Page 50 of The Best of Madeline Grant

Elizabeth sank into the closest chair, taken off-guard by this question. “We haven’t discussed it yet, but I would like to stay here to help you and Papa and Kyla manage everything.”

“Oh, piddle,” her mother said, and Elizabeth didn’t have any idea how to answer that. She’d expected her mother to be relieved. “Elizabeth, we will not ignore you if you leave. I know your fears. I know the mistakes I made thinking you were too young to understand, but it shouldn’t affect what you do now.”

“But Mama, you need me.”

Her mother sat down next to her and took her hands in hers. “We love you dearly, and would be broken-hearted if you went verra far, but I think we could survive if you were as close as Castle Curanta. But areyouready to leave Clan Grant? That may be the question.”

She jumped out of her chair and threw her arms around her mother, breaking into sobs, her breath hitching as she buried her face in her mother’s shoulder. “Mama, I don’t know what I should do…”

“Listen to me, Elizabeth.” She gently maneuvered her back into the chair and Elizabeth had to force herself to take deep breaths to slow her tears. “When I saw you with the wee ones out there in our great hall, who have already missed you and Gil, I see your calling. You are so wonderful with bairns, especially the orphans, I think you belong at Castle Curanta. And the fact that you met your husband while you were doing the Lord’s work with the orphans tells me that you are meant for it. Do you not see how much they need you at Castle Curanta?”

She swiped at her tears. “Do you truly think ’tis my calling?”

“I think ’tis the special talent you were given, and ’tis one you should share with the world.”

She paused to gather her thoughts, her mind returning to that moment with Maggie, all those years ago, when she’d talked about everyone having a special talent. She’d wondered what hers might be and felt inadequate when she never discovered an innate ability like her sisters possessed.

Was her mother right? Was caring for orphans her special talent?

“Mama, what do you think your special talent is?” She had her own thoughts on this, but she wished to hear her mother’s thoughts.

Her mother shrugged and said, “I have a couple of thoughts, but I think one of them is creating my storybooks. I love telling stories to the bairns of our clan.”

“I agree, Mama. Wholeheartedly. But your other?”

She took a deep sigh and said, “Loving your sire. It took patience and love for him to build this clan. Mostly his doing, but I’m a part of it, too.”

Elizabeth bolted out of her chair and threw her arms around her mother. “Oh, Mama. You’re so right.”

“About your sire?”

“That, too. But I do belong at Castle Curanta. I promise to visit frequently.”

When she opened the door, she was surprised to find Phil and Daw standing there, wide grins on their faces. They whirled around and announced in unison, “They’re living at Castle Curanta.”

Ignoring the two and their obvious eavesdropping, she strode straight over to Gil and said, “Gil, I’d like to live at Castle Curanta, if you wouldn’t mind.”

He grinned and said, “Whatever pleases you, love. I’ll agree.”

The bairns applauded and shouted their excitement.

Chapter Twenty-Four

Another wedding, another daughter given away.

The wedding took place a sennight later, mostly because her father didn’t want anyone thinking Elizabeth was still available.

She was most decidedly not. The day began with a heavy mist over the area, but by midday, the sun peeked out through the clouds. Her mother called up the stairs to her, “Elizabeth, are you ready yet? Your father is coming with the others.”

Elizabeth looked at her sisters and whispered, “Well? How do I look?”

“Splendid!” Maeve said.

Kyla kissed her cheek, careful not to touch her hair. Lily had come in with her daughters, Lise and Liliana, and they’d arranged her hair, entwining flowers and ribbons with the long waves that hung down her back.

“Looks much better than that creation you made at MacTear’s,” Kyla said with a grin. “How could you forget to take that out after it was all over?”

“I forgot.” She lifted her eyebrows. “I was more worried about my betrothed and whether Papa had survived the sword fight and the boiling oil than about my hair.”