The woman was behind Silene and when she made herself known, the captain and the children balked.
“Is this why you did not have time for me? I was gone. Did you even notice, Captain?”
Silene turned to find a most beautiful young lady sauntering toward them. She had lovely golden hair and hazel eyes that changed beneath the sun from gold to green.
“Cecilia,” the captain drawled, clearly not happy to see her. “Is yer father here? We need to speak.”
Cecilia, his betrothed. Silene’s belly sank. Why should it? She was also betrothed. Had she forgotten so quickly…again?
“Sister Silene, may I introduce Miss Cecilia Birchet of Prestwick.”
“His betrothed,” Miss Birchet supplied quickly. She eyed Silene’s gray habit and veil suspiciously. “Well, are you a nun or are you not?”
“I am not,” Silene told her. “But,” she added when Cecilia Birchet looked about to tear out her own hair, “I will speak my vows in the spring.”
She’d meant to soothe Miss Birchet’s nerves. Silene was sorry for her. She imagined what it must be like to love him and not have his love in return.
But she didn’t think her promise would cause the captain to scowl so fiercely.
“Go away, Miss Birchet.” Margaret ran up to the captain and leaned into his leg. “Dinna touch Daffodil.”
“Margaret, ye are bein’ rude. What have we talked aboot?”
“But Captain—”
“Ask Miss Birchet’s pardon,” he demanded. “Now.”
“I ask fer yer pardon, Miss Birchet,” the little girl obeyed through clenched teeth.
Silene wouldn’t smile at her. Not now. She would not undermine what the captain said. Not when he was correct. He was teaching the possible king’s children humility.
“Granted,” Cecilia allowed then shooed her away. “Now, why do you not take your brother and your cat and go play?”
Margaret’s eyes filled with tears. She took Daffodil from her brother’s arms and ran off.
“I will see to her,” Silene offered and hurried off with Alex.
She heard the captain’s hard voice as he warned Miss Birchet never to speak to the children like that again.
She didn’t wait to hear anything more but rushed to Margaret. She found her sitting on a bench in her mother’s orchard. She clutched Daffodil and wept into the kitten’s fur.
Silene reached her but said nothing right away. Instead, she sat next to her and petted Daffodil. Finally, she spoke softly. “It takes great strength to apologize.”
“I dinna care aboot strength,” the little girl cried. “I just want her to leave Captain MacPherson alone!”
Silene remembered the captain mentioning the child’s jealousy. But Margaret wasn’t jealous of Silene at all. She wasn’t jealous of Cecilia either. Margaret didn’t like the captain’s betrothed. It wasn’t difficult to see why. Cecilia treated the children like pests, only giving them her attention if she had to. Who would want their friend to wed someone like that?
But it wasn’t about Miss Birchet. This difficult lesson was for Margaret.
“I agree with you,” she whispered to the girl. “I do not want him to marry her either.” She drew her finger to her lips and smiled.
Margaret smiled back. Soon though, it faded, and she tilted her lips to Silene’s ear. “I saw her kissin’ someone else.”
Silene closed her eyes and commanded herself to breathe. “Are you certain it was not the captain?”
“He was on his way to get ye,” Alex told her.
They loved him. If Cecilia was betraying him, it was perfectly understandable that they didn’t like her.