Page 15 of A Highland Bride Taken
He shook his head, burying his face in her shoulder as he let out a yawn. He was visibly exhausted, but whatever had happened had been enough to keep him from succumbing to sleep.
“I wanted to see ye, Mabel,” he mumbled.
Her heart clenched tightly at his words, and she held him tighter.
“I am here now,” she whispered. “Sleep.”
She cast another questioning look at the Laird, who shook his head. She nodded, though she wanted to inquire more. But her focus was on the boy in her arms. She could quell her curiosity for his sake.
She stole a glance at the Laird, who had Connor’s hand in his and smiled, knowing he had at least earned the trust of one of the boys.
She looked down at the yawning boy in her arms and swayed slightly, hoping to lull him to sleep. Ollie squirmed, visibly fighting sleep. She remembered a lullaby her mother used to sing to her and her siblings, especially when Skylar threw fits, and decided to see if it would work on him.
She felt conscious singing in front of the Laird, and was aware of his eyes on her, but she put him out of her mind and kept on singing till she felt the sleeping boy in her arms grow heavy. Hehad one finger in his mouth, which made her heart swell with adoration.
It would hurt her to leave them, but she couldn’t afford to be selfish. Even now, she worried she had overstepped. But it was the Laird who had summoned her, so he would have to handle explaining her absence to the children when she was gone.
“Let me help ye,” she suddenly heard him say behind her, and started.
She turned to him and held her breath as he took Ollie into his arms. She felt sparks dance along her skin where his fingers brushed her arms, only breathing when he finally moved the boy to the bed and tucked him under the covers.
The sight of him doing something so fatherly sparked a warmth inside her that made her long for a family of her own. She also finally accepted that the boys were indeed in good hands.
He stepped away with one final pat on the boys’ heads and placed a finger to his lips, nodding towards the door. She wasn’t going to say anything until they were alone anyway, but she followed him quietly, as she found herself doing around him.
When they stopped in front of the door to his study, she remembered his words from earlier in the day and felt uneasy about being alone with him again. She was now conscious of the fact that he was a man who could cause a girl to think and behave improperly. She bit her lip, eyeing the door.
He turned, seeming to notice her unease.
“Ye have nothing to fear from me, lass,” he assured her. “I only want to talk.”
She looked into his eyes, seeing the sincerity in them, but she couldn’t ignore the voice warning her to stay away. He was a dangerous man for a woman to be alone with. With his rugged handsomeness, he could make a woman forget her values.
She followed him, nonetheless, but kept her distance. She still remembered how her body had warmed when he had touched her earlier. She would likely be one of those women if he decided to focus his attentions on her.
When he offered a seat, she took it, wondering at the change in his demeanor. He had been content to keep her standing earlier in the day, but was suddenly chivalrous at night.
She wondered if he had multiple personalities.
“I must apologize for waking ye up,” he started. “I am sure ye have questions.”
She nodded. “Ye said I should stay away from the bairns, but ye called me to their chambers. I dinnae ken what to think,” she said. “What had Ollie so upset?”
Mabel noticed him tense and clench his hands into fists. But as quickly as he had done so, he relaxed his posture.
“There was an intruder in their room this evening,” he admitted reticently, regret flashing in his eyes. “I dinnae ken if he wished to take them or harm them.”
“I dinnae understand!” she cried, rising to her feet. Then, remembering her manners, she sat back down. “How…?”
“I dinnae ken, but I will find out who is behind it,” he said firmly.
“Did ye capture the intruder?” she asked.
“Nay. The boys were frightened and wanted me to stay. I couldnae leave them.”
It must have been a hard decision for him to make, but she admitted that he had made the right decision. Her respect for him soared.
“I would like to help in any way I can,” she offered. “They will still be frightened by tonight. I can stay and?—”
