Page 39 of To Wed a Laird
Rose pulled away from him, shocked. “Really?” she asked. “Why was there no one else?”
He shrugged. “Elspeth wouldn’t speak to me, and the woman I loved was gone. My heart was broken and could hold no love. And even if it had just been to satisfy my body… Well, I have had no desire to be with anyone until now.”
He looked so sad that Rose wanted to say something to cheer him up.
“So I will be your great scandal?” she asked, laughing.
“Only if anyone finds out,” he answered, smiling. “And I am not going to let that happen. I want nothing bad to happen to you, Rose—ever. You have brought light and hope back into this house. It feels like a proper home again.”
“You give me too much credit,” Rose said.
“I can never give you enough,” he replied, smiling. “Now, I have so much to do today,” he said regretfully, then he rose from bed. “I cannot lie here any longer, Rose, much as I would like to. I have work to do.”
“So do I.” Rose sighed regretfully. She climbed out of bed, trying not to look at the masculine perfection of Cormac’s body, knowing she would find it hard to keep her hands off him.
“I will send Nell to collect your dress and bring you another,” he told her. “Ballgowns are really not suitable attire for governesses!”
Then, with a smile, he was gone, leaving Rose feeling quite bereft.
Nell made no comment when she found Rose in Cormac’s room, merely helped her to put on a simple day dress. She also brought her a tray of breakfast and Rose ate it with relish, reflecting that she was extra hungry because of all the exercise she had taken a few hours earlier!
“Elspeth is waitin’ for ye, lass,” Nell said. “Lookin’ a wee bit tired this mornin’.”
“I am not a bit surprised!” Rose said, laughing.
“I havenae seen her lookin’ sae happy for ages,” Nell remarked as she patted Rose’s shoulder. She took the ballgown away with her to hang in her own room where it would not be seen by anyone else.
She walked out, leaving Rose to stand looking at herself in the mirror and wishing she could put on the beautiful ballgown again. She had no idea when she would have an occasion to wear it again, if ever, and she sighed as she looked at her simple brown day dress, then reminded herself that she should count her blessings. She was luckier than many people.
When she went down to summon Elspeth for her lessons, Rose found her in her bedroom, sprawled along the couch under the window, playing with the lace on her sleeve. She was obviously distracted, her mind occupied with some faraway daydream, and when Rose approached her, she jumped, startled, before breaking into a wide smile and giggling.
“Rose!” she jumped to her feet and came over to hug her. “I had such a good time last night.” Then her face looked sad as she said, “I don’t want to do lessons today.”
“Neither do I.” Rose was surprised by her own words, but she realised that she meant them.
She wanted to talk to Elspeth properly and in depth, now that she and Cormac had become close in every sense of the word. “Why do we not take a picnic and enjoy it outside the castle? We don’t need to go too far,”
“Yes!” Elspeth cried. “I would love that, Rose.”
“Go to the kitchen and have them pack some of your favourite things, then,” Rose told her, then watched as Elspeth skipped away happily. Suddenly, she felt on top of the world. She had no idea how Cormac felt about her, but she knew that whatever happened in the future she would carry the memory of him inside her, driving her to ecstasy, forever.
When Elspeth came back, she was carrying a small basket of food and a flagon of milk. Rose had fetched a blanket from her room, and they set off on foot. They went to a spot they knew by a small burn within sight of the castle, and sat down in the shade of a spreading oak tree to eat.
“You know that Hamish stole my tablet?” Elspeth asked as she bit into a slice of freshly baked bread and cheese.
“Why did he do that?” Rose asked.
“He said I was too fat!” Elspeth answered indignantly.
Rose giggled, thinking of the tubby little boy. “And did you get it back?”
Elspeth nodded, a fierce frown on her face. “Yes,” she replied. “Flora and I ambushed him and took it from him.” She dusted crumbs from her hands, looking very satisfied.
“I ate too many sweets last night,” Rose confessed. “And I was very disappointed that there was no haggis.” She assumed an expression of theatrical sadness.
Elspeth took one look at her downcast face and burst out laughing. “Why do you love haggis so much?” she asked.
Rose shrugged. “I just do,” she replied. “I had never tasted it till I came to Scotland, and it is wonderful!”
