Page 30 of A Sinful Night with a Scot
He took another step forward, and Elsie suddenly began to panic.
“What are ye daeing?” The sound that left her throat was barely a whisper.
The laird then lifted his hand and took hold of the shawl draped at the back of the throne-like chair. Something she hadn’t even noticed before. Slowly, with his eyes on hers, he took another step forward. Elsie’s heart was now racing, for he was only a foot away. With wide eyes, she watched as he opened the embroidered cloth in his hands, and then, leaning forward, he wrapped it around her shoulders.
She grabbed at it like her life depended on it, wrapping it around her body tightly. It was huge, and clearly made for him, and thus, covered her whole from shoulder to foot.
For a moment, Keane did not speak. His eyes remained on hers as he gazed down at her. Elsie searched his face, desperate to know what might be behind his dark look, a look that clearly expressed his desire for her. But his face held steady, and he gave not one flicker of any emotion away.
Suddenly, he drew a breath, turned on his heels, and moved several feet away from her, before turning to look at her again.
“When ye are dressed, we must go together and search for a stone,” he said, his voice thick, though he was clearly trying to hide it.
Elsie’s brow furrowed, and she shook her head. “A stone?”
“Aye. ‘Tis a Highland tradition in these parts. We mark a stone for the hearth in the great hall. It symbolizes the welcome o’ new family members tae the clan. And, whether ye like it or nae, ye are a new member o’ this family, Elspeth.”
Elsie was just beginning to feel frustration at the use of her name when she noticed Keane look up and above her. She didn’t need to turn. She knew he was gazing at his father’s portrait. Her heart sank, then, for his brow dipped, and she watched a sadness wash over him, if only fleetingly.
His gaze came back to her, and his expression was, once more, like stone.
“The council are planning a great celebratory feast tonight fer both our return and our marriage,” he continued. “The stone involves the clan in our ceremony, which, ye will come tae learn, will delight them greatly, fer they are good people.”
Elsie nodded. “Aye. I have witnessed that already.” And she had. Not only with the people in the village beyond the castle, but with Anna too. She couldn’t dismiss Alisdair either, for it was evident he was not pleased with the path Keane had taken. “I think it is a good thing tae involve the clan.”
Her remark surprised him, for she witnessed his brow hitch on his forehead. He then regarded her for a moment before continuing. “We will leave within the hour, before it gets dark. Get Anna tae bring ye tae the stables when ye are ready.”
And then, he left as swiftly as he had arrived, leaving Elsie still staring at the door in his wake.
Half an hour later, Elsie and Anna found the laird standing in the stables beside two horses. Upon seeing their approach, Keane smiled at Anna, nodding gratefully to her.
“Thank ye, Anna. Ye can go now.”
“Aye, me laird.”
The maid then turned back the way she had come and left Elsie and Keane alone. The soft scent of sweet hay filled her nostrils as Keane handed her the reins of the mare. There were several stalls on either side of the large building, most of them occupied with a large beautiful beast of one size or another.
“Ye have many beautiful horses,” Elsie said, gazing around her.
“They work hard fer us,” he replied.
Elsie was a taken aback at his words. Perhaps, given how she had experienced him for most of the time, she did not think he had the capacity to care.
Ye ken that isnae true.
Indeed, he had shown her some moments, but they had been few and far between. Now, he seemed to be somewhere in the middle. Not appearing particularly tender or caring, yet nor was he as abrasive as he had been on their journey back to the castle.
In fact, as she regarded him, his face was so passive, she couldn’t imagine what he might be thinking or feeling. It wasn’t as though he were an easy man to read any other time, but given they were about to venture out together, she could not tell if he might be pleased or annoyed at the prospect.
“Dae ye feel better now that ye are bathed and dressed?”
Elsie flashed him a glance, trying to decipher if he was, once more, trying to humiliate her, but his expression now appeared open and amicable.
“I dae. Aye,” she replied, careful to keep sarcasm from her tone.
“Good.” He paused for a second and then took hold of the reins of the other, much larger horse. “Come.”
They led the horses out of the stables and a little way across the courtyard. Keane then stopped and looked over at her. “We should go.” Lifting his eyes to the sky, he added, “I dinnae want tae be out here when night falls.”
