Amanda Scott by Abducted Heiress

that she had not heard the door open.
    “Aye, Doreen,” she said, struggling to sound normal. “Just have someone fill the ewer, so that I can wash what shows. Then,
     help me change into another dress for dinner—the embroidered yellow wool, I think.”
    The maidservant nodded and hastened to do her bidding. She had no sooner left the chamber, however, than Lady Mackinnon bustled
     in. Plump and comfortable-looking, she did not attempt to hide her relief at seeing Molly.
    “Thank heaven you’re back, my love,” she exclaimed. “I knew that ye’d gone out, but I did not think ye meant to stay away
     the entire morning!”
    “I apologize, madam, if you have been awaiting my return with impatience,” Molly said with a fond smile. “It was such a fine
     day, you see.”
    Lady Mackinnon threw up her hands. “Say nae more! I see exactly how it was. ’Tis ever the same thing when ye fling yourself
     onto the back of a horse.”
    “Come now, madam,” Molly said, moving to kiss the older woman’s soft cheek. “I do not believe that I still fling myself onto
     horses. You have taught me to behave more properly than that. Once, perhaps, when I was small, but—”
    Lady Mackinnon chuckled. “I expect I should allow myself credit when it is due me,” she said. “I have indeed had some influence
     over ye, I believe.”
    “Much influence, madam, and I am grateful for it. You taught me how to go on in many ways. I—I shall miss you.” The little
     hitch in her voice surprised her, and she strove to regain her customary control.
    “I would ha’ done the same for a daughter o’ my own, love, had I been blessed wi’ one,” her ladyship said. “Ye filled that
     void, and thus ’twas my duty, for heaven kens Donald o’ Sleat wouldna ha’ bothered to teach ye deportment.”
    “Nor, I warrant, would he have taught me my letters and numbers.”
    “Now, to be truthful, that canna be laid to my account, for I scarcely ken them myself,” Lady Mackinnon said. “Ye did that
     yourself, for when Mackinnon hired Micheil Love to tutor our three lads and ye insisted on bearing them company during their
     lessons, there were naught anyone could do to gainsay ye.”
    “I was barely seven years old when I came to you, madam. Surely, you will not say that I held sway over your entire household.”
    Lady Mackinnon’s pale blue eyes twinkled. “I willna say that,” she replied, “but in the face of the dreadful temper tantrums
     ye threw when anyone denied ye, it did seem wiser to let ye ha’ your way about the lessons. Many Highland families of rank
     educate their daughters, after all.”
    “Is such education not so common in the Borders, then?”
    “As to that, I dinna ken, but when Mackinnon told Donald of Sleat that ye shared our lads’ lessons, Donald didna object.”
    “He will object to the present situation, though, will he not?”
    “Och, aye,” Lady Mackinnon said, her brow knitting in worry. “That man—nae one kens what to expect from him any day, but it
     be rarely anything good. One only prays that— What do
ye
want, lass?” she interjected in a sharper tone when Doreen appeared in the open doorway, carrying a ewer of hot water in
     one hand and Molly’s yellow dress draped over her free arm.
    The maidservant stopped abruptly at the threshold.
    “She is to help me change my dress for dinner, madam,” Molly said with a reassuring smile for Doreen.
    Lady Mackinnon said briskly, “Come ye in, then, come ye in! But fetch out another dress for your mistress. She willna want
     to wear such a fine one to dine in today. And be quick about it, lest all the food be gone afore we get to the table.”
    Doreen moved swiftly to set the ewer by the basin, but Molly said nothing immediately to contradict her ladyship. She knew
     Lady Mackinnon exaggerated the need for haste, but it was true that their midday meal was a hastier affair than supper would
     be. At midday everyone left chores to eat, and