Page 30 of Claimed By the Heartless Highlander
“I dinnae ken if I like it well. Me family doesnae live near the shore, so ‘tis rare to get such treats.”
“Ye dinnae get fish?”
Ailis smiled softly at the plaintive query. “We get fish, but nae from the ocean. We get ours from the loch near our home, where I learned to swim.”
“What’s a loch like?”
Ailis ruffled Lily’s hair. “’Tis much the same as this, in places. But ‘tis surrounded by land, and the water is fresh, instead of salty. Sometimes lochs are warmer, sometimes nae. Me sisters and I used to swim in the loch on summer days.”
“Can ye teach me how to swim?”
Ailis had considered it, but neither of them was wearing clothing that was appropriate for the activity, and she didn’t want to try to teach Lily to swim fully dressed. That was a hard task for even an adult.
She’d also not considered how much colder the ocean would be than the loch she was used to. She’d thought it might be slightly chilly, the way the loch at home might be. The ocean, however, was frigid, just barely comfortable for wading in.
She smiled gently at the child. “I’ll teach ye when the weather’s warmer, and the water’s had time to become warm as well, instead of bein’ chilled to liquid ice.”
Lily seemed content enough with that answer, for she turned away and began to hunt for more shells and signs of shore animals. Ailis followed along, alert for any sign of things that might hurt the child. She was content to play a little in the water, letting the waves brush her bare feet.
There would be time for swimming and mollusk hunting later. Assuming she remained in Castle Muir for longer than a month.
The thought that she might not stay longer was more distressing than she’d expected. Ever since she’d met Duncan, she’d been planning ways to escape from their agreement. She didn’t want a loveless marriage to such a stern and forbidding man.
And yet… she could see the passion in Duncan Wallace’s eyes, behind the stoic mask he wore, and there was no denying that part of her wanted to be the one to convince him to shed that mask completely. It was part of why she couldn’t seem to help but provoke him.
There was also Lily. She was a sweet child, and Ailis’s heart went out to her. It was quite clear why Duncan had said that it was good she cared for children so much.
From the way Duncan interacted with his child, and the way Lily clung to him in turn, it was clear the two loved each other fiercely. Which meant, in turn, that Duncan was capable of such emotions when he was willing to share them with someone.
Ailis simply wasn’t sure how to convince him that she was one of the people he could trust with his heart, or how to show him that a love match could be a good one.
Her thoughts were interrupted by a splash of cold water, and a high-pitched laugh. She blinked, only to see Lily giggling. “Ye splashed me!”
The child’s laughter gave it away.
Ailis smirked. “Well, in that case…” She bent to scoop up some water in her hands.
Lily squealed and darted out of reach—or to where she thought she was out of reach. Ailis, however, had played these games for far too many years with her sisters to be so easily thwarted. She swept her arm forward, and a small wave splashed up and caught the youngster in the face.
Lily yelped, then splashed at her again, and the two of them were quickly embroiled in a water war, darting back and forth and trying to see who could get the other the wettest, without getting completely drenched themselves.
“There ye are.”
There was no mistaking that voice. Ailis and Lily both turned to see Duncan striding toward them.
Ailis gulped. She might not know Duncan all that well yet, but she could tell by the set of his shoulders and the way he moved that he was well and truly furious. The guard clearly sensed it as well, for the man’s posture was rigid, and his eyes were dark with trepidation.
Duncan ignored the guard and Ailis both as Lily darted toward him, and he swept her up into his arms. “Ye, little miss, are in trouble for running away from where I left ye without sendin’ word where ye went to. Ye ken the rules.”
The words were spoken in a soft, lighthearted manner, but the look Duncan gave Ailis over his daughter’s shoulder was anything but.
Lily, oblivious to the glare, giggled. “Did ye come to play with us, Faither?”
“I didnae. I came to collect me wayward young imp and the people she’s convinced to let her run wild. I only trust ye’ve nae gotten into too much trouble. Have ye, lass?”
Lily laughed again and began to chatter happily about what they’d been doing. Ailis and the guard exchanged a look of uncertainty. It was obvious that Duncan was keeping his temper around his daughter, but Ailis was of half a mind to make a run for it and never come back until he’d had a chance to calm down some.
Connor looked as if he very much wanted to be on the other side of the castle—or at the outer edge of his laird’s lands.
