Page 31 of The Laird's Secret Bairn

The moment the planning started, Dougal knew that something was amiss. The servants knew how to keep things to themselves, but people gossiped. It was in their nature.

“A treasure hunt for Lily.”

“Aye, that’s lovely! The wee lass will be so surprised.”

“Lady Kenna and Lady Skye are planning it, I hear.”

“What of the Laird? Does he ken?”

“Nay, I daenae think so.”

Dougal heard enough of the conversation. He decided against speaking with Skye. After their argument, it was better to keephis distance, which left him with the second-best option—his mother.

She was in her usual spot by the hearth, working on her needlepoint. She smiled when she saw him, her face lighting up.

“Dougal, I suspect ye are here because ye’ve heard of the treasure hunt, aye?”

He nodded. “Aye, I am.”

“Do ye nae approve?”

“Maither, if it will make Lily happy, then I will always approve.”

Kenna laughed. “I suspected as much, but I will run it by ye next time, son.”

“How is Skye?”

Dougal had scarcely seen her today. The lass was doing her best to avoid him, as he was doing his best to avoid her.

What need did she have to avoid him? She was the one who had pushed when he told her to leave it be. But she kept at it, despite his warnings. She had brought it upon herself.

Her face flashed in his mind’s eye: the pain etched across her delicate features, the faint tremor in her lower lip. It stuck with him more than he cared to admit.

“Ye could ask her yerself,” Kenna pointed out gently.

“Aye, Maither, but I am asking ye.”

“She is excited about planning the treasure hunt for Lily. It was her idea, actually.”

Dougal paused. He had suspected as much, but hearing it confirmed hit him differently.

“Aye, well, Lily will enjoy herself.”

“She will.” Kenna studied him a moment longer than was comfortable, the way she always did when she suspected he was hiding something even from himself. “Ye ken, ye could join them. Nobody’s stopping ye.”

“I have matters to attend to.”

“Ye always do.” She said, her eyes staying on him. “Funny, though, how those matters seem to multiply whenever Skye’s nearby.”

“Maither.”

“I’m only saying what I see, Dougal.” She smiled faintly, unbothered by his tone. “A blind woman could see the way ye watch her when ye think nobody’s looking.”

Dougal said nothing, his jaw tightening.

“That’s what I thought,” Kenna murmured.

“Maither, I will hear nothing more of it,” he said, his tone sharp.