Page 15 of Kilty By Association
She surprised him over and over again, didn’t she? She wasn’t like the other ladies at court. Mayhap ‘twas why she held herself apart from them?
They rode in silence for a while, and he couldn’t help watching her from the corner of his eye. He was trying to be watchful and alert for danger, but she kept calling his attention.
The way she smiled at the pair of songbirds flitting from tree to tree beside the road.
The way she tipped her head back when the sun came out from behind the clouds, as if reveling in the feel of its warmth.
The way she threw her arms out to her sides and inhaled as the breeze ruffled the stray hairs at her temples.
Aye, he could watch her forever if he wasn’t careful. Everything about Lady Elspeth Sinclair called to him.
But he was her guard and he needed to focus on that. On keeping her and her children safe. He needed to be professional, and to do that, he needed to start by apologizing.
So, after they’d been riding for a bit, he cleared his throat. “Milady?”
They were more or less alone; the carriage was in front of them with a pair of guards ahead of it, and four men he’d personally chosen rode some distance behind. Craig had wanted to be closer to the Earl in case of danger.
She shot him a teasing grin. “I thought I told ye I was nae lady.”
He couldn’t help his snort. “Ye’re the mother of an Earl. The wife of another.”
“Widow,” she sharply corrected, and he dropped his chin in acknowledgement.
“Ye’re a lady, is my point,” he finally said.
He took a deep breath, prepared to launch into an apology…but she surprised him yet again by cocking her head to one side and studying him with what could only be called an impish smile. So, he held his tongue, and was glad when she spoke.
“Elspeth, then.” Her smile grew as she straightened. “Ye call me Elspeth and I’ll call ye Craig.”
Immediately, he shook his head. “Yearea lady, and I am no’.” At her burst of bright laughter, he found himself grinning as well, not at all embarrassed. “I mean, I’m no’ a lord. I’m just a Hunter.”
She pointed to the helm dangling from his saddle. “AKing’sHunter, a member of an elite cadre of respected and skilled warriors the King himself trusts. Hardly ajust, Craig,” she teased. “Meanwhile, I’m just an orphaned lass from the Highlands who is used to roaming free, having adventures, and getting her feet dirty.”
Unconsciously, his gaze dropped to her feet, encased in delicate little boots. He saw them twitch, as if she was suddenly aware of them, and she huffed a little laugh.
“Well, I mean, no’now. Now, I’m pretending to be a lady.”
His gaze sought hers once more, and of course she was smiling. “Ye’re verra good at it. Pretending to be a lady, I mean.”
Her laughter burbled up again and he found himself smiling in response. “Aye, I’ve fooled them all. None of them—no’ even my distant cousin, the Queen—ken the reason I spend so much time in the gardens is because I’m secretly pulling weeds. Or that I go for long walks through the palace at night, just to feel the burn in my muscles. Or that I snuck out to a dangerous tavern to hire a bodyguard.”
Bringing them back to his original point. He cleared his throat again, ready to apologize…only for her smile to turn rueful.
“And there is something I must say to ye, Craig. I am sorry if I made ye uncomfortable that night.”
His brows shot up, his words dying in his throat. “I—what?”
She winced. “I pressed myself on ye. I should have listened when ye said ye werenae interested in working for me. Instead, I ended up in yer lap. And ye ended up guarding my son, despite yer objections.”
He stared, flabbergasted, uncertain how to explain.
“And so, I do hope ye’ll forgive me. If I’d kenned ‘twould be ye assigned to Robbie, I would’ve asked Their Majesties to reconsider, kenning yer dislike of the position. Now ye’re stuck with me—”
“Milady,” he interrupted.
For the first time, she blushed slightly, her gaze dropping to her hands on the reins. “Elspeth. Please?”
He surrendered, knowing he’d been lost since the beginning. “Aye, Elspeth, but only when nae one is about. I’ll no’ have these men—or even yer children—thinking I respect ye less than ye are due.”
