Page 61 of Trapped with the Vicious Highlander
He never thought this would be a problem for him. A week ago, he only wanted Ava to stay for one reason and one reason only—to get Margaret to speak. Now, there was another reason. One he didn’t believe would catch up to him in his lifetime.
He pushed his door open and walked in, taking off his shirt as he headed to his bed, the thoughts in his mind unrelenting.
Ava must leave soon, and the question he had been avoiding for quite the longest time snuck up on him. He wasn’t certain of the exact time it crept up on him, but now it was the only thing he could focus on.
He laid his head on his pillow, the lingering question knocking against his skull, pounding along with his heart. The question rose and fell along with his heavy breaths.
What if he didn’t want her to leave?
CHAPTER18
The first thingAva woke up to the next morning was Margaret. The girl looked down at her, wide-eyed, a hint of excitement flickering in her eyes.
Ava sat up, memories of the previous night vivid in her mind.
“Little one.” She yawned.
Before she could utter another word, Margaret had reached for her hand and tugged it, almost like she was trying to drag her out of bed.
Ava laughed and let herself get dragged. “What is going on? You seem quite chipper this morning.”
The smile on Margaret’s face grew wider. Before Ava could ask what the reason could possibly be, Flora stepped into the room, the same excitement flickering on her face.
“Alright, what is the matter here? What is going on?” Ava asked, unable to resist being kept in the dark anymore.
“Hurry and put on yer dress, Ava. Wear yer stockings too,” Flora urged.
“Stockings? What is going on?” Ava asked, her face contorting in puzzlement.
“We’re goin’ horse ridin’,” Flora announced.
Ava swallowed. “What?”
“Brodrick is at the stables with the horses already. He woke up this morning, came to me, and asked if we could ride out into the fields. Something must’ve happened to make him incredibly happy overnight because we havenae ridden out to the fields in months,” Flora explained, the words practically rushing out of her in one breath.
Ava bit back a cough.
Yes.Something.
“Just hurry up and get to the courtyard. The horses are ready. We’re only waitin’ for ye.”
“I’ll be right out,” Ava responded, watching Flora leave the room with Margaret.
A quick bath and a change of clothes later, Ava stepped out of her room and headed to the courtyard. She was wearing a long black coat that stopped just above her ankles. Her visible grey stockings hugged her legs sensually, and her gloved hands were tucked in her coat pockets as she approached the stables. Sure enough, Brodrick was standing near a horse with Margaret and Flora.
“Governess,” he greeted.
Something about calling her by the nickname he had come up with while they were alone made her stomach flutter.
“Glad ye could join us.”
Ava nodded and moved closer to the stables. Brodrick led her to a shiny white mare. It stood majestically at the entrance of its stall, its mane fluttering in the wind.
“Her name is Susie,” Brodrick revealed. “She belonged to Davina. But for today, ye get to ride her.”
Ava could see out of the corner of her eye Flora’s jaw slackening in what she could only assume was surprise… and disappointment.
“Ye’re lettin’ her ride Susie? Ye never let me ride her,” Flora protested, a whine in her voice.
