Page 19 of The Mad Highlander
Cayden looked up from his desk, a look of sheer curiosity mixed with confusion on his face. “Iris. What brings ye here?” he asked, putting his quill down.
The small room was cluttered with rows of shelves that lined the walls from end to end. Even the large mahogany desk seemed far too cluttered with rolls and rolls of parchment accompanied by leather-bound ledgers. The flickering candlelight cast shadows over all of the mess. It seemed clear to Iris that Cayden’s study was possibly the only room in the entire castle that Margot hadn’t had a hand in organizing.
“I was hoping that we could have a meal together,” Iris replied, her voice soft as she beckoned the maids into the room.
His confused expression transformed into a fierce glare as the two girls cleared off a table next to this desk and began to set out the food and silverware.
Iris could feel the tension in the room escalating with each passing moment as Cayden’s piercing gaze bore into her. She knew that her request was unexpected and perhaps even audacious, yet she refused to let fear hold her back any longer. She dismissed the maids with a kind smile and watched as they shut the door behind them.
Cayden remained quiet, his eyes never leaving her for a second.
She felt a sense of anticipation building up inside her as she waited for him to speak. After what seemed like an eternity, he let out a heavy sigh, and Iris braced herself for what was to come.
“Iris, ye ken that this is quite irregular,” he said, his voice laced with something close to frustration. “I have important work to attend to here, and I cannae be bothered with trivial matters.I eat when the work is done.” He gestured to the stacks of parchment on his desk as he pursed his lips in irritation.
“Trivial matters such as eating with yer wife-to-be,” Iris stated indifferently.
“If that is how ye choose to see it.” He clenched his jaw in frustration as he sat back in his chair.
“I ken very well that ye have other duties, Me Laird; I am nae a fool. I have been patient with ye, learning all I can about this castle an’ the people who live in it. I am carrying out me end of the bargain an’ learning as best I can how to be yer wife. When exactly are ye planning on rescuing Ashton? I have nae heard a word about that?” She lost her cool and snapped at him, taking a step toward the desk.
Cayden just looked at her, lifting his hand to stroke the stubble that had begun to form on his chin. He seemed thoughtful as he kept his gaze on her. She would have given anything in the world to know what he was thinking behind that deeply intense gaze.
“Ye dinnae have to eat with me if it doesnae please ye; yer maither an’ sister are company enough for me, but at least tell me of yer plans,” she pleaded with him, feeling vulnerable in his presence when he refused to utter even a single word. To her great surprise, Cayden stood, pushing himself up with his hands on the armrests of his chair and rounded the desk until he was facing her. Iris stood there, rooted to the spot as he stopped in front of her and leaned against the edge of the desk with his hands behind him for support. The room was silent enough tohear a pin dropping; no matter how brave she told herself she was, she couldn’t deny the fact that she was terrified of him.
“What do ye want to ken, Iris?” His eyes were dark as he locked his gaze onto hers.
“How come ye’ve been avoiding me since I got here?” She searched his face for an answer, feeling the change in her breathing as her chest began to rise and fall with every breath.
“There are things that need me attention. I cannae come an’ find ye every time there’s news of yer brother,” he growled at her, clenching his jaw.
Iris stood her ground, feeling her courage rising as she read between the lines.
So, there is news regarding Ashton.
“I demand an answer, Me Laird. I will nae leave until ye give me the answer to me question. What is happening with Ashton? Are ye any closer to finding him?”
“Aye.” The Laird waved his hand dismissively in the air.
“Aye?” she asked, breathing through her nose. “That’s all ye have to say about it? Why didn’t ye tell me ye were closer to findin’ him?”
“What would that accomplish?” He stood up from his desk. “Do ye want me to update ye hourly with how close we are? All ye need to ken is when we are gettin’ him back. Until then, it doesnae matter how close we are to findin’ him; we havenae found him until we have found him.”
Iris folded her arms across her chest. “Aye, well, it would be nice to ken.”
“For what?” the Laird asked. “Do ye have suggestions on how to infiltrate Castle Murdoch? Or storm it? Do ye ken the best way to deal with that bloodthirsty clan? How should we deal with the Laird’s men if they give us problems? What is it exactly ye want to ken, and why do ye want to ken it.”
“I dinnae want to ken any of that!” Iris was shaking. “Why do ye have to say such things? I only want to ken that I will see me brother again.”
“And me tellin’ ye that we are slightly closer is nae goin’ to give ye that, is it?”
Iris felt like crying, but she would not do so in front of Cayden. She had to be stronger than that. He might be a donner, but he was the only one who could bring her brother home. She could not do it, and her cousin could not do it. Laird O’Brien was her only hope, and it didn’t help that he infuriated her so much.
“It still doesnae explain why ye have to avoid me so much. Ye talk of me as Lady O’Brien afore we are even married, but ye willnae sit down for supper with me, and ye have meetings assoon as we arrive back at the castle. I fear I might never see ye again.”
“Ye fear that, do ye?” The Laird took a step closer to her. “Ye ken most people are afraid they will see me again, but ye are afraid that ye won’t.”
“Och, I didnae mean it like that, and ye ken it.”
