Page 23 of The Highlander's Alluring Spy
“Och, that’s grand,” he nodded. “Grand.”
There was a beat of silence, and then a hot, unexplained flush went through him. Was it just his imagination, or was the air suddenly thicker? The temperature had risen, for sure. Despite that, the hairs on his arms were standing on end, the skin covered in gooseflesh. A fever, maybe? Certainly, it felt like a cold sweat.
This isnae an illness. Ye’re foolin’ naebody, least of all yerself.
After a pause that seemed to last forever, Magnolia spoke. Her voice sounded slightly higher than usual. “What are you reading?”
“Och, just some letters,” he replied, glad for the mundanity of her question. “Gettin’ me lairdly duties done an’ all. So ye had nay trouble wi’ me wee chook at bedtime?”
Ye already asked that, ye fool.
“Oh yes,” Magnolia told him absently. She hadn’t even noticed the slip, apparently. She was staring determinedly at her book, not meeting his eyes even as she spoke. “She was very well behaved. We sang a little song together, and then she went right off into her slumber.”
“That’s nice.”
There was no sound after that but for the rustling of pages and the slightly sped up breath that Nathair couldn’t seem to get under control.
Ten minutes passed. Fifteen.
All right. Read. On the fifteenth day of the sixteenth month—
“My Laird?”
He looked up. Magnolia was watching him, her expression cautious, indecisiveness behind those eyes, and a slight tremble to her lower lip. “Aye?”
“Am I…bothering you? Perhaps I should sit further away?” She swallowed. Was she feeling it too? The tension? The heat? Indeed, she looked like she wanted to run away.
Am I as bad as a’ that? What am I thinkin’? What would Cat say?
“Yer nae botherin’ me,” he lied. It was the least truth he’d ever spoken. He couldn’t remember the last time he felt this bothered. “Just read yer book, dinnae worry.”
“All right,” she said with a small nervous smile, turning away.
“It has to be more interestin’ than the old castle logs anyway,” he added.
The way she looked at him told him in a second that this had been the wrong thing to say. Her mouth tightened, her eyes narrowed, and her whole body tensed.
“Why…why would you bring that up?” she demanded. There was an edge to her voice now that hadn’t been there before. “I thought we had moved past it. Or do you intend to continue bringing up a silly argument forever?”
Despite himself, a wave of frustration flooded his senses. “There’s nae need to get so angry.” He could hear the slight patronization in his tone, and regretted it–but really, did she have to start an argument right now?
“Don’t you condescend to me, My Laird,” she snapped, getting to her feet. “I already told you that if my company is not welcome, I will leave.”
He stood too, towering over her as he did. She was so small and delicate, and yet the look in her eyes as she glared at him was fiercer than any man at war. This woman was proud, and whatever she was hiding in her background was clearly weighing on her, fueling her.
Her anger put pink in her cheeks and made her eyes wider, brighter. The way her hair swung around her sloping neck drew his eye. Her state of nighttime dress left her looking vulnerable. She was her own diametric opposite, though, as the fury vibrating from her also made her seem like a deadly, intoxicating poison that he could barely resist.
That I dinnae want to resist, if I’m honest. What is wrong wi’ me?
“Why are ye always spoilin’ for a fight?” he demanded. “Are ye homesick? Is that it? Naebody asked ye to leave England behind.”
“I’m nothomesick,”Magnolia snapped, though he got the feeling that was far from the truth. “And you blame me? You started this, Nathair. You are warm and cold at a moment’s notice, and I am expected to keep up with you! Even Elaine—”
“I’ve told ye before, dinnae ye talk to me about me own bairn!” he growled. “An’ who dae ye think ye’re callin’Nathair?Ye’re my employee, an’ this is my castle, an’ my title is—”
“Oh, I know what your title is! You expect me to curtsy and apologize and call youMy Laird,but as you pointed out, I amEnglish.Nobodyaskedme to be here. Which means you are notmyLaird, sir!” Her fists were clenched by her side, and she took a step forward towards him. “A fact for which I am sure you are most grateful!”
The heat was flaming between them now, radiating from her like a hot fire. They were mere inches from each other, her head tilted up to his.
