Page 24 of Wedded to the Twisted Highlander
Caution,a small voice whispered from the deepest recesses of her mind. She shivered as if it were as loud as thunder.
Danger. That’s what it is.
Astrid studied the Laird as he crossed the garden with barely a glance in her direction. It was clear he was on a mission. For what exactly, she didn’t know.
As she plucked the last herb on her list, she noticed that he stopped at the edge of the garden. He stood staring at the tall hedge before turning abruptly and starting in the other direction.
“Should I be concerned about the Laird?” Astrid asked as she watched him stroll toward the last row of hedges and stop again.
“What does he want now?” Eileen grumbled.
She rose to her feet and wiped her hands on her apron before she strolled over to her brother.
How Astrid wished she could join her and listen to his voice again. There was something about his husky voice that sent a delicious shiver through her body. It was a sensation she’d never felt before.
“Is everything all right?” she asked as the weight of doom rested on her shoulders.
“I dinnae ken,” Eileen answered honestly as she walked away.
Feeling uneasy, Astrid glanced over at Melody. The need to have her closer was so overwhelming that she jumped up and stepped between Melody and the Laird.
The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end. Her senses were heightened as she watched Eileen like a hawk.
“Look, there’s a little ant. Do ye see it? It’s right there,” Melody said, completely oblivious to what was going on around them.
“Aye,” Astrid answered, straining her ears to hear what Eileen and her brother were talking about. For all she knew, they were talking about the weather.
However, with the Laird constantly glancing over Eileen’s shoulder at her, she started to wonder if maybe there was a spar Of interest there. After all, laird’s didn’t typically stare at anything unless it had caught their attention. But was what she noticed in the depths of his gaze desire or yearning? It was a slippery slope, one Astrid wasn’t ready to go down.
“Are ye sure this is what ye want?” she heard Eileen ask as her gaze met the Laird’s. Her heart fluttered wildly as his eyes bored into hers.
“Aye,” the Laird answered with a nod of his head. “’Tis the only way.”
Swallowing hard, Astrid tried to keep her emotions in check. After all, hadn’t he already agreed to protect her?
Her heart pounded against her ribs as she watched Eileen’s expressions shift.
The girl was as unpredictable as the weather. It was only when a wide smile split her face that Astrid let out the breath she had been holding.
“What’s goin’ on?” Astrid asked as Eileen skipped toward her.
“Melody,” Eileen called. “Did ye nae say ye wanted to learn to play the piano? I can take ye to the music room if ye want.”
“Eileen, what is goin’ on? Why are ye takin’ Melody away?” Astrid asked as the Laird approached her.
He was a formidable man, one who could strike fear in people’s hearts and intimidate lesser men in an instant. But Astrid had dealt with far worse.
“Ye had better tell me right now what is goin’ on,” she pressed. “Nay one just comes up and takes me child away. I dinnae care who ye are.”
“Melody will be safe, I give ye me word,” the Laird said.
“And what exactly is that worth, when I’m surrounded by yer people and walls?”
Astrid’s eyes flicked to Melody as Eileen escorted her to the castle. Panic shot through her as the Laird stopped inches away from her, his eyes narrowed. She glanced around, noticing the lack of armed men.
“I ken this must look a bit odd, but I needed to speak wit’ ye alone,” the Laird began.
Astrid didn’t like the turbulent feelings swirling within her. She felt like an animal trapped in a hunter’s pit with no way out.
