When she gotherself under control, Margaret said, “I’ll admit, he’s not as brutish as I expected him to be. He’s still a bit… rough around the edges as you put it yesterday, but I suppose that’s to be expected.”
Cali hummedas she pulled Margaret closer to avoid a fallen branch. The smell of fresh earth caressed Margaret’s senses. She couldn’t believe how thick the forest was and felt as if she could be sucked in. Truthfully, she thought she might welcome it.
It seemsthat I have a bit of Eva’s adventurous spirit after all.
“Ye ken,”Cali said with a bit of a laugh, “I’ve heard that Scottish men have a reputation of bein’ violent down in England.”
“I suppose you could say that,”Margaret agreed, letting herself chuckle. “My aunt was constantly telling me to avoid Highlanders because of their reputation.”
“I suppose it makes sense.Ye English are very concerned about bein’ proper,” Cali mused before looking over at Margaret and giving her an apologetic look. “I hope I didnae offend ye.”
“You didn’t,”Margaret assured her, watching as a tiny bird swooped down from the trees before returning to its perch. “You’re right. It’s all very…”
“Stuffy?”Cali suggested. Her tone was jovial, but Margaret knew there was some truth to it.
“I’d say rule-driven,”Margaret laughed as she shook her head. “But I suppose that stuffy is a good word for it as well.”
“Ach, the English!”Cali cried, throwing her free hand in the air.
Margaret dissolvedinto a fit of giggles. It was nice to have found a friend here. Truthfully, if it weren’t for Cali, Margaret thought she might have lost her mind. Because of momentslike this, she was able to tackle the confusing parts of her new situation.
“I thinkHighland men have that reputation because they’re more than willin’ to kill to protect what’s theirs,” the maid said after a few moments. “But they’d never kill or hurt someone just to be violent. That’s nae the kind of men they are.”
They continuedalong the tree line, listening to the wind rustling the leaves. It was so green that Margaret had difficulty believing somewhere like this truly existed. The beauty she was finding in the Highlands was beyond her wildest dreams.
I’ll getmyself some paints soon, and I’ll try to recreate it. I know it won’t be perfect, but it’ll be fun.
“I supposeI’m learning that about Scottish men,” Margaret admitted, a branch snapping underfoot. “But my whole life, I’ve been taught that they’re brutish without reason. I’m having trouble replacing everything that I’ve been taught with everything that I’ve seen.”
“Ye’ll just haveto give it a bit of time,” Cali assured her. “Soon, ye will nae want to change anythin’ or anyone.”
“You think?”Margaret asked, turning away from the gorgeous landscape to face her maid.
“I ken,”Cali said. Then, she leaned in close, winking as she said, “Besides, I hear that Scottish men are much better in bed than the English ones.”
“Cali!”Margaret exclaimed, her face burning. “I?—”
“Ach, I forgot,”Cali laughed, throwing her head back as joy coursed through her. “Ye’re English. Ye daenae talk like this in the south.”
“We don’t,”Margaret said, straightening her skirt if only to have something to do with her hands. “Topics such as…thatare only discussed behind closed doors. And I’ve never heard anyone comparing men’s… performance.”
“I’ve overheard quitea bit about both the Scots and the English,” Cali said. “I think ye made the choice that’s goin’ to satisfy ye the most in the end. Women married to Highlandersalwayshave nothin’ but good things to say about their husbands.”
“Well… I…”Margaret said, trying and failing to come up with something to say in response. Finally, she let her shoulders drop as she admitted, “Well, I don’t have any opinions on that.”
“Ye will soon,”Cali said, patting Margaret’s hand where it was clutching the crook of her elbow. “In fact, I think ye’ll be runnin’ to me to tell me all about how incredible the Laird is.”
“Cali, hush,”Margaret said, her face still burning as she giggled. “You’d count yourself lucky if I shared anything about?—”
Margaret cut herself off abruptly,her head swinging toward the trees. Cali followed her line of sight, taking half a step forward. When Margaret tried to hold her back, Cali pried her hand off and pushed past her elbow.
“What are you doing?”Margaret hissed, the hair on her arms standing on end.
It feelslike we’re being watched.
Just as Margaretwas about to suggest the two of them return to the castle, the underbrush crunched. Cali took a step back, and something burst from the tree line. Margaret screamed, throwing herself backward, shielding her face. The sound echoed back to her, and she could barely breathe.
This is the end,isn’t it?