Page 30 of Falling for Her Highland Steward
“Do you discuss such matters with your steward?” Maura was astonished.
Erin sighed. “It is all very complicated, Maura.”
“I see.” Maura studied Erin’s face for a moment. There would be plenty of time for serious matters later. Now was the time to take Erin’s mind off such weighty subjects. “Where is your steward?” she asked, standing up.
“Probably visiting tenants,” Erin answered. “Why?”
“I wanted to look at him a bit more.” Maura’s eyes twinkled.
“You are a wicked woman!” Erin laughed. “I can see I will have to watch you very carefully.”
Maura stayed another three days, during which time she took every opportunity to speak to Caillen, dogging his footsteps everywhere he went.
Caillen was too polite to tell her to leave him alone, especially since he had so much work to do, and he enjoyed her company since she made him laugh so much. She was a breath of fresh air, and it was good to be able to show off his farming methods to someone new.
On the last day before she left, Maura took Caillen aside when they had returned their horses to the stable. “Cal, I see the way you look at Erin,” she observed. “Please,pleasedo not hurt her. She is in a fragile state, and I do not want her to be upset.”
“I would never do that,” he murmured. “If she wants to marry Laird Grieve, well, I would rather she did not, but I cannot stop her.”
“Do you love her?” Maura asked, her eyes searching his face.
Caillen stared back at her, then said abruptly: “Excuse me,” before striding away.
Erin felt unreasonably jealous of Maura, although she had no idea why. She had no claim on Caillen, but as she watched him laugh at Maura’s jokes and even put up with her playful slaps, her stomach curdled with it, so much so that she was glad when Maura left, even though she had enjoyed her visit very much.
“I will miss this place,” Maura sighed as she looked up at the turrets of Gowanlea Castle on the day of her departure. “And I will miss your steward!”
“You cannot have him,” Maura told her, laughing. “He works too well for me. He is doing miracles.”
Maura grimaced in mock anger, but at that moment, Caillen rode into the courtyard and dismounted from his horse in his usual unconventional style.
He leaned back in the saddle and brought his right leg over the horse’s back, then took his left foot out of the stirrup and jumped to the ground. The whole movement resembled scissors opening and closing. No one had ever seen such a thing before. He strode over to them and smiled at Maura. “Leaving us so soon, Mistress Maura?” he asked.
“Unfortunately, yes,” Maura answered regretfully.
“Then I wish you a pleasant journey.” He smiled briefly and bowed, then made as if to turn away, but Maura threw herself into his arms and gave him an almighty hug.
Not knowing quite what to do, Caillen put his hands on her back but did not hold her close. He looked over Maura’s shoulder at Erin, who shrugged and then smothered a howl of laughter.
After a moment, Maura let him go but put her hands up to cup his face to kiss him. Caillen stepped back abruptly, then turned and marched away. Maura looked disappointed. “So shy!” she sighed, shaking her head.
Erin shook her head and hugged her cousin. “And you are not shy enough, you shameless hussy!” she declared, smiling and kissing Maura’s cheek. “Thank you for coming to see me. I will miss you. ”
“It was my pleasure,” Maura said fondly, serious for once. “If you need me again, write to me, and I will be here as soon as I can.”
“I will.” Erin nodded, wiping away a tear from her eye. She stood watching and waving until the carriage was out of sight, then turned and headed up to her chamber. She was unaware that Caillen, standing just out of sight at the entrance to the stables, was watching her.
Erin had had a restless night, and the lack of sleep was now catching up with her as she trudged up to her bedroom. She would close her eyes for a little while, she thought, just long enough to recover. However, as she opened her bedroom door, she saw Ella, one of the maidservants, dusting her furniture.
The young woman looked startled as she saw Erin, for her mistress did not usually spend any time in her bedroom in the afternoon.
“Oh! Milady!” she exclaimed as she gathered up her cleaning utensils. “I’m that sorry. I didnae expect ye.”
Erin smiled at her wearily and yawned. “Never mind, Ella. Pretend I am not here.”
“Aye, milady,” Ella bobbed her head and began to dust again as Erin lay down on her bed.
Suddenly Erin thought of something. “Ella, may I ask you something?”
