Page 37 of When a Highlander Vows
“I have never seen so many books in me life,” Caitlin said, coloring a little. “Ye must forgive me if I take advantage of them. I love to read, and it is one thing in which I daenae need assistance. Yer library is very impressive, Lucas.”
She sat and Lucas followed, calling for wine to be poured. “Ye are welcome to it. I find I daenae always have the patience to sit and read for as long as ye. It is an admirable trait.”
Lottie nodded along. “So, is that what ye did with yer time after the walk, me dear?” Lottie asked innocently. “I was napping for much of the day. The walk we shared was quite a long one, and me muscles ached.”
“Och, Lottie, I am so sorry. I dinnae mean for that to happen. Have ye taken yer medicine?”
“Aye, aye,” she waved a hand at Caitlin. “Please daenae worry about me. Tell me about yer readin’.”
“Aye, please dae,” Lucas said. “It seems that one must be a very avid reader to spend all day in the library among the books. Surely ye did somethin’ else this afternoon?”
Lucas had been cutting at his slice of pork on the plate, but after he finished his sentence, he looked up at her with a little smirk.
Caitlin sucked in a breath.What on Earth is the man doin’? He acts as though he is happy I spotted him in a half-naked state? As if he was nae the one to pull away from the kiss we shared?
Bewildered, Caitlin pursed her lips, trying to form words. After she cleared her throat, she spoke, but it had seemed like a full minute had passed.
“Aye, that is all I did. Naethin’ else interested me today,” she said firmly, lifting her brow a little and looking back at him.
He might make her cower for a moment with that handsome face of his, but she was just as intelligent, and like she’d told herself before, she would not allow herself to be cowed or controlled by a man. When she saw Lucas’ look of surprise, she felt much better.
19
Lucas was in a better mood now, after fighting with Archie and seeing that Caitlin had been watching him with her lovely lips parted in surprise, and her soft cheeks colored red.
It had made him feel ten feet tall to see her reaction to him. Lucas was not unaware of the effect he often had on women, but it was all the more satisfying to see it on the face of the woman who had driven him mad since first laying eyes upon her.
When she’d come back at him with a retort of her own, he’d been both surprised and impressed. A wave of heat and desire flushed through him anew as she sparred with him, all under the watchful eye of his grandmother.
“Well, again, an admirable quality, Caitlin. To be able to read for so long and so thoroughly.”
“Och, stop that, Lucas,” Nan said, slapping at his elbow. “The lass may dae whatever she pleases in this castle, now her home.”
“Thank ye,” Caitlin turned away from Lucas then to focus on her food.
For the next little while, his grandmother spoke of castle matters. He knew that she was just as excited as he was about the feast and what Caitlin’s reaction would be. He hoped she didn’t ask anything, for he wanted it to be an entire surprise. He wanted to be the one to see the look on her face after it happened.
For the very first time in a long time, it felt like he had something he truly was looking forward to. It would be the closing of a terribly sad chapter, and yet it would be like a new beginning. He had lost Seamus, but he had now gained Caitlin in his life.
Whether she wanted to or not, she was helping him not focus so much on his loss. Even though he’d at first been itching to get away to aid with the skirmishes, he’d been eager to return home as soon as he’d crested the first hill away from the castle.
“Lucas, ye will have to teach the lass to dance; she says she doesnae ken how very well,” his Nan said, breaking suddenly into his thoughts.
He straightened up and looked between them. “Aye, but surely there are others better able to teach her. Ye ken that I am nay skilled dancer, Nan.”
“Nonsense!” she cried with a laugh and turned to Caitlin. “He dances as well as I, and so he should with me blood in his veins!”
“Please, I daenae need any assistance. It would nae make sense for me to dance either, for I cannae see the other dancers well, or the space in which I am dancin’. It would be a strange thing for me to learn.”
Caitlin was smiling, but Lucas could see the sadness in her eyes. He remembered their brief discussion before the fateful ride by the sea. How they spoke of the merriment of clan feasts. And merriment was one thing that Caitlin needed in her life.
“But surely ye would be able to see yer dance partner. He is the one who should lead ye, anyway, so ye wouldnae have to worry about yer feet or where ye step.”
“Exactly,” Nan replied while Lucas looked to Caitlin, her eyes watching his.
“Aye, true enough,” she whispered, turning away to drink her wine.
“Good, then it is all settled. Tomorrow we will start in the noontime, and we will dance as much as ye please. Ye will have a wonderful time, me dear. I promise ye.”
