Page 23 of The Mad Highlander
He had wondered for a moment if she had come for a repeat of the previous night. He would not be averse to that.
Iris had seemed curious at first, yet now she seemed to shrink back a little as she eyed Astrid wearily.
“Perhaps I should leave ye to talk; some villagers are waiting for me in the castle.” Astrid smiled at Iris before curtsying politely and heading on her way.
Iris looked a little sheepish as she stood before him. If he didn’t know any better, he might think she was jealous. He should not have enjoyed that so much, but he did.
“Did ye need something?” Cayden tried to draw her attention back to him, wondering why in the world she seemed to have taken an instant dislike to Astrid when she hadn’t even met her before.
Blinking as if she were seeing him for the first time, Iris appeared flustered. “I was just wondering if ye had any more news about Ashton.” Her cheeks flushed with color as she glanced over his shoulder one last time.
“I’m afraid that I don’t, but I was hoping to run into ye. Would ye care to join me for a walk?” He gestured behind her to the edge of the forest, taking note of his mother’s glare before she stalked back toward the castle with Robyn in tow.
He’d enjoyed the kiss in his study, but there was some guilt, too. She had come to him in a time of distress, and he had kissed her. He knew what it was like to lose family, and he would never want to use that to get what he wanted.
If he were going to kiss her, he would do it when he wanted—not when she was in a state of distress. Still, there was something she had said that resonated with him. He had not been avoiding her, but he had not been spending time with her either. She would soon be his wife and lady of the castle.
“Aye, I think it would be good for us to clear the air,” Iris spoke almost hesitantly at first but quickly lifted her chin defiantly.
“Aye,” Cayden agreed, wondering if she was angry that he had been talking to Astrid or if she resented the fact that he had kissed her so suddenly the night before.
The couple fell into step beside one another as Cayden led her into the forest and past an old cabin that was used to store the hunting equipment. Their ears were soon met with the bubbling sound of a gushing brook that cut its way through the forest floor.
A myriad of small forest creatures chattered away and scuttled about when the pair reached the edge of the brook.
“I thought we might have fewer interruptions here.” Cayden attempted a smile as he chose a fallen tree and perched on the trunk before gesturing for Iris to join him.
The water from the stream was clear enough to see the tiny pebbles at the bottom of the book that shimmered in the sparse light filtering through the canopy of the trees.
“I wanted to apologize for last night. I didnae mean for things to go as far as they did.” Iris spoke up first, taking Cayden by surprise.
His brows dipped into a frown as he watched her face. Was she sorry that he had kissed her? Or did she feel as if she had somehow been at fault for allowing it?
“I wanted to ken more about Ashton, but that wasnae me only reason for taking the food up to the study. I was wondering why ye were avoiding me, but I think I ken now…” Her eyes drifted over the water, staring into the distance as if he wasn’t even there.
The uncomfortable atmosphere made him shift on the log, adjusting his position as he couldn’t help but wonder what was going through her mind.
Her fists suddenly clenched at her sides as her nails dug into the bark of the tree. “Ye may nae have wanted the kiss as much as I did, but if ye are to take a mistress, then ye should at least be more discreet about it,” Iris stormed and stood, keeping her back turned to him.
Mistress?
Realizing that Iris had thought of Astrid as someone he was seeing outside of their impending marriage, he reached for her arm and spun her around. “What do ye think I was doing with Astrid?” His eyes searched hers for an answer.
The hurt in her eyes was evident as she stared back at him with all the defiance in the world. The olive green in her eyes darkened to an almost hazel hue as she tried to hide a sigh.
Reaching out, Cayden placed his hand under her chin and angled her face toward his. The heavenly scent of heather that clung to her dress reached his senses as a gentle breeze picked up. “Astrid isnae me mistress; she’s…” His voice trailed off as hethought of who she truly was. The memories surrounding her and how they had met caused the pain of the past to rise in his chest once again.
“Who is she?” Iris’ eyes softened a little as she searched his face.
“She’s the castle healer. She’s a fine woman, but I’ve never had eyes for her, and she’s never had eyes for me. Nae that that is any business of yers.” He felt the dull ache in his chest beginning to ebb as he looked into her eyes.
“Well, I wasnae accusin’ ye of anythin’, but I do want to ken where I stand, seein’ as I ken nothin’ about ye.” Iris seemed hesitant as she began to pull away, but she stopped and looked into his eyes as if she wasn’t sure how he would respond.
Does she think I’m a monster? I havnae shown her anythin’ of meself, so it makes sense that she does.
“Did I nae promise ye that nay harm would befall ye while ye are at this castle as me bride? That extends to matters within the castle as well as out.”
“Aye, and it is one thing to say that and another to prove it. I dinnae ken who ye are, and I ken some women are afraid of ye, but yer handsome enough to…”
