Page 30 of Wedded to the Heartless Highlander
“He will,” Kara reassured her. “He may just be tryin’ to find his own way, and the last thing he wants is to pressure ye.”
Erica stepped out of the tub before she picked up the cup of tea and took a sip. The warmth of the brew spread through her, but she couldn’t shake the trepidation that hung in the air.
“Thank ye, Kara. I suppose I just have to prepare meself for whatever comes,” she said, her voice trembling slightly.
“Exactly,” Kara replied with a nod before turning to leave. “And dinnae forget that ye have Miss Lily and that ye have a place here. Focus on that, for now.”
Erica managed a small smile, her heart swelling with gratitude for the young girl who had brightened her day. “Aye, I’ll try.”
As the evening wore on, the castle settled into a tranquil silence. The flickering candlelight cast gentle shadows on the walls, and Erica felt her eyelids grow heavy. She lay back against her pillows, her mind a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions.
Yet, as sleep began to pull her under, the uncertainty of the night loomed large. Hunter had yet to come to claim her, and a profound sense of solitude seeped into the corners of her heart.
With a final thought of young Lily’s bright smile and the promise of laughter in their future, Erica surrendered to the embrace of sleep, the weight of the day lifting as she drifted into dreams.
8
Hunter sat alone in his study, lost in thoughts he couldn’t push away the night before. He’d known Erica would be expecting him—the anxiety in her gaze when they’d stepped through the castle doors had made that clear. Yet, he didn’t go to her.
He heaved a slow, frustrated sigh and rubbed his hand over his jaw, reconsidering his decision—or lack thereof.
“Ye’d hardly slept, the ride was taxin’…” he muttered to the empty room. “And it was her first night here, after all—a lot of change,” he reasoned, as though the stone walls could provide validation.
But even he knew how hollow it sounded.
The truth was that heavy, nearly suffocating guilt had pressed down on him as he made his way to his chambers. He’d become all too familiar with its weight over the past five years, eversince he was forced to take up the mantle of Laird and the last Buchanan heir.
Even now, imagining a future and moving forward felt like a betrayal. His hand clenched, then relaxed again, as if the weight of his responsibilities lay on his shoulders.
He shook himself from his stupor when Calvin entered, looking as if he’d been waiting for some time. His man-at-arms took him in carefully, though he said nothing about his obvious distraction.
“We’ve made sense of the attack, Me Laird,” Calvin began.
Hunter straightened, grateful for the opportunity to return to his duties.
As they went over the recent events, discussing potential motives, Hunter’s instincts sharpened. The timing of the attack wasn’t random. Some neighboring clans had tested his defenses over the past years, assuming his seclusion might mean he was weaker, vulnerable.
“It could be Clan Douglas,” Calvin suggested. “They’ve had their eyes on our lands for some time now, especially the western fields.”
Hunter nodded, considering it. “Or the Farquhars. They’ve been tryin’ to make peace with us for the past two years, but I’ve yet to see them drop their blades when nay one’s lookin’.”
As they traded theories, Calvin leaned in. “We cannae forget Clan Ross either. They’ve been stirrin’, pushin’ their borders our way more than once. I wager they’ll try somethin’ again.”
Hunter frowned, leaning back in his chair. “Aye, that’s possible. We’ll need stronger defenses on our borders. If they thought this attack would shake us, they’ve sorely underestimated…” he trailed off as faint laughter drifted up to the window.
The study fell silent, save for that distant, lilting sound that seemed to brighten the room. He turned toward the window, a mix of wonder and disbelief rising in his chest.
That laugh—does it belong to Erica?
He rose and moved to the window, slowly unlatching it before gazing down into the courtyard, where Erica stood beneath a large oak tree. Her skirts were raised slightly as she balanced on a low-hanging branch. Lily stood nearby, encouraging her with little claps and giggles. And then Erica began to climb higher, her laughter coaxing Lily’s as the two continued to challenge one another up the tree.
A strange warmth bloomed in Hunter’s chest as he watched them together—a reminder that, despite everything, this castle was still capable of laughter. But as his focus settled on Erica, the guilt that always shadowed his thoughts reared its head.
She looks… happy. So happy…
Her eyes sparkled with mischief, her head thrown back in a laugh so genuine he couldn’t help but feel drawn to her, a longing that was as unsettling as it was undeniable stirring inside him.
Yet, as he observed them, his enjoyment quickly turned into unease. Erica was reaching higher, thinner branches, and her grip was becoming weaker. Lily, though secure, was beginning to follow her.
