Page 18 of Love Beyond Words
The man in front of me—seemingly deciding that I was no threat—released his grip on me as he crossed his arms across his chest.
“Oh, really? Then how and why did ye climb our gates in the dead of night, and why are ye asleep in the stall with our finest horse?”
“We were on our way to see Laird,” I completely drew a blank on the name Morna mentioned in her letter. “Laird…Laird Aldridge. He’s expecting us.”
Marcus groaned, and I knew that I’d said the wrong name.
The man in front of me laughed. “Laird Aldridge? There is no such man here.”
“I…I mean Laird Albert.”
I knew the second I uttered the name that it was wrong, as well. In an attempt to save me, Marcus spoke up for the first time. It was a struggle to refrain from literally facepalming myself on the forehead. I felt like a total idiot.
“Laird Allen. We are here to see Laird Allen.”
The man turned to face Marcus.
“And ye say he’s expecting ye? Ye think I should believe that when this lassie,” he paused and pointed his thumb at me, “doesna even know his name? Do ye know him?”
I tried to recover.
“I do know his name. You just startled me, is all. And we do know him. As I said, he’s expecting us.”
He swiveled back toward me.
“This shall be fun, lass. Okay, if ye truly do know him, pray tell me what he looks like.”
I was an imbecile. I glanced back and forth between the two men and pleaded with Marcus with my eyes for help. He simply shrugged.
“It’s been a very long time since I last saw him. I would’ve been a small child, really. Although, I do remember that he is very tall.”
“Just how tall would that be, lass?”
I pursed my lips and attempted to look like I was trying to remember. “I would say just a little bit shorter than you.”
For the first time since our exchange began, the man holding Marcus’ arms released him and cracked a silent smile.
The red-haired man shook his head and smiled even more widely.
“Ye’ve managed to make Calder smile. He doesna smile for anyone. I suppose that means that thief or not, we canna kill ye. ’Twould break his heart.”
My eyes must have widened with worry for the man hurried to reassure me.
“Doona fash, lass, I only speak in jest. We wouldna ever kill ye. Now, do ye have any idea what ye said that might’ve made Calder smile so?”
I shook my head. I didn’t have any idea.
“Lass, Laird Allen canna be more than a few years older than ye are. I doona believe that he was my height at the age of ten.”
“Damnit.”
The redhead’s eyes widened.
“’Tis unladylike to curse, lass.”
“Ha.” Marcus seemed to be enjoying the spectacle I was making of myself. His smile was as wide as Calder’s. “There’s nothing ladylike about Laurel.”
The redhead raised his brows at me in question.
