Page 10 of Saved By the Highland Beast
“Aye. The irony is that his name means bright-headed. His mother gave him the name in the hopes that he’d take to his schoolin’ like a fish to water. She chose the name ‘afore he was born.”
“Does he struggle with learning?”
“He’s a bright lad all right, as smart as a whip. His problem is that he cannae sit still for more than a moment at a time. He always wants to be outside learnin’ to fight. Anthony has a hand in that. The fact that he’s comin’ of age doesnae help either. He’s a strong-headed lad, stubborn as an ox.”
“So, he needs someone to keep his attention long enough with things that hold his interest.”
He raised an eyebrow as the horses rode on. “I dinnae ken what yer plannin’, lass, but many a tutor ‘afore ye has tried an’ failed to keep his attention on the books.”
“I have my ways,” Sophia said, reverting back to her defensive manner. She shifted in the saddle until the full weight of her body was leaning against his chest.
The laird coughed slightly before moving his hips to the side. “I didnae say that ye dinnae have yer ways. I was just givin’ ye fair warnin’ ‘afore ye start.”
“Does Anthony often teach men how to fight?” she continued her line of questioning, unperturbed by his warnings.
“Aye. He’s the man-at-arms for McGill Castle. There is nae a better warrior this side of Scotland.”
“Does he spend a lot of time with Cillian, then?”
He bristled slightly and clenched his jaw at her sudden interest in his friend. “Aye. Anthony is a kind of uncle figure to Cillian. I’ve kent the man ever since we were lads. I’d trust Anthony Gillies with me life.”
She nodded slowly. “I’d like to get to know him a little better in that case. He could give me insight on how better to manage Cillian.”
“I already have someone that will be showin’ ye around the castle and tellin’ ye everythin’ ye need to ken. Anthony has his own affairs that he needs to attend to. Yer job at the castle will be to look after Cillian and naebody else.”
Sophia kept quiet for a moment before saying, “I’ll put Cillian first in all that I do while I am here in your employment, my laird…” She uttered his title with just a hint of sarcasm. “But I’ll thank you for not interfering with the way I teach.”
Her final words felt like a thinly veiled warning that he shouldn’t be telling her what to do.
He knew he’d been slightly harsh with her, but something about the way she took an interest in his friend prickled his nerves and made him come across rougher than he had intended to.
Why does it matter if she takes an interest in Anthony or anyone else for that matter?
He kept questioning himself as the horizon opened up, revealing the high walls and buttresses of McGill Castle.
* * *
The horses trotted into the yard of the castle and came to a stop at the entrance to the stables. McGill Castle was large and intimidating, with stone walls, iron fixings, and plenty of people milling about the yard.
Sophia was glad that the journey had ended. She felt as if she’d lose her mind if she had to spend any more time in the company of that pig-headed man. Perhaps he was just tired from the long ride, but she didn’t understand why he had to be so grumpy and unpleasant all the time.
“Hamish,” the laird suddenly called after helping her off the horse and back onto her feet. “Go an’ fetch me uncle. Tell him the new tutor for Cillian has arrived at the castle an’ he is to show her around.”
“Duncan?” Hamish asked with a frown, pausing with the reins of his horse in hand. “Are ye sure, my laird? Would ye nae like one of us to show the lady around? I wouldnae mind. She would be far better off with one of us. Duncan cannae hear a team of wild horses comin’ if they were right on his tracks.”
“Do as yer told,” Dean grunted angrily. “I’ve just about enough of yer cheek on this trip.”
“An’ those are pretty big cheeks,” Anthony muttered under his breath as Hamish did as he was told and set off to find the laird’s uncle.
“An’ dinnae think yer off the hook either,” Dean barked at him. “I want these horses patted down an’ seen to properly ‘afore tonight.”
Anthony blinked at him with an incredulous look of disbelief on his face. “It’s nae me job to see to the horses, Dean. The stable boys should be the ones to see to them. Hamish is right, the lady would be far better off if one of us showed her around the castle. I can do it if yer too busy right now.”
“Do I have to explain every decision I make as laird of this castle?!” Dean nearly lost his temper, but he managed to keep his voice steady. His eyes were thunderous, though. They would make a lesser man run for the hills. “Will ye men do as yer told without talkin’ back? Ye’d swear the two of ye were runnin’ a rebellion.”
Anthony raised his eyebrows and shot the laird a questioning look before glancing at Sophia. He looked at her for a second with a strange expression before taking the horses and leading them to the stables.
Sophia watched the scene with growing interest as she waited for her guide to come to her aid. She hoped that this ‘Uncle Duncan’ was far more pleasant than the laird. She couldn’t stand to be around another man that barked at everyone around him. Her thoughts were quickly interrupted when Hamish came back with an elderly man following behind.
