Fighting for a Highland Heart by Kenna Kendrick

Author:Kenna Kendrick [Kendrick, Kenna]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Highland
Published: 2019-10-02T16:00:00+00:00

Ranald had not returned the next morning. When Tara awoke, she heard the sound of birdsong in the trees below the window. Someone – probably Mrs King – had supplied her room with firewood and water, and she lit the fire and heated water in the kettle. With the cleaned clothes picked up from Hamish MacDougall in Meikleburn and hot water to wash in, she was able to start her day better and went down to the dining room feeling both more refreshed and better rested than she had for a while.

The doctor looked up from his pipe and his writing as she arrived in the dining room and, as he had done the previous day, reached out and rang the bell. In contrast to yesterday’s grim weather, bright sunlight shone in through the high glass windows at the end of the gloomy dining room, brightening the space and making it feel almost homely.

“With a few more tapestries on the walls and carpets on the floor, a fire burning in that hearth and a few more servants about, this could be a merry hall,” she said, as Mrs King entered the room with food on a tray for her.

“Can’t say as I wouldn’t be pleased to see it, miss,” said the cook, smiling. Mrs King was a tall, thin, worn woman, and her face fell naturally into a look of disapproval, but these words were delivered with as warm a smile as Tara had seen since she arrived here. The older woman began to lay out the food in front of her.

“Are you from the County of York, Mrs King?” said Tara.

“Oh, aye, that’s right, miss, and I recognise my home county in your accent too,” she said genially. “But I have been here at Balmore for many’s a year now. Come here with old Lord Carlisle, I did, when first he travelled up from the county that bears his name and been here ever since. Watched young Ranald grow up, too, until he went off to school, and then to university. A good, pleasant young lad he was, too... but listen to me, a-rambling on. You enjoy your meal now, miss, and perhaps once you and the master are married, we can expect some more staff and some better décor around the place as you so wisely suggested.”

Tara watched Mrs King retreating toward the kitchen, then looked up to find the doctor’s eyes on her, a look of amusement on his face.

“You will do well here, Miss Bright,” the doctor predicted. “A lady who can win the hearts of the staff is a lady who can own her position.”

They rode out again together after breakfast, and Tara, thinking about the doctor’s words, was careful to compliment Max warmly on his care of the horses. He did not respond as well as Mrs King had, however, seeming wary and distant, though polite.

Now, the sun shone on them as they rode at a gentle pace along the rough track which covered the miles between Balmore and Meikleburn.

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