So far that day, Emilie had seen three different courtyards—a massive topiary garden complete with a hedge maze, one smaller flower garden, and now the one that they were walking through.
Never in her wildest dreams had Emilie been able to conjure up such opulence. And yet, there she was. Walking through some of the finest gardens that she had ever laid eyes on.
Emilie’s stomach gave a loud, obnoxious growl. She had been ignoring her hunger pangs for some time now, not wanting to go back into the castle to sit alone and eat. Sure, she’d likely be able to convince Catherine to sit and eat with her.
As lovely as the maid was, she was beginning to crave the company of others.
“Are ye hungry, me Lady?” Catherine asked. “It is about time for the midday meal. We can start goin’ back up to the castle if ye like.”
Emilie nodded regretfully. There was no real reason she could think of to decline going back to the castle. It wasn’t as if she could deny that her stomach had just growled loudly for all to hear.
“This way, me Lady.”
Catherine nodded toward one of the gravel, flowering paths, then turned and began walking quickly. A summer breeze floated off the sea, ruffling Emilie’s chestnut hair as she followed after the woman before her.
I’ll miss the smell of the sea when I go back to the abbey. It makes everythin’ quite lovely.
It was the first thing she’d come to appreciate about Castle McGregor. The way the air always smelled of salt. It made it feel fresh and invigorating, unlike the stiff air of the forests surrounding the nunnery.
The Castle was lively when they walked through the northeast entrance. The kitchens were directly to the right, and the smell of food wafted to them the moment they opened the doors.
“It smells lovely,” Emilie mused, sniffing delicately at the air.
“The cook must be preparin’ somethin’ lovely for supper tonight,” Catherine mused. “Because it’ll be a quick lunch that ye’ll be eatin’. The Laird likes his midday meal to be simple.”
Emilie opened her mouth to ask further about that, but they’d just turned a corner and she realized they had arrived at the dining room already.
As Emilie turned the corner, peering into the room beyond, her mouth popped open in surprise.
She’d expected the dining room to be empty, certain that it would just be another repeat of the breakfast she’d had that morning. But the room was not empty. Not in the slightest.
Archer sat in the chair at the head of the table, facing the doorway. Aurora and Louis sat in the chairs on either side of him.
“I’ll leave ye be, me Lady,” Catherine all but whispered. “Enjoy yer lunch, and please, send for me if ye need anythin’.”
Emilie wanted to stop her. Her fingers itched with the desire to reach out and put her hand on the girl’s arm, asking her not to leave her alone.
But she did not.
Archer was glancing at her, a glower on his face, while both of the children stared a bit absentmindedly at their place.
There was no joy in this place. No laughter that she would have expected with two small children occupying the space. And as Emilie stepped forward, the air grew oppressive.
“Have ye come to join us for lunch?” Archer growled at her, arching a brow.
Emilie nodded. “Aye, got a bit famished explorin’ the grounds.”
“What all did ye see?”
His tone sounded more curious than the angry growling it had been earlier, in the cellar. She took that as a good sign as she tucked herself into the table.
“Catherine showed me all the gardens,” Emilie explained, glancing at Aurora, who was seated across from her, and then Louis, who was seated beside her. “She also showed me a few of the paths down toward the beaches, but I dinnae get to go down them. Nae yet.”
Archer grunted and nodded his head, but provided no further commentary. An awkward silence fell over the table.
Emilie focused her attention on the few serving plates before her. An assortment of cured meats, cheese, bread, and fruit hadbeen laid out. Her stomach gave another loud growl at the sight of it.
A soft giggle sounded from next to her, and Emilie glanced at Louis as she placed food upon her plate.