Page 20 of Claimed By the Heartless Highlander
Then, before he could think of a response, she turned on her heel and gracefully walked out of the study.
He couldn’t help it. Duncan laughed harder than he could remember laughing about anything other than some of Lily’s more inventive tricks. Jack stared at him as if he’d grown a second head.
When his brother finally stopped laughing, Jack whispered, “Holy God above… I dinnae ken who the lass is, aside from her name, but if ye dinnae wed her,Iwill. Any lass who can bespell ye enough to laugh like that…”
Duncan blinked, startled both by his brother’s words and by the possessiveness that rushed through him. “Careful, Braither. She’smine.” He coughed to dispel the urge to say something harsher, and made an effort to steer the conversation back to safer ground. “Besides, I laugh well enough.”
“Nae like that. If ye could see yer face… ye looked ten years younger, with that expression. And if the servants heard ye, they’ll be lookin’ for Fae Folk in the shadows, for they’ll never believe it was ye.” Jack paused. “Actually… I’m nae sure I believe that sound came from me dour elder braither.”
Duncan scowled at him. “I’m nae that bad.”
“Ye are.” Jack eyed him, then smirked. “And there’s the Duncan I ken and love. Grouchy as a winter-awakened bear.”
“Come off it.” Duncan reached out and discretely stuffed Ailis’s letters back into the top desk drawer before Jack could see them and comment on them—or worse, read them. Then he walked over to a small cupboard and grabbed a bottle of whiskey and two glasses.
He poured a measure for each of them and motioned for Jack to take a seat. “I’ve been gone for nearly three days. Tell me what’s been goin’ on in the clan and the lands while I’ve been away.”
Jack began his report. Duncan sat back and listened, and tried to forget the tension in his gut, or the way he’d felt when he’d met Ailis’s fiery, determined gaze.
CHAPTER9
Ailis sighedin relief as she slid into the bath. A long day of riding, not to mention the fight in the woods, had made her sweaty and grimy, and the warm water was heaven to her tired muscles.
If only her mind could be easily soothed. But Laird Muir was proving to be a frustrating man to spend time around. She wasn’t sure which was worse, those hours when he seemed determined to ignore her, or the moments when he leaned in enough to smile and tease her.
When he was cold and unapproachable, he made her want to shock him, just to see the emotion in his eyes. She imagined kissing him, teasing him, maybe even touching him—anything to gain a reaction from him. She found herself looking for any way to break the ice that seemed to hide behind his eyes.
When he was teasing, he took her breath away. The hot promise in his eyes, the way he seemed to effortlessly seduce her and tempt her, it was more intense than any fantasy or dream she’d ever had. He was handsome, and when he smiled, he was devastating to her self-control.
And yet every time she found the nerve to act on that temptation, to try and reciprocate, he would pull back, and return to that cold, dispassionate shell, determined to keep her at arm’s length.
It was maddening because her heart told her they could make something wonderful together if he’d just stop shutting her out and refusing to allow himself to feel any emotions. She knew she could easily fall in love with him, but only if he could reciprocate. And only if he would let her love him.
The sound of the door opening brought her out of her thoughts as Kara entered the room with a supper tray. The maid set everything out with brisk efficiency, laid out her night clothes, and offered her a towel. Ailis took it gratefully.
“Thank ye.” She wrapped the towel around her. “I believe if ye’ll have the water taken away, I can manage by meself for the remainder of the evening.”
“As ye will, Me Lady.”
Five minutes later, the tub was gone, and Ailis took a moment to enjoy the sight and smell of the food the maid had brought. Roast venison, steamed vegetables, and fresh bread, with a beautiful-looking honey cake for dessert, and a choice of wine, juice or honey mead to accompany the meal.
She sighed in delight and turned away to put on the nightdress and nightrobe she would wear for the rest of the evening. She dressed quickly, brushed her hair out and braided it back up, and turned around to begin her supper, only to stop short.
The honey cake was missing from her tray. She ventured closer to see if her eyes were playing tricks on her, only to spin around as the water pitcher by her bed toppled over and crashed on the floor.
There was no sign of anyone. There was the missing cake, and the broken pitcher, but no sign of another person in the room. Ailis felt gooseflesh spread across her arms.
Does the Ghostly Laird have ghosts in his castle?
A second later, she gave herself a shake. Ghosts wouldn’t break the pitcher, not unless they were intent on more dire mischief. Helping the maids raise Grace, she’d seen plenty of similar incidents.
She pursed her lips. A servant’s child playing tricks, perhaps? It would be unusual for any youngling raised in service to cause trouble with a guest, but it wasn’t impossible.
She made a show of searching and thought she heard the faint sounds of someone moving around, evading her. She stopped and raised her voice.
“If ye dinnae come out now, whoever and whatever ye are, then I shall scream, and the whole castle will be able to find ye.”
She heard a small, childish giggle from the direction of the wardrobe. She stalked over and flung it open to reveal clothing… and a small girl, grinning shyly up at her, with honey and crumbs smeared around her lips.
