Page 42 of Captured By the Cruel Highlander
Emily laughed. “I think that might take more than one lifetime.”
“No one else will read them.” Freya’s voice was sad. “I have rarely seen another soul in here.”
Emily raised her eyebrows. The library at Wilkinson Castle was half the size of this one, but her father spent a lot of time in it. He had always instilled in her a desire to read and educate herself, and she was very grateful for that.
“Come, I want to show ye somethin’,” Freya said, beckoning her to follow.
Emily walked behind her, the fiery mass of hair down Freya’s back a vibrant contrast to the dark shelves they passed.
They turned to the right at the end of the room, and Emily found herself in front of a tall window that almost touched the floor. It offered a beautiful view of the sea, with seagulls wheeling below them. She could hear the waves crashing on the rocks.
Freya turned with a sly grin and lowered herself into a multitude of cushions on the floor. She rested against the shelves like a queen among her subjects, and Emily grinned.
“Did ye build this?” she asked.
The pillows and cushions reminded her of the forts she and Bruce would make as children. Books tumbled from every corner.
“I did. It is me favorite place in the whole castle.”
“I can see why.”
“Do ye have a library at home?” Freya asked eagerly.
“I do, but it isnae as grand as this one. Wilkinson Castle’s keep is half the size of this one—me faither focused on defenses, so the main building is smaller.”
“Ye can use this library whenever ye like,” Freya replied enthusiastically.
Emily gave her a sad smile. It was unlikely she would ever be able to take her up on that offer.
“Do ye have braithers and sisters?” Freya asked.
“Aye, one braither. He is a nuisance, but I love him.”
“Laura is the same,” Freya said fondly. “I adore her, but she is a flighty thing, always plannin’ her next great adventure. I am much happier curled up with a book.”
Emily’s heart ached at the thought of her family. Despite knowing that Adam had informed her brother and father that she was safe, it still hurt to speak of them.
Freya seemed to recognize her discomfort and shifted forward, searching for something in the piles all around her.
“Have ye ever read Gulliver’s Travels?” she asked animatedly, letting out a small cry of pleasure as she found what she was looking for and handed Emily a small leather-bound book.
“I havenae,” Emily confessed. “Is he an explorer?” she asked, looking at the ship at anchor that had been embossed on the cover.
“Of sorts—he goes to a place where there are tiny little people everywhere. It is the best book I have read this year.”
“Tiny little people?”
“Lilliputians. Ye should read it. It’s very funny.”
“I will,” Emily said, skimming over the first page.
Freya beamed at her. “I am glad me braither brought ye here. I dinnae have many people to speak to in the castle.”
Emily paused. She wasn’t sure how much Freya knew about Adam’s plans, but she was desperate to talk to someone aboutthe wedding. It felt like breaking Adam’s trust to continue, but she was burning to ask her next question.
“Do ye ken what he is plannin’?” she said, eventually.
Freya’s gaze turned serious. “I ken he wants to hold a weddin’ to draw James out.”
