Page 65 of Wedded to the Twisted Highlander
“Dinnae remind me,” Thomas scoffed as he leaned back in his chair.
He couldn’t help but feel grateful that his mother had stepped up to help. At least now he knows that everyone will be fed properly.
“But all jestin’ aside, I think the Lady will be most pleased by the gathering,” Duncan added as Thomas turned his head to the window.
The sunlight danced through the canopy of the trees and illuminated the deep purple heather swaying in the breeze. As much as Thomas wanted to keep Astrid close and safe, he knew his sister was right. He couldn’t keep her under lock and key. Nor could he stop her from seeing others.
“I want ye to keep an eye on her this evening,” Thomas instructed. “I dinnae want anything to upset her.”
“That could be a difficult task,” Duncan said, rubbing the back of his neck. “I dinnae think that is something I could help ye wit’.The path to a woman’s heart is a mystery, even to the wisest of men. But I shall go fetch yer sisters and ensure that they are ready for the cèilidh.”
“Thank ye, Duncan.”
Thomas turned back to his desk. He wished he could forget about the ledgers and plans for the harvest. What he wanted to do was find Astrid. She had been tormenting his thoughts all day, jumping in and out of his mind like a rabbit.
As Duncan slipped out of the study, a flurry of movement caught Thomas’s eye.
Thomas stared at the door as he watched Melody, with her tousled hair and flushed cheeks, dart past his door like a phantom. His curiosity piqued, he rose from his chair and made for the door. He was about to step out when another figure came rushing down the corridor—Astrid, her face creased in a stern expression that was as familiar to him as the mountain winds.
“Melody!” Her voice rang like a bell, sharp and commanding. “We arenae playin’ hide and seek now. Come on, ye cannae run off like this. It’s nae nice.”
Thomas couldn’t help but smile at the fierce protectiveness in her tone. Her spirit was as untamed as the Highlands.
The moment she spotted him, she marched right up to him, her gaze unwavering. He felt his chest tighten with longing. Thescent of wildflowers and fresh hay tickled his nostrils as she folded her arms over her chest.
Thomas had wished for a distraction, and he couldn’t have been more thrilled to have it now.
“Is she in yer study?” Astrid asked as she craned her neck to peer into his study.
“Nay, she’s nae in here,” Thomas replied, leaning casually against the door frame. “Ye’re more than welcome to search if ye like. But I saw her turn left just a moment ago.”
Astrid’s eyes narrowed in suspicion as she started down the hall. Thomas’s lips quirked up at the corner as he watched her move with determination.
A sense of fondness swelled within him as he stalked her with his eyes. There was no denying the fact that he admired how she took charge, her resolve as solid as the stones that made up their castle.
With a soft laugh, he followed her gaze down the corridor, where Melody’s giggles echoed like the tinkling of a brook.
Suddenly, he caught sight of a flash of blue. Turning, he spotted a small figure trying to hide behind a grand tapestry.
“Melody, we arenae playin’. Ye need to come out and apologize to Eileen for leavin’ her the way ye did,” Astrid called, her voice echoing down the hallway.
Thomas smirked to himself as he realized that she had yet to spot Melody.
Slowly, he approached the tapestry, a grin playing on his lips. He pulled it back, exposing the little girl. She squealed and jumped, making him laugh.
“What are ye hidin’ from, lass?” he asked gently, kneeling beside her, his eyes twinkling.
Melody peeked out, her big, innocent eyes flickering with uncertainty. “I dinnae want to ride today,” she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. “I fell yesterday, and it hurt.”
Thomas nodded, his heart aching for her. “Aye, I understand. Sometimes, life can hurt. But it’s what ye do wit’ that pain that truly matters. Will ye learn from it, or will ye hide away, kennin’ that ye might one day be hurt again?”
She furrowed her brow and looked down, biting her lip. She shook her head as her small frame trembled under the weight of her fears. “I just dinnae want to go.”
“What if I went with ye?” Thomas offered, his tone warm and encouraging. “Would that make ye feel better?”
Melody’s eyes lit up with hope as she bobbed her head.
Just then, Astrid pulled back the tapestry, revealing the two of them, her expression a mix of amusement and exasperation.
