Page 22 of Captured By the Highland Devil
“Scared, lass?” he teased. “With how ye were at the weddin’, I "I thought ye were a statue of Brigid herself".
Paige shoved herself into his chest, her eyes wide, pulse jumping widely. She scrabbled to get ahold of anything, of the horse, the saddle, and finally, she grabbed at him. Her nails sunk into his forearm.
“I am nae—” she swallowed. “I am nae fond of how dangerously close we are to the edge of the cliffs.”
“Ah, I see,” the wind tugged at her hair, sending it in tangles around her face.
With the barest twitch of his leg, the horse took another step forward and the jolt made the lass go as white as death. Hescolded himself on teasing the lass and steered Goliath back to the road.
“Can ye swim, lass?” he asked.
“Nay,” she said quietly but at least her pulse was not pounding out of her skin.
“Ye’re goin’ to learn here,” he said.
She craned her head to look over her shoulder. “That doesnae sound like a suggestion.”
He snapped the reins. “That’s because it’s nae a suggestion. T’is an order. Ye will need to learn how to swim in these lands for yer own survival and I need to ken ye can handle yerself with any sudden surprise.”
Paige faced forward, her mouth pressed into a line.
The sky was iron grey, and low rumbles of thunder held a constant threat of rain as they rode west back to the castle. She turned a wary eye to the sky then back to the road, “Does the weather change so quickly in these lands?”
“Aye,” he said. “At times, it’s as fickle as a feather in the wind.”
She went quiet again, “Will ye tell me what happened with yer sister, Norah? Why was she taken? Did ye find out who took her?”
Ruben stiffened. “Why are ye askin’?”
“I want to ken,” she said. “Is that a bad thing?”
“T’is none of yer business what happened with Norah,” Ruben’s tone was harsh and brooked no further questions. “Yer place is to be quiet and play the subservient mouse so the claws of the Crown willnae hook into us.”
The defiance in her eyes made him want to shake some sense into her.
“When ye get to the keep, it will best if ye go to yer chambers,” he told her as the horse took the incline to the castle.
Paige turned her head towards the castle, her expression hardening with resolve. Ruben was not affected whatsoever; as far as he was concerned, she was simply a means to an end.
Hopping off the horse, he got her down and said, “Go inside. The rain is comin’. Ye daenae want to get sick.”
She hesitated for a moment, her lips parted for a moment but then she clamped them shut. Spinning around, she marched up the steps, and vanished beyond the door with not one look behind her.
Goliath turned to him and snorted.
“Aye, I ken. Be glad ye daenae have stubborn mares to put up with.” Ruben said.
But what happens when ye need to consummate the marriage?
“I’ll cross that bridge when I get to it…” he muttered while gesturing for a waiting stable boy. “Make a quick run, lad. Ye daenae want to be trapped in this rain.”
“Aye, me laird,” the boy said, hurrying off.
Casting a look to the sky, Ruben stepped into the hall and headed up to his rooms. He went to his war room, hoping that the archbishop had replied with his signature and seal. Hopefully, if it was there, he could send the copy off to MacPherson so he could focus on more important things.
What am I goin’ to tell the lass when she asks about Norah again without breakin’ me sister’s privacy? And she will ask, that’s a given.
There was nothing on his table and he sunk to the chair with a grumble. Leaning forward, he covered his face with both hands, the rough calluses scraping his skin.
