Page 38 of Trapped with the Vicious Highlander
Flora’s shoulders slumped in resignation. “I shall give ye ten minutes to get yerself in order. Then, come down for breakfast.”
“What about Ava?” he asked. “Is she there?”
“Nae yet. But she will be.”
Brodrick nodded as Flora closed the door behind her.
He crossed over to his bath, changed his clothes, and headed downstairs to the dining hall. Faces from all sides of the table turned to look at him as he walked to the empty chair at the head. Murmurs of “M’Laird” rippled across the table as he sank into his chair.
His eyes scanned the table. He could see Margaret sitting close to Flora, a lost expression on her face. She was looking down at her lap, but he couldn’t see exactly what she was looking at.
He could see almost everyone required to attend breakfast, and yet Ava was nowhere to be seen.
His eyes flicked to Flora, who merely shrugged. She didn’t know either.
“Let us eat,” he finally said, after making one of the men at the table say grace.
The meal consisted of roast beef, some fruits, and ale.
They all dug into the food immediately, the clinking of cutlery against fine china filling the air.
“I must say, Flora,” one of the men muttered, looking up at the young woman. “This is some of yer best work.”
“Every work is me best work, lad,” Flora declared around a mouthful of bread.
Brodrick looked up and was about to make a rude comment when he sawher. His hand paused midair as he stared at her, for some reason unable to take his eyes off her.
Ava had appeared in the doorway like an angel. Her hands were intertwined as they rested gently against her stomach, just below her breasts. She was wearing an exquisite green gown, and the red in her hair glowed in the morning light.
Her hair had been well brushed and flowed gently down her back as she walked. It was as if time stopped and everything around him moved incredibly slowly. Including her.
Brodrick watched her eyes scan the table till they landed on Margaret. Then, he watched her exhale ever so slowly.
Time resumed as his people turned one by one to look at her. She remained by the door, the look in her eyes betraying her nervousness.
Brodrick tore his eyes off her and returned to chewing his food, to the very fact that he was back amongst his people. He could feel everything just as fast as he did before she appeared. Yet, his curiosity did not let him focus on his food for long.
He grabbed his jug of ale and drained it in his cup. Anything to keep his mind from the fact that she was standing there, looking just as stunning as ever, and he was unable to look at her. At least not for long.
* * *
Ava stood motionless in the doorway, watching everyone look up at her. If she hadn’t felt terrified of this earlier, now she could feel the panic rise within her. Perhaps the dress was a bad idea? Should she have chosen a more neutral color? Did green make her look too?—
“What are ye waitin’ for, lass?” Irene’s voice rang out.
Ava’s eyes flicked to the older woman, who had an empty chair beside her.
“Come sit. This chicken isnae the kind ye want to miss.”
A wave of gratitude washed over Ava as she headed straight to the empty chair. She stole multiple glances at Brodrick as she walked, watching him eat his food with as much interest as that of a lion eating corn. The last glance she stole, he looked right back at her. Their eyes met, an unreadable look passing between them. Immediately, she looked away and pulled out her chair.
“Apologies for my tardiness. I had quite a few things to attend to,” she whispered, grabbing her napkin. The food sat before her, as alluring as anything.
“I brought some wild berries for the bairn,” Irene murmured. “I am certain she will like it. Perhaps it might even help relieve her stomach from any pain she might get from eating bannocks all the time.”
Ava laughed as she grabbed her fork. She was not certain Margaret was going to eat the berries, but the last thing she wanted was to stop anyone from giving gifts to the Laird’s daughter. Also, Irene was a healer—Ava was fairly certain she knew what she was doing.
“Do ye think she’ll eat them?” Irene asked.
