Page 18 of The Highlander's Inconvenient Wife
Joan’s mouth opened slightly in shock as she stared at him.
“But ye are me maither’s guest,” he hurriedly tried to rectify the situation. “Ye dinnae have to worry about any of that.” He cleared his throat and turned back to the man. “Send two of our best riders to tail the men and have one of them report back every hour while the other keeps watch. The men must nae be left alone until we are certain they are nae spies,” he gave his commands to the man without looking away from Joan’s face.
“Aye, me laird,” the man replied as he gathered the parchment rolls again. “Will there be anything else?”
“I dinnae,” Jasper turned to her. “Will there be anything else, me lady?” He gave her a teasing smile as the corner of his mouth lifted ever so slightly.
“No, I think that will be all,” she said sheepishly as she reached for her ale and took a sip. She wasn’t quite sure what to make of his change in behavior toward her.
“Ye may go,” he dismissed the man with a wave of his hand as he took his seat at her side once again. “Ye are just full of surprises,” he teased as he took a handful of cherries.
“Good surprises, I hope,” she fell back into their easy banter.
“Aye, very good.” His smile was disarming as he chewed on a cherry. “How is it that war tactics come so easily to ye? Are ye actually a general for the British army?”
“I was just going off how you and your guards handled the situation with me yesterday. We would have been here at the table a lot sooner if you hadn’t acted so harshly to begin with,” she told the truth in a teasing manner.
“Aye, ye have me there,” he searched her face. “Would ye like to use me study after breakfast to write to yer friends? I’m sure ye are eager to get back to yer journey.” He seemed to tense at that, and Joan couldn’t let herself hope that it was because she was leaving. He more than likely still didn’t trust Darragh.
“That…that would be lovely, thank you,” she accepted his offer eventually and watched as he reached for a plate of nuts.
The truth was that Joan had become so comfortable over breakfast, that she had forgotten all about Avery and Darragh. The question plaguing her mind at present was simple to which she had no answer.
Will I miss this castle and its strange occupants once I leave?
10
Dearest Avery,
I hope this letter finds you well. I’m sure by now, you and Darragh are worried sick about what happened to me. The truth is that my coachman took a wrong turn on the way to your castle in an attempt to escape the highwaymen that were pursuing us.
I am unharmed but without my belongings. I had the good fortune of being taken in by a laird and his kind mother. They have treated me well and ensured that I come to no harm. I will be at Castle MacShaw until I have heard from you.
Yours,
Joan Moore
Joan returned the quill to the pot of ink as she gently blew on the letter. She had decided to leave out the part about being taken captive until she could explain things to her friend in better detail. The last thing she wanted was for Darragh to come charging in and create unnecessary problems — not now that things had reached a more comfortable place with her and the laird.
Feeling as if she were being watched, she looked up to see Jasper watching her with an intense gaze from across the room.
“I’m just finished,” she said with a smile and folded the letter in half. “Thank you for allowing me to use your study.”
“Aye, ye can leave it on the desk. The housekeeper usually comes every evening to collect the mail. Yer letter may take a few days to a week to reach yer friends at Castle MacKinnon, depending how far in the Highlands it is seated, but it will get there.”
“I have no doubt that it will,” she said confidently and stood. The study they were in was warm and comfortable with brown leather chairs, a large mahogany desk, and several shelves of books that ran along the walls. Joan felt right at home as she looked at the large hearth with its stone finishings.
Even the portraits in the room were welcoming and friendly, and she noticed one in particular with a young Martha holding Jasper on her knee. It seemed as if both of his eyes were perfect when he was a child, making her wonder once again what had happened to him. She didn’t dare ask. Her eyes fell back on the rows of books, not wanting him to realize that she had been staring at a portrait of him.
“Ye are more than welcome to have a look around,” Jasper said to her as he came closer and followed her gaze to the books. “I am nae much of a reader. Me maither is the one that has collected the books over the years, but ye are more than welcome to have a look. I ken that she wouldnae mind if ye wanted to read a few.”
“I think I will take a look at them, thank you very much,” she appreciated the hospitality he was trying to show her.
Perhaps he wasn’t so beastly after all. Perhaps these glimpses were his true self, and the beast was his mask. Or perhaps she was just seeing what she wanted to see because now that he was closer to her, those darn butterflies were back, fluttering in her stomach as if they were about to take flight.
She walked along the row of books with her finger trailing the leather spines as she read their names, to distract herself from the direction her thoughts were taking.
Martha had managed to gather quite an extensive collection over the years, from poetry, to plays, and full-length novels as well as instructional manuals on various topics.
