Page 13 of Saved By the Highland Beast
His pointed chin thrust in the air whenever he made a point. Sophia loved the way his knobby knees protruded from his breeches. He was at the prepubescent stage in his life right before his looks really began to develop.
“You could,” she conceded. “But doing the numbers and work yourself will ensure that everything is done correctly. That way, you won’t have to double-check what any of your men are doing,” she countered. “It’s good to have a few trusted people to count on, but it’s even better if you have everything in hand yourself.”
He glared at her for a moment before walking past her into the room and retrieving a book from the shelf.
“Great,” she said happily with a sigh of relief. It boded well for her that he was interested in books. “I can see you are eager to start the lesson. I had something in mind to start with, but I don’t mind if you want to choose a book. We can start with anything you like.” She came up from behind and looked over his shoulder at the books on the shelf. “What book are we looking for?’’ She bent low with her hands on her knees.
Cillian turned around and glared at her again, with one corner of his cherubic lips raised to the side. “Iam lookin’ for a book on sword fightin’, an’Iwill be takin’ it outside whereIcan watch the men trainin’.”
“Oh, well, I think sword fighting is a grand practice. I’ll be more than happy to accompany you once we’ve finished all of our morning lessons,” she said cheerfully. “How does that sound?”
He turned to her with his head cocked to the side as if he was speaking to a person who had trouble understanding. “It sounds to me like yer hard of hearin’, miss,” he said bluntly in the same kind of grumpy manner that his father had. “I said that I would be takin’ the book outside on me own.”
Slightly taken aback by his cool demeanor and unwillingness to give her a chance, Sophia straightened her spine and looked down at him. “While I do think that swordsmanship is a great use of your time, it can definitely be a valuable skill for a man to learn. The laird has brought me here to teach you your lessons. I think we should honor that before we continue with other activities.” She tried a different approach. “We can have fun while learning before we go out to play.”
Cillian shook his head and walked right past her to the door with the book in his hand, clearly annoyed by her persistent stance.
“I beg your pardon, but where are you going?” she asked firmly but politely.
“I am goin’ to the yard with me book to see how the men practice with swords,” he said slowly as if she were hard of hearing and dumb. “I dinnae care for your lessons or anythin’ that me faither says.”
“Cillian…” she began patiently.
“I dinnae have to listen to ye or anyone else that me faither brings to the castle!” He raised his voice and balled his tiny fist at his side. “I hate me faither. He never listens to anythin’ I have to say. I dinnae need another tutor who thinks she kens better than anyone else!” His eyes shot daggers at her as he glared. “Yer wastin’ yer time at this castle, Miss Harrison!” He turned and stormed out of the room, leaving her stunned and alone.
Sophia briefly wondered what kind of women had come to be his tutors, if they were at fault for possibly being too harsh with the boy, or if he was just too closed off to trust them.
She looked at the empty doorway and wondered what she should do. Cillian was indeed a difficult boy, but there was something else there behind his eyes. She could have sworn she saw the glimmer of a tear when he had said that he hated his father. He was obviously hurting and feeling as if his voice was unheard.
Placing her hands on her hips, she looked out the window at the servants in the yard.
There has to be something I can do to get through to him.
She mulled the options over in her mind as she chewed her lip. Her only choice at present was to approach the laird and ask for his help. It wasn’t something she wanted to do, but she knew that something had to be done. The grumpy oaf would just have to swallow his pride and become her ally. Whether he liked it or not, she was here to do a job.
And to hide.
Her inner voice reminded her of the ordeal she’d left behind at home. All the excitement from her arrival had pushed the issue to the back of her mind. Somewhere in the recesses of London was a man who knew her name, a man who stalked her every move.
She swallowed the panic that rose in her throat and made her way out the door in pursuit of the man who was her current employer and protector.
* * *
“I beg your pardon, my laird,” Sophia greeted politely as she entered the dining hall where Dean was sitting down for his late breakfast.
She felt the heat rising in her collar as she looked him over. Dean cut quite the handsome figure in his traditional red kilt and off-white cotton shirt that made the muscles in his arms bulge through the fabric. She quickly shook her head to force her thoughts away from his appearance.
I’m here for Cillian.
“Miss Harrison,” he returned gruffly. “How is it goin’ with the lessons this mornin’? I hope Cillian isnae givin’ ye too much grief.” He reached over the table and retrieved a pile of bannocks, placing them on his already overfilled plate. “Do ye have everythin’ ye need with all of the books? I can have one of the men send for more.”
“That’s exactly what I wanted to talk to you about,” she said as she took a seat beside him while he sat at the head of the table. “I have all of the books I need, but I’d like to address the issue with Cillian.”
“That didnae take very long.” He sighed and shook his head.
“What didn’t?”
“It’s only yer first day an’ yer already fixin’ to leave,” he growled with frustration. “I dinnae ken what to do with the lad. He chases away every tutor I can find. They never have a chance to start ‘afore they come down here and ask to leave. Four women have come and gone.” He glanced at her with a displeased frown. “An’ now five.”
