Page 30 of Trapped By the Wicked Highlander
Jessica’s brow furrowed, and she looked around the hall, her eyes scanning the faces of those gathered. “Ach, maybe ye’re readin’ too much into it. Cassandra’s been through a lot, and ye ken that. She may need time to think, or maybe she’s worried about the same things ye are.” Her voice softened. “Ye cannae expect her to work to the bone and be available.”
Hunter sighed, rubbing the back of his neck as he glanced around the room.
Jessica took a deep breath and placed a hand on his arm, her touch firm but comforting. “Ye’re a stubborn fool if ye let her slip away without tryin’.”
Hunter’s heart tightened as her words sank in. Jessica was right, of course. He had always been too proud, too afraid, but his heart wouldn’t let him stay silent forever.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Cassandra lay in bed, tossing and turning beneath the heavy woolen blankets, the cool night air doing little to ease her restless thoughts. She had been in bed for what seemed like hours, the silence of the castle pressing in on her, yet sleep refused to claim her.
Her mind replayed the scene from earlier in the corridor—Hunter’s gaze locking onto her. Then she remembered the warmth of his arms around her, the kiss that had left her breathless.
Embarrassment burned through her as she remembered how she had fled from him, unable to meet his eyes.
She let out a frustrated sigh, pushing the blankets off her and swinging her legs over the side of the bed. The cool stone floor of the castle sent a shiver up her spine as she stood, still in her night shift chemise, and padded softly across the room.
She couldn’t stay in bed any longer; the thoughts of Hunter and their kiss were too overwhelming. With a muttered curse under her breath, she put on her day dress and made her way to the castle kitchen, hoping some sweets Jessica made would distract her from the whirlwind of desire that had taken hold of her.
"Oh, Mistress Cassandra, I'm… I dinnae ken that…" Heather a young servant girl said with a mouthful.
Cassandra saw that the girl was panicked. Her shoulders went rigid and she stopped chewing with her eyes wide.
Cassandra restrained a smile. "It's alright, lass. I willnae tell on ye. Ye work hard and deserve a good treat now and then."
"Thank ye, Mistress. I am sorry. I got caught in me work and missed supper ye see and -"
Cassandra put up her hand. "Nay need to explain." Then Cassandra went about scouring the kitchen for leftover food from supper and made the girl a tray.
"Here, eat and be calm," she said.
"Oh, thank ye, Mistress," Heather said.
Cassandra watched the young girl and realized she couldn't be more than fifteen years of age, yet the weariness of being a castle servant weighed on the girl already.
Once Heather was finished, she stood. "Thank ye so much. If ye need any help in the healin’ hall or yer workshop please call upon me."
"I shall do that. Now daenae tell the others of this, ‘tis our secret," Cassandra said.
"Understood, Mistress," Heather said. With a curtsy she left the kitchen.
Cassandra stayed behind and got rid of the evidence by washing the bowls and plates used.
Then she rummaged through the shelves, her fingers brushing over jars of preserves and biscuits, until she found what she was looking for—a small tin of honeyed cakes that Jessica told her she had put aside for her sweet tooth.
She grabbed one, breaking off a piece and popping it into her mouth, savoring the sweet, rich taste. As she chewed, her mind wandered back to Hunter—how he had held her, how his kiss had shaken her to her core. She flushed red just thinking about it, the warmth of his touch still fresh on her skin.
Just as she was about to take another bite, the kitchen door creaked open, and Cassandra froze, the sweet stuck halfway to her lips. She turned slowly, her heart skipping a beat as she saw Hunter standing in the doorway, a smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth.
He leaned against the doorframe, his eyes twinkling with amusement. Cassandra felt a rush of heat flood her cheeks as she lowered the cake, suddenly self-conscious of how she must look—standing in the kitchen, caught red-handed eating sweets in the middle of the night.
“Well, now, what’s this?” Hunter’s voice was low and teasing, his brogue thick with amusement. “Caught ye in the act, did I? Ye look like a deer frozen in the woods.” He pushed off the doorframe and stepped into the kitchen, his presence filling the space.
Cassandra blinked, still caught in the rush of emotions that surged through her at the sight of him. Her heart thudded in her chest, and her tongue felt thick in her mouth.
“Ye startled me,” she muttered, trying to recover some semblance of composure, though she could feel the heat of her blush spreading from her neck to her cheeks. She cleared her throat and wiped her hands on her dress, avoiding his gaze. "I simply needed a treat."
"I can see that. So did I," he said. Though the way he said it with his eyes roving over her made her think that his treat was not a honey cake.
