Page 12 of Claimed By the Heartless Highlander
She was beginning to wonder if she might not have been better off accidentally “losing control of her bladder” on him during dessert instead of stumbling off in search of a chamber pot. But there was behaving a little bit poorly, and then there was being completely outrageous. She hadn’t quite been able to bring herself to do the latter.
She consoled herself that there was still time if she got desperate closer to the end of the month. She could hold the option in reserve, along with talking openly about her moon cycles and finding a way to induce vomiting at inopportune times.
She could also seek out Maisie, Leona, and Isobel for suggestions if she had to.
There was also the option of using her favorite novels for ideas on seducing him. If he was only pretending to hate the idea of romance and love, she might convince him otherwise. If not, then perhaps her efforts would do what her less-than-subtle pretense of mannerlessness and clumsiness had not yet managed to do.
Duncan emerged from her home, carrying another bundle of travel satchels. He didn’t look like he had a headache, she noted. What he did have, however, was an incredibly graceful gait and a smooth, steady stride that made his calves—or what she could see between his boots and his kilt—flex in ways that she wasn’t comfortable contemplating for too long.
And that was her other problem. Laird Muir might be averse to romance, but he’d made it clear last night that he was no stranger to seduction, accidental or otherwise. Several times, she’d been sure he was teasing her.
Even if it hadn’t been deliberate, the way he lowered his voice to speak to her, and the heat of the few touches they’d shared, had given her uncomfortable dreams.
Stars above, but I’d be half in love with him meself if I didnae realize he had nay care for or interest in me.
“Ready to leave?”
The gruff question startled her out of her thoughts. She turned to find the bags tied up to the horses, ready for the journey, and her father and sisters waiting near the door.
“A moment.” She went to her sisters and her father and gave them each a hug. “I love ye all. Be well. I’ll write to ye soon.”
Grace nodded. “I ken. And I’ll write to ye as well. Just let me ken if ye need a rescue. I have some tricks I’ve not yet pulled on Faither or the cooks.”
“I dinnae think I’ll need that, but ye’re sweet for offerin’, darlin’.”
Freya’s grip was tighter as she buried her head in Ailis’s shoulder. “Willnae be the same while ye’re gone.”
“I’ll nae be gone forever.” Ailis stroked her sister’s red hair. “And ye can still write to Isobel and the others for copies of their books while I’m away.”
“Still nae the same.” Freya looked up at her. “He promised me that ye’d be able to come home sometimes, after the weddin’. Do ye think he’ll keep that promise?”
That much, Ailis felt sure of. “Aye.”
“Ye’re takin’ me sister. Ye’d better protect her and treat her right, Laird Muir. If ye cannae do that, then ye dinnae deserve her, and I’ll make sure ye ken it!”
Ailis whipped around, half mortified and half amused.
Grace had taken the opportunity to face off with Duncan, and the challenge in her eyes boded ill if he didn’t give her the answer she wanted.
Their father looked scandalized. “Grace!”
Duncan shook his head, his expression stern but not angry, so far as Ailis could tell. “Yer loyalty to yer sister does ye credit, little lass. I look forward to seein’ what ye’ll try to do, should I fail me duties as a properly attentive husband.”
Ailis and her father breathed near identical sighs of relief. Freya released Ailis to stalk forward and drag her sister back with an apologetic expression. And Ailis turned to hug the last member of her family.
Her father wrapped her in his arms, warm and loving as always, and kissed her brow. “Remember, me daughter, that ye’re a brave and beautiful lass. And remember too that I love ye, and I wish ye all the blessings a faither could ask for his daughter, especially when he entrusts her to the care of another man. And dinnae fret, for I ken ye’ll do as well with Laird Muir as ye did with yer sisters and me.”
She couldn’t answer, her throat clogged with tears she didn’t want to shed. Freya and Grace both took the opportunity for a final hug and squeezed her tightly in a twin embrace.
There was no more to be said, and no words that could convey the sense of anticipation and loss in her heart. Once they released her, she turned to her companion. “I’m ready.”
Duncan helped her into the saddle, then swung up onto his horse, and together they nudged their horses into a walk. Ailis swallowed back tears as they left her home behind.
For the first hour of travel, she was grateful for the silence. It was the second time she’d left home for a potential marriage, but the first time, her family had come with her. This was different.
Then the heaviness of the silence became suffocating, and she found herself wanting to speak with him. She was traveling through the forest with a man whom she knew practically nothing about. Travel was an excellent opportunity to change that.
She turned to face her betrothed, who was riding quietly beside her. “Are ye feelin’ well this mornin’, Me Laird?”
