Page 45 of An English Rose for the Highlander
“Please, God, yes. I?—”
Knock, knock, knock.
The sound of someone outside their door sent Rose into a panic, and her eyes flared wide only moments before she ducked into the corner of Dominik’s arm as if it might shield her from the embarrassment that raked through her.
“Aye,” her husband called out.
“A letter, me laird. It has come from English officials.”
At that, Rose shot herself upright, looking at her husband with her heart in her throat as the panic rose up to choke her. Dominik’s irritated expression shifted to one of genuine distress, and he swallowed hard before he replied to the servant who had knocked.
“Thank ye. We shall be down to receive it momentarily.”
English officials had written to them. This was not good, not good at all.
22
Dominik clutched the letter in his hand as he sat at the large table in the Great Hall. He’d been attempting to enjoy his breakfast for some time now, but alas, he had been preoccupied with glaring at the document instead of eating his meal. In fact, it had kept him up most of the night when he and Rose had first read it, and reviewing it now only added to the growing fury.
The officials would be here to question them, particularly Rose, in just one week. They did not have much time at all.
Sighing, Dominik allowed his head to drop, finally releasing the letter and trading it out for the handle of his fork. He needed to get himself to eat. Truly.
As the second or third bite entered him, Dominik heard voices approaching from the front of the room, the large doors to the hall swinging open as Rose and Mirren entered. The two women talked easily as they walked up to the table, Rose’s brow furrowing deeply as she nodded.
When they both reached him, Dominik stood from his chair, bowing his head politely at them. Miss Wood returned the gesture, offering a slight curtsey as Rose took her place on the other side of the table alongside her husband.
“Thank you very much for allowing me to rest in your home for the evening. Though I regret to say that I should be getting back to the city now. Much is waiting for my return.”
“Please, Mirren, as I have said, you are more than welcome here, and we would both be so pleased if you would stay for a short time.”
Rose’s voice was slightly strained as she spoke, and Dominik could surmise that she’d been frowning so intently because Mirren had told her of her plan to depart.
“A single day, Mirren. You will be allowed to further rest, and Dominik and I can properly thank you for all that you have done for us.”
Cheeks blushing slightly, Miss Wood ducked her head, shaking it in a tiny wobble that made Dominik smirk.
“I do not wish to impose, my lady. I have arrived unannounced. Surely, your staff and keep would not be able to?—”
“Nonsense,” Rose insisted. “The castle is always ready and welcome to any visitor who may wish to stop by. There is no needfor a formal invitation, and I would be so glad to show you all that I have been doing since I’ve arrived in Scotland.”
“Miss Wood,” Dominik pressed, intervening on his wife’s behalf as he watched the matchmaker debate with herself, “I can assure ye that we are undoubtedly able to welcome yer presence. Please, stay and enjoy for yerself a bit of Scottish hospitality.”
As their guest’s brows rose, the deliberation plain on her face, Dominik cast a look Rose’s way. He was pleased to see the honest smile lighting up her expression, and his chest swelled, warmth flooding him.
“Very well. It would be rude to turn down such a fine offer.”
“Wonderful!” Rose clapped her hands together, trading her excited glances between the two of them. “We can have the staff prepare a picnic in the lawn behind the keep. It is a lovely day, and you will be able to partake in a rare sunny Scottish sky.”
Mirren laughed, bobbing her head, and Dominik chuckled along in agreement. Stepping with Rose around the table, he gestured for a servant nearby and instructed him to help the kitchen prepare a picnic to enjoy out in the fields behind the castle.
“It is a rather fine morning, and one can certainly nae let it go to waste in the Highlands. A storm could drop in out of nowhere any minute.”
Before long, a lovely meal had been prepared and placed in a large basket for Dominik to carry out to the rolling hill just east of the paddock. The tall grasses here swayed in the warm breeze, and he used the large blanket he’d taken from his chambers to cover the ground so that they might all sit down. A tall oak provided a bit of shade, and Rose happily settled onto the ground with Mirren as Dominik retrieved the food from within the basket.
“This truly is lovely country. I so rarely have the opportunity to go out. I am blessed to be quite busy with my work on most days.”
Miss Wood smiled, a rare sight as much as Dominik’s own grin before Rose arrived. She leaned back, enjoying the calm breeze, and it was easy to see that both women were much more relaxed now that they had this small moment to take in the refreshment of the outdoors.
