Page 36 of Laird of Twilight
“That was not what I was asking—”
“And did not act the gentleman, for which I apologize.”
“We were both in their thrall.”
“I was in your thrall.” He brushed his thumb over her chin. “Forgive me.”
“You are not to blame for anything. Only admit that you saw them—unless you truly did not. Oh, dear!”
“Who?”
“Fairies.”
He half laughed. She sighed then, shook her head. He would deny that and think her a fool again, a manipulative woman throwing herself at him. She pushed her wet, tangled hair back, burning with shame—and wondering what she had truly seen out there. She headed for the steps, limping. “I must go. Goodnight.”
“Elspeth, what is it?”
She paused. “Nothing. You would call me seven kinds of lunatic, and think me hunting for a marriage proposal. But—whatever happened out in the storm—I do thank you kindly for the compromise.”
* * *
“Blast,” he muttered, hastening after her. “Wait. Talk to me. Tell me what you want. What happened?”
She continued up the steps, and James hurried behind her, cane tapping, the dogs scampering alongside. He reached down to catch the little black terrier by the collar before it could race up and trip her on the stairs. Elspeth turned.
“What were you saying—what fairies? Hey, lass, watch out,” and he caught her elbow as she nearly missed her footing.
“You saw something out there, I know you did.”
What the devil? Clearly, there was another matter in need of attention here. “I saw rain, and two foolish people kissing in a lightning storm.”
“We kept each other safe out there, or we would have been stolen away. We saved each other.”
She puzzled him, spun the subject, and his thoughts, this way and that. He regretted what he had done, and he would compensate for it however he could. “The wind was a danger, true. It nearly lifted you away. None of it excuses the madness that came over me.”
“Something came over me too.” She stomped unevenly up the steps, reaching the main hallway, and turned. “When the Fey are near, a sort of madness can overwhelm those who see them. Perhaps that happened to us.”
“Madness? We need not use the excuse of the Fey for what happened.” He went closer. “I accept the blame for my actions.” He touched her shoulder. Her hair, dangling in black twists and curls, swept over his hand as she shook her head.
“The thrall had both of us in its power.”
“Madness or magic, in the cold light of morning, this will seem a disaster. What would you like me to do?” He said it gently, an offer of anything she wanted.
She frowned. “I want you to remember. Just that. Some forget after they have seen what we saw tonight.”
“I will not forget what just happened between us, I promise you.”
“Did you truly not see the Fey ride by and try to take us? We held each other tightly to keep safe.” She gripped his arm for a moment.
“My girl, no need to explain it away. I was worried about you, and found you in the storm. And then I gave in to impulse. You have a right to be angry.”
“You were worried about me?”
“You ran out into a lightning storm in your nightgown.” And then even his grandmother’s nightrail had not deterred his impulsive actions. “When I saw you through the fog, I waved you away from the trees. They were bending so in the wind that I feared they might snap and harm you. All the rest—that was my doing.”
“I took part in that, Lord Struan,” she said crisply. “But—did you not see the horses coming through the mist?”
“Horses? They are safe in the stable. In the mist, I suppose anyone could have imagined horses and riders, but it was just the trees whipping about.” He frowned. “If there was any magic at all, it was the spell you cast over me so naturally. You could not help that—and I should have resisted.” He tilted her chin with a finger.
