Page 17 of The Highlander's Virgin Nun
She heard quiet chatter inside and hoped she could eat alone. Having eaten little the night before due to nerves, and nothing at all the day before, she was ravenous now. But as soon as she entered, she spotted Caelan at the table, deep in conversation with Jayden, his man-at-arms.
She collected some bread, fruit, and meat from the top of the table and sat nearby, but not next to the two men. She had thought their conversation looked intense enough that they would not notice her, but they both quickly looked in her direction as she pulled out her chair to sit down.
“Mornin’, Rosaline,” Jayden spoke first.
He had a tight way of speaking. His words wasted no time getting from one to the other, and Rosaline had a feeling that he did not like her. Fair, she thought, for a man-at-arms. They had to be cautious on behalf of their Laird. But Rosaline had already done what he failed to do: save Caelan’s life.
“Mornin’,” Caelan greeted shortly after, hesitation in his tone and conflict in his eyes behind a facade of politeness.
“Good mornin’,” she replied cordially and then returned her gaze to her food, hoping the pair would move on. They did.
Rosaline ate slowly, not wanting to overwhelm her body. She savored the freshness she had not tasted in years, her food always coming from scraps that had sat out for too long. It had likely been months since she had tasted any meat, and so she cherished the energy it would give her.
As she ate, she overheard snippets of Caelan and Jayden’s conversation.
“Ye will have to take it soon, Caelan. It has to be done.”
“I will. Just arrange who I’m bringin’, and I will go.”
While her meal consumed most of her attention, she pieced together the information she overheard and realized that Caelan was due to take over control of a nearby village in the coming days. His Lairdship was a wonder to her, as few lairds survived by being nice to everyone. A certain authority was required to run a clan effectively.
She was not surprised by the news of the expansion, even if it might be by force—especially for a man who could fight as well as he did. He had to have learned it somewhere.
After eating, she gathered her courage and approached Caelan. While she would have liked to simply sit in her room all day and look out her window, finally enjoying the peace that was offered to her, she needed more information about what to expect from her stay here.
“Sorry to interrupt,” she began, as he and Jayden were still in deep discussions.
“Go ahead,” Jayden permitted with a weak attempt at a smile.
Caelan allowed his friend that slight slip.
“I see ye are busy,” Rosaline continued, addressing Caelan now, even if he would not speak to her. “But I was hopin’ for a moment with ye after ye finished breakfast. Just a word.”
Caelan looked surprised and unsure, and his lips pressed together into a thin line. After a short pause, and what she thought was a tilt of the head from Jayden, he inhaled before saying, “Uh—aye. I can spare a few moments.”
“Thank ye,” she replied.
“I will meet ye in the front courtyard.”
She nodded, satisfied with his agreement, and left. She headed straight for the courtyard and faced the entrance of the Great Hall, resolute to catch him upon arrival.
After about a five-minute wait, Caelan entered the courtyard. He looked ready to walk straight through, but when she caught his eye, he drew to a halt, remembering her request. He came towards her.
“Thank ye for yer time?—”
“I dinnae have long, so ye’ll have to be quick. What is it?”
His tone surprised her. He had not been so curt with her once, despite the tension and awkwardness that had characterized their entire relationship thus far.
“I-I just…” she stuttered, as his brusqueness had taken her off guard.
“I have a meeting to attend, Rosaline. Hurry.”
She bit her tongue. She could have been as sharp with him as he had been with her, but on second thought, she was glad to see this side of him. The polite, playful Caelan simply did not match up with the actions she had seen in the clearing. She had seen a man of violence, of temper, and of skill, cunning. She preferred to see people for who they truly were, rather than a more pleasant but inauthentic facade.
“I need to ken what is to happen with the weddin’. Is it imminent? Should I start the preparations? I may be fulfillin’ me side of a deal I have already benefited from, but I still need to be informed of how and when.”
She saw Caelan consider her words, at first a little surprised, but then nodding in understanding. His face and demeanor remained cold, but he did not dismiss her.
