Page 20 of When a Highlander Vows
“Aye, well, it seems ye have a way with them then.”
“I have always wanted a pet, but Seamus was afraid that it would be too difficult for me.” She sighed. “What is this one’s name?”
“Percy. A right fussy bastard.”
At that description, Percy meowed at him, but it turned into a purr as he resumed rubbing his face against Caitlin’s.
“I’d hardly call him that, Me Laird. Dae ye have any other animals in the Castle?”
“Aye. Fallows is around here somewhere. A dog. He usually stays below to catch any scraps from the kitchens. But Percy likes to come and sleep with me.”
Caitlin smiled brightly at him, and he cleared his throat and looked away, reminded of his weakness the night before. When that mouth had nearly drawn him in and tempted him to make a terrible mistake.
“What a sweet thing.” She laughed and gave Percy a soft kiss on the head.
Lucas shifted on his feet, annoyed at himself.
Why in God’s name are ye jealous of a cat, ye dobber?
She dropped Percy to the floor and looking a bit shy, she said, “Will ye help me down to breakfast, Me Laird? I daenae wish to make a fool of meself on the stairs, ye see. I am sorry to trouble ye.”
“Nae, nae at all,” he said stiffly, and then took her arm, leading them toward the stairs.
This time, he kept a distance from her, but he could still faintly smell the sweet scent of rosewater which clung to her. Even though he’d had a full night of sleep, the scent still picked at him and made him imagine himself burying himself in her lovely locks of golden hair, breathing it in until he’d had his fill.
I’m nae sure I would ever have me fill.
“Ye might as well—” he began at the same time she said,
“How do ye—”
“Sorry. Go ahead,” she said as they slowly descended the stairs, his hand still holding lightly to her arm.
“I only meant to say that ye might as well call me by me Christian name. Lucas, as I told ye at yer house. We are bound together ye and I in a sort of way, and ye will be here for a long while. I think it would be best if we dinnae bother with titles.”
“Thank ye. Lucas,” she said slowly, as if the name was an unfamiliar one.
“Aye.” He didn’t look at her as they finally reached the bottom of the stairs.
He was not well versed in speaking to people in general, and in that moment, no other words came to his mind.
“I was going to ask how do ye keep yer days?” Caitlin asked, reminding him that she had spoken as well before they’d both cut one another off. “Are ye often at the Castle, or dae ye travel?”
She is likely tryin’ to discern how often she will have to see me.
“I dislike travel greatly. I prefer to stay close to home if I can. But there are times when I must go to see how the other villages on clan lands are farin’. There are taxes to be received, and farmers to speak with. Each village has a leader who is under me. And there is also the English, of course. Soldiers all around, and Ineed to make sure me people are safe from their greedy clutches. We almost narrowly escaped their bloody control.”
His voice was low and gruff as he was reminded of the defeat at Dunbar by Cromwell. His people would still be tied to England for the time being. But Caitlin’s light voice stole him away from thoughts of battle and blood.
“Of course.” Caitlin nodded. “It must be very busy for a laird with such a large land holding. I hear the McDougall lands are one of the largest in the Highlands, although I have never been outside of them. I have never left me village home.”
They’d reached the main hall, and he could see his grandmother already sitting down to breakfast.
“Aye, Lass, ye are correct. But daenae worry. There is nae much more to see beyond these borders. Dangers lie everywhere, as we have already seen.” He whispered the last line before he helped Caitlin into her seat.
Last night he’d marked the place on the map where those strange men had appeared, and he’d spent a long time thinking about old grievances among the clans to try to come up with an answer. But nothing much came to mind. It was another reason why he’d awoken irritated that morning.
“Good morrow to ye both,” Nan said, smiling as he came to sit next to her. “It is nice to have breakfast with ye, Lucas. Ye daenae often sleep so late.”
