“Did you tell him? Or anyone?”
Margaret and her brother shook their heads. “He willna care,” Alex lamented. “He is only marryin’ her because my father wants him to. I have heard his conversations with my father.”
“May I come near?”
They all turned to see the captain paused a few feet away. They nodded and he took a step forward. How much had he heard?
“I have decided not to wed Miss Birchet despite what yer father wants. But I will be the one to tell him, aye?”
They grinned and nodded.
He went to Margaret next. There being no room on the bench, he knelt before her. “I’m verra proud of ye, lass.”
She looked at him over Daffodil’s head. “I’m verra angry with ye.”
“I know,” he said softly, as serious and somber as she. “But I would have ye fit fer a noble court, my lady.”
Margaret smiled and handed him the meowing kitten eager to get to him.
“Captain,” Alex drew his attention. “We have something to tell ye.”
Silene rose from where she sat and refused the captain’s offer to stay. She didn’t know how he felt about his betrothed. The news was private, so she left them alone.
Imagine, she thought while walking to the castle, being betrothed to Galeren MacPherson and kissing someone else! She wondered who it was. Her uncle? No. The children would have recognized their own father.
She heard her name being called and turned to see Margaret and Alex laughing and calling while they raced to reach her.
“I win!” Alex shouted.
“Sister, why did ye leave?” Margaret asked her.
She wasn’t sure she—she heard his heavier footsteps approaching. She smiled seeing tiny Daffodil sitting on his shoulder and playing with the hair at his neck.
“They would run all day if they could,” the captain laughed, not out of breath at all.
“They never tire,” she agreed.
“Where are ye off to?” he asked.
“Prayers.”
“Oh.” He looked around and smiled at the children. “I was thinkin’, we are goin’ explorin’ tomorrow and we would all enjoy it if ye would accompany us.”
“What about—?” There were so many things to consider.
“We have agreed not to think aboot anyone else fer the day,” the captain told her.
She smiled. She wasn’t sure she could do it, but she would try.
Chapter Twelve
Galeren watched Silenechasing the children while Daffodil leaped through the grass like a ball of orange fur trying to keep up.
He smiled when she caught Margaret up in her arms and tagged a laughing Alex.
He wanted to join them when they collapsed onto the grass in a tangle of arms and legs.
Laughter filled the small, sunlit clearing and Galeren’s ears. It seeped into his heart and made him long for things he’d never wanted before. A loving wife…bairns.