Highlander's Trials of Fire

“Aye, Miss Jonet!”

“Thank ye.” A faint smile flickered over her face before she turned and walked away, Freya by her side. Matthew watched her go, not knowing what to make of that conversation.

Georgie watched her go too, before he faced Matthew. “Do ye still want to go for a ride?” he asked. “Miss Jonet doesnae seem well.”

“Aye,” Matthew responded. He did not look away, even when she was no longer in sight. “I need it now more than ever.”

Chapter 15

Jonet avoided having breakfast in the dining hall that day for one very simple reason. She knew that Matthew was going to be there, that she would have to sit next to him and listen to the easy camaraderie between him and the rest of her family. Another day, maybe it would have been no problem for her to join in, to partake in what was always a festive feast whenever her father and uncle was around. Yet today, as conflicted as she was, she only wanted to sit in peace with her mother.

Rinalda, however, would not take her eyes from her. She studied Jonet as if she were an odd creature and every time Jonet tried to catch her gaze, she would avert it in the nick of time. Jonet knew what Rinalda was thinking, the question hanging in the air between them, but she was not going to be the one to bring it to attention. In fact, Jonet wanted nothing more than to tuck it away at the back of her mind.

Easier said than done, unfortunately.

“Ye’re very quiet today, Jonet,” Rinalda pointed out. She lifted a trembling hand to bring a sausage to her lips.

“Aye,” Jonet said softly. There was no use being silent about her bothersome thoughts. “I’ve been thinkin’ about some stuff.”

“I assume this has somethin’ to do with Matthew?”

Jonet pushed her food around on her plate, her appetite yet to return. She shot Rinalda a withering look. “Ye think all me problems lies in that man, Ma. Ye ken me life doesnae revolve around him.”

Rinalda only lifted a brow. “So, tell me what is botherin’ ye then.”

Jonet looked away. “It just so happens to be Matthew.”

“Of course, of course.” Even though it was not present, Jonet could hear the smile in her voice. “Are ye still thinkin’ about whether or nae ye should marry him? Because I think the answer should be aye.”

“Ma, ye barely even ken him. Why are ye so determined to see us married?”

“I’m determined to see ye happy. And I think Matthew would be the perfect one for ye.” She chewed happily on her sausage. “And ye’re right. We dinnae get the chance to talk much when he came to visit me, but I already like him.”

“More than ye did Murdock or Henry?” Jonet asked.

If she thought the question was a trap, Rinalda did not show any indication. She answered without hesitation. “They all have their charms, of course. Murdock was very kind, ye ken. Had such a genuine soul. And Henry was quite the charmer… in a very brawlin’ way, I’ll admit.”

Jonet leaned a little closer. “And Matthew?”

Rinalda twisted her lips to the side in thought. “Matthew is a very easy person to like. He has all the right words, makes ye laugh, and is very handsome. Almost as if he were sent from God.”

Jonet sighed silently. She agreed and that was another problem. How perfect he seemed had stood out to her when they first met, had made her not trust him. Now that she had fallen for it, she wondered if she could trust herself.

“Well, enough about Matthew,” she dismissed after a moment. “I came here because I dinnae want to talk about him. Or see him.”

“Ye dinnae want to have breakfast with yer Maither?” Rinalda shook her head, her eyes narrowing in judgment. “And to think I thought ye enjoyed me company.”

Jonet chuckled. “Ma, ye ken I would spend all day in here with ye if it were up to me. But ye kick me out as soon as ye get tired.”

“Because, believe it or nae, Jonet, I’m nae comfortable with the thought of ye watchin’ me while I sleep.”

“I daenae watch ye—” Jonet began to protest before her words were cut off by a knock on the door. “Come in,” she called without thought, thinking it to be a maid.

Her heart jumped when Matthew walked in through the door. She did not have to look at her mother to know that she was grinning from ear to ear. Matthew bore his own tray, laden with his food, as he approached the bed.

“Good morning, Rinalda,” he greeted with a broad smile. “My, ye look lovelier than ever today.”

“I was about to say the same about ye, Matthew,” Rinalda smiled. “What brings ye by?”