“I do not like this place,” she announced, hopping off the bench and running to her sister. “It frightens me. I want to go home!”
Tate gently put Toby down and the two sisters embraced tightly.
“Our home is here for now,” Toby said softly, feeling distaste for the place even as she said it. “I will return to Forestburn in a few days and we shall see what is left. We can rebuild.”
Ailsa buried her face in Toby’s stomach. “But I want to go home now.”
Toby soothed her weary, frightened little sister. “We cannot go home now. You must accept this. For today, we will have food and a little rest and things will look better.”
“I want my father!”
Toby shushed her. “He is gone, little chicken. You must accept this also.”
Ailsa began to sob softly and Toby steered her sister over to the bench. The two of them sat and comforted each other, the soft sounds of the child’s weeping filling the air. Tate watched them a moment, feeling his guilt return. But he also realized one thing very quickly; he liked having Toby within these walls. He liked having her with him. And having Ailsa around was like having a daughter at his feet like the one lost those years ago.It was a warm, fulfilling sensation, something he’d never before experienced. It was also dangerous for he could imagine quite easily forgetting everything of import except for the two small women before him.
To his left, Stephen managed to get the fire going. A soft, warm light radiated from the hearth, growing brighter by the moment. The big knight stood up and brushed soot off his hands.
“That will do for now,” he said to Tate, eyeing the two sisters as they consoled each other. “We must prepare a chamber for them. Both ladies need much rest.”
As Tate nodded, Wallace scowled a few feet away. “This is no comfort-palace, Lord Tate,” he said frankly. “There are only men at Harbottle and ever have been. Women do not belong in this place.”
Tate eyed him. “Be that as it may, women are here and you will make them comfortable. I will hear no more of your complaints. Is that clear?”
Rather than challenge him, for he had already pushed his lord farther than he should have, Wallace merely shrugged and turned away to presumably go about his duties. Tate and Stephen watched the old man shuffle away, muttering to himself, and Tate finally shook his head.
“Go and see if there is something in the kitchens for the ladies to eat,” Tate asked Stephen quietly. “I shall go and check on the state of my chamber to see what needs to be done in order to make it livable.”
Stephen departed for the kitchens that were outside of the keep, situated to the west against the fortress walls. As he moved into the dawn, Tate turned back to the women only to see that Toby was nearly upon him.
“Go and sit by the fire,” he put his hands on her shoulders to turn her around. “I will go and see to your chamber.”
Toby tried to shake him off. “I cannot sit and do nothing,” she said. “You must let me help. Where is Stephen going? Perhaps I can help him.”
Tate was trying not to be harsh with her. “I want you to sit and rest. The past few days have been very traumatic for you. Moreover, Ailsa needs you. She is very upset right now. I shall see to your chamber and you stay here where it is warm and bright.”
Toby managed to plant her feet so that he wasn’t shoving her back towards the bench. Brushing stray hair from her eyes, she faced him.
“Please,” she begged softly. “Please let me help you. I feel so useless right now. I feel as if I must be doing… something.”
He knew that she was a woman used to being very busy. And he also knew she was feeling weak and disoriented; she was still very pale and not at all recovered from her bout with illness. Before he could stop himself, he kissed her on the forehead and turned her back for the bench.
“Go and sit with your sister,” he instructed softly. “Warm yourself and I shall return shortly.”
His lips on her forehead had left a searing brand. Toby was still feeling it. “But….”
He cut her off and gave her another gentle shove to the bench. “Elizabetha, please,” he insisted softly. “I will feel better knowing you are safe and warm right where I left you. I shall return as quickly as I can.”
Toby didn’t argue further; she watched him fade into the dimness of the hall and into the stair hall beyond. He had a confident, stalking gait that she’d noticed before but never gave a tremendous amount of thought to until this moment. There was something about it that made her heart swell strangely. And the kiss… she touched her forehead as if she could still feel his lips there. Behind her, she heard Ailsa’s soft voice.
“Why did he kiss you?” she asked, curious. “I saw him do it. Why did he do it?”
Toby’s fingers lingered on her forehead a moment before dropping to her side. “I do not know,” she turned back to her sister, noting that the fire was gaining in strength and she scooted the bench towards it. “Perhaps he feels sorry for us. Perhaps he was just showing pity.”
Ailsa frowned. “He would kiss you to show pity?”
Toby’s thoughts lingered on the kiss before she looked at her sister, returning the frown. “Stop asking so many questions. Take off that blanket and move closer to the fire.”
Ailsa stuck her tongue out at her sister before shrugging the blanket off and lifting her hands to the delicious warmth of the fire. All manner of thoughts were rolling through her little mind as she watched the flames jump. She cast her sister a long look.