Page 30 of The Mad Highlander
She had just finished thinking of him as someone who loved and cared for the well-being of his family, yet there he had gone and yelled at her. She hadn’t expected him to jump at the idea of her joining the party, yet she hadn’t thought that he would dismiss her outright either.
Perhaps I shouldn’t come to any conclusions regarding him just yet.
Her pulse raced as she climbed the steps to her chambers. All of the glimpses of kindness she had seen in him over the past few days had seemed to disappear in a matter of moments.
Who are you, Cayden Hart?
She felt more confused about him than she ever had before. Couldn’t he just allow her to wait somewhere nearby when he rescued her brother?
13
Iris sighed heavily as she scanned over her reflection in her dresser mirror. She had dismissed the maid and proceeded to undress herself and prepare for bed, wanting a bit of time to herself. Cayden had left her so infuriated with him that she could barely stand to be around anyone else at present.
All she had wanted was to go along and see her brother safe, but no, he had chosen to snap at her instead. The strands of her curly dark hair hung down to her waist as she ran the brush through the length. She picked her favorite silk gown and nightdress, giving her skin ample space to breathe after a long day of corsets and fabric.
What is wrong with him?
She couldn’t seem to calm herself despite the soothing feel of the bristles against her scalp. So much for Cayden wanting to put her at ease and ensure that she had everything she needed.
“Who is it?” she called out, almost angrily, when a knock sounded at the door.
Silence rang in her ears when her question remained unanswered. Rolling her eyes, she realized that she may have snapped at a maid. It wasn’t anyone else’s fault that she and Cayden had gotten into an argument.
Leaving her gown hanging open, she made her way across the room and opened the door. “I don’t need anything else this evening…” Her voice trailed off when she looked into the icy eyes of Cayden.
“Were ye expecting me?” He raised an eyebrow before allowing his eyes to wander over her curves that were visible through her silk nightdress.
Realizing where his gaze was headed, Iris quickly gripped the corner of her gown and covered her body, fastening the silk sash at her side. “Was there something that ye needed, Me Laird?”
Cayden seemed to smile at her coyness. “I was hoping ye would come for a walk with me. There was something that I wanted to show ye.” His voice was cool as if he had been ready for a fight, yet something in his eyes was softer.
“Where to?” Iris shifted under his gaze, wanting to hide behind the door.
“Just get dressed an’ pin yer hair back; it doesnae have to be fancy. Nobody else will see ye.” His eyes seemed to take in her figure before he turned his back to her and waited patiently in the hall.
Just the two of us?
Iris felt her pulse quickening as she shut the door and leaned against the wood. Was he taking her somewhere private where he could punish her? She swallowed hard and gathered her courage. If he was angry at her, then she wouldn’t be backing down.
She hurried toward her bed and flung her robe and nightdress over her head. He had said that it didn’t matter what she looked like, so she didn’t bother with a corset or any of the other undergarments. Choosing a plain grey day dress that she kept for traveling, Iris hurriedly dressed and pinned her hair back with a few clips.
Giving herself the once over in the mirror, she headed to the door and opened it once more.
Cayden turned, allowing his eyes to wander over her body before addressing her. “That will do; follow me.” He nodded and began to walk away without waiting for her response.
Realizing that he wouldn’t be waiting for her or offering any sort of explanation, Iris quickly followed suit. “Where are we headed?” She almost had to run to keep up with his lengthy strides.
“Ye will see soon enough,” he grunted a reply and kept on walking.
Frustration filled her body, yet she found herself having to focus on her strides rather than her anger. They exited the castle and made their way over the courtyard, entering a stretch of the castle grounds that Iris hadn’t seen before.
Cayden did little to offer an explanation before striding across what seemed to be an open stretch of earth that squelched beneath her boots. He reached for something on his belt before reaching up and lighting a torch. The torch took flame, casting flickering shadows across the grounds.
Looking around, Iris realized that she was standing alone in the middle of what appeared to be a training ground.
“Ye wanted to come with,” Cayden said to her as he walked past and ignited several other torches around the circle. “This is yer chance to prove yerself.” He stopped and met her gaze, the light of the fire catching the depths of blue in his eyes.
Her pulse quickened as her heart raced. Was he trying to prove a point to her?
