighting to keep it from a grimace.

She couldn’t help but watch Alison as she nursed, a pang of longing ringing out from the depths of her chest. For a moment, she imagined herself in Alison’s shoes, Arthur standing over and braiding her hair while whispering sweet nothings into her ear.

It left such a bittersweet taste in her mouth, and she did her best to push the thought away.

“So, when do I have the honor of meeting wee Rosie? Arthur has spoken in great length about her.”

“That doesnae surprises me at all,” Alison replied with a smirk.

“Absolutely smitten wit’ the wee lass, he is.

She’ll likely be busying herself on the training grounds; yer welcome to wander over if ye feel up to it.

But daenae think yer escaping me that easy!

I want to hear all about how ye managed to tame that wild beast of a man. ”

Olivia nodded a promise as she set out the door, dying a little inside as she overheard Alison croon lovingly to her baby boy. She resolved to find the training grounds as quickly as possible, weaving throughout the castle as she offered brief greetings to passersby.

Everyone seemed just as friendly as the kinfolk back at Arthur’s keep, and to a complete stranger such as herself. Briefly, Olivia wondered if they’d be as keen to speak to her as simply Laird MacCulloh’s daughter, instead of Laird MacDonnell’s betrothed.

She eventually made her way outside the castle, following the moat before discovering a smaller bridgeway. Crossing over it, Olivia began to take note of the familiar sight of weapon racks and training dummies, followed soon after by the twang of a bowstring being pulled and a furious outcry.

“Uncle, it’s too hard! I cannae hit a target all the way over there!”

The voice clearly belonged to a little girl, and Olivia picked up her pace, eager to finally put a face to the little girl she’d heard so much about.

She rounded through the clearing and spotted an archery field–mostly empty, save for a small, copper-haired girl currently stomping on the ground and bawling her little fists.

A small bow had dropped beside her, and the angry flush across her face only acted to further accent the bright freckles across her cheeks.

Arthur stood well over her, chuckling lightly as he patted her on the head. “Ye wanted to improve yer archery, Rosie. This is how ye get better.”

Rosie huffed loudly, turning on her heel and crossing her arms tightly.

“Rosie?” Arthur crooned. “Ye havenae given up so easily, have ye?”

Another frustrated huff.

Arthur’s smile softened, his own hands settling loosely against his hips. “Och, well. I suppose that’s it, then.”

“Suppose that is,” Rosie repeated with a scowl. “Cause I cannae do it, and that’s that.”

Olivia couldn’t help but smile sympathetically.

She couldn’t help but be reminded of herself at that age, the frustration she'd felt when she, too, started to learn archery. She watched as Arthur got down on one knee, gently setting a hand against Rosie’s shoulder.

“Yer new braither’s that much of a scunner, Rosie? ”

A gasp slipped out from the little girl’s mouth, and she spun around just as quickly as before. “H-How’d ye ken that?!”

Arthur offered another chuckle, offering his arms outward as Rosie moved to embrace him. He then easily stood upright, settling the girl against his hip while he spoke in a gentle cadence. “I ken jealousy when I see it, rosebush. Are ye nay pleased to be an older sister?”

She took a moment to consider. Then, Rosie took a deep breath.

“I am. It’s just…different ,from what I thought it’d be.

Maither and Faither have to spend so much time with him–they say it’s because he’s little, but I could have hit that target if Faither had been helpin’ me practice.

But he spends all his free time wit Forrester.

” She sighed sadly, head cradling between the crook of Arthur’s neck.

Arthur nodded, rubbing the girl’s back soothingly as he spoke next. “Aye, I can see how that’d be hard.” He let a beat of silence linger between the pair before asking next, “D’ye think yer faither ever wished it were just ye and him, Rosie?”

Rosie lifted her head, incredulous. “Nay! Faither loves Maither a lot! And I do too!”

“Aye, now he does,” Arthur pointed out. “But I seem to remember they werenae the nicest to each other at first. It took them a wee while to figure each other out, aye?”

Rose hesitated, then nodded in agreement.

“Well, I think ye an’ Forrester are the same. Ye only just met each other; it’ll take a while for ye to learn about him.” Arthur offered another tight squeeze, causing Rosie to laugh breathlessly.

“Too tight, Uncle!”

“Aye, sorry lass!” Arthur laughed. “Yer just such a tough wee thing, I forget sometimes.” He set her back down onto the ground, smiling warmly. “I bet yer Maither and Father forget sometimes, too. Ye should tell ‘em how ye feel, rosebush.”

A slight scowl crossed Rosie’s face. “Why do I have to remind ‘em?”

“’Tis the curse of leadership,” Arthur sighed dramatically.

“We gotta do all the work, ye an’ I. But, we get to have all the fun, too.

” He bent over to pick up the small bow, offering it to Rosie.

She considered for a moment, then snatched it up, turning once more to face the targets with a determined smirk.

Olivia couldn’t help but smile to herself, the bitter tinge lingering in the back of her throat.

“Oh, Arthur…ye really would make a wonderful faither…” She suddenly desired to be amidst their revelry, stepping out from her hiding place and strolling casually up to the pair.

“Ooh, is this the wee one who we’ll be celebrating over? ”

Rosie gasped, immediately dropping her bow before sliding behind. Her small hands grasped against his tunic, bright eyes somewhat dulled as she looked towards Olivia cautiously.

“Och, rosebush! That there no way to greet me betrothed,” Arthur teased.

Rosie’s gaze lifted, staring at Arthur incredulously. “Th-that’s…’Livia?”

“Aye.”

Her expression soured slightly. “Ye said she were a real life selkie!”

Olivia couldn’t help but laugh aloud, bending down so as to be on Rosie’s level. “Did me betrothed spin more tall tales about me, wee one?”

“I did nae!” Arthur insisted. “I’ve spoken nothin’ but the truth.” He bent down to Rosie’s ear, whispering loudly, “Selkies look like beautiful women on land, remember? She doesnae have her coat on.”

“Ooooh…” Rosie nodded emphatically, bravely stepping out from behind Arthur as she approached Olivia. “I’m sorry I said you werenae a selkie, Miss.”

“‘Olivia” is just fine,” Olivia beamed.

Rosie’s brow furrowed in thought. “What about, ‘Auntie’ ‘Livia?”

Olivia’s expression wavered, but she kept her smile strong. “A-Aye! I suppose that would be proper, given I am to marry yer Uncle Arthur.”

Rosie’s grin melted Olivia’s heart immediately. “Auntie ‘Livia!” She tried out the new title with great enthusiasm, repeating it a few times under breath with a nod. “Auntie ‘Livia…yeah, that sounds great!”

Olivia did her best to keep an eager tone; no use in breaking the poor girl’s heart with the truth. “I saw ye were about to practice yer archery? I dinnae if ye ken, but this selkie’s a crack shot with a bow.”

Rosie’s eyes widened. “Yer teasin’ me.”

Olivia stood upright, her smirk spreading wide with childish delight. “Ye wanna see fer yerself?”

“I ken I do,” Arthur said, a mischievous glint behind his seafoam gaze. “Though, I daenae think even the pair o’ye can do better than meself.”

“Well, that simply will nae do. Come, Rosie!” Olivi offered her hand dramatically, to which Rosie grabbed with equal vigor. “Let’s show ye uncle what happens when ye flap yer mouth too widely.”

“Yeah!” Rosie cheered. “We’re gonna beat ye, Uncle Arthur!”