A strange tinglingstarted from the top of Theodore’s head and trickled down to his limbs. It felt as if he could step out of his body and never return.
“Ye’ll show some respect,”Boyd snapped as he pulled his dirk from his side.
“Madison,”Theodore answered boldly.
“Madison?”the man gasped. It was as if the name held some sacred power he dared not tap into. “How do ye know that name? What news do ye bring? She’s dead, isnae she? That’s why ye’ve come.”
Theodore glancedover his shoulder to Boyd as an uneasiness settled over Theodore’s heart. The peace he found in Madison shattered as Theodore’s attention drifted back to the man before him.
“Yer daughter lives,”Theodore said with a heavy heart. Somewhere in the depths of his being he heard the cackle of his mother’s laughter.
“Come again?”
The doorto the cottage flew open and there was no denying the resemblance. His heart cracked like glass and dust as he scraped the words off his tongue.
“Yer daughter is at Castle MacLeon,”he replied. “Alive and well. And now that I’ve found ye… I shall see she is returned.”
21
Madison strolled along the cobbled path, meandering through the garden. She plucked the peddles from the flower absentmindedly as her thoughts lingered on Theodore. It had been practically all day and still, she hadn’t seen him. Her chest tightened at the thought of him ignoring her. Glancing to the window, she peered into the dark window as hope sprang up like a weed she just couldn’t kill.
It was morethan just wanting to see him, it was a need. Since she woke, her mind had been on him. She had been forced to relive each touch and stolen kiss. The thoughts sent a wave of shivers coursing through her body. Chewing on her lower lip, she tried to push back the thoughts of the way his tongue grazed over her flesh. He had tasted her and kissed her in places she didn’t think any man would venture. Yet, he did. And there was no doubt in her mind, he liked doing it. The problem plaguing her was the fact she liked it to.
Heat rushedthrough her as Madison’s gaze shifted from his chamber window to his study. She held her breath wishing it would be his face staring back at her. Yet, there was only darkness.
“Where are ye?”she mumbled. The scullery maid lifted her head to spy over the zucchini. Madison’s chest tightened as she realized she wasn’t as alone as she thought she was. Hoping to find an excuse for not sounding so forlorn, she plucked the first flower she could.
“There ye are,I kent I’d find ye,” she muttered again, hoping her voice was confident and sure. The scullery maid shrugged and went back to her work, once again ignoring Madison. It was clear Madison would have to be more careful. She couldn’t be talking about things so openly, not when it was as if even the walls had ears.
Madison moved quickly along,making a beeline for the corner of the castle. The second she made the turn, she slowed and let out a heavy sigh. Her heart pounded from the anxiety. She shouldn’t be thinking of Theodore. At least not in the way she was, that much was certain. It wasn’t like he was going to be her actual husband. They were just pretending after all. So why then, did she feel the prick of regret jabbing at her insides? It wasn’t like he owed her anything.
She playedwith the flower and once again started pulling the peddles from it. The colorful peddles dropped to her feet and were easily crushed with a single step. It reminded her of how easily Theodore could crush her if he wanted.
An imageof Theodore snuggled between her legs flickered through her mind. She gulped the air as she stammered into the wall of the castle crumpling the flower in her hand.
“I’ll meetye both in the study.”
It wasTheodore’s voice that rang through, pulling her back to the present. Her eyes popped open as she stood taller. Every sense was alert and on edge. It was as if a storm was on its way. She didn’t know just how violent it would be, only that it was going to be a bad one.
The momenther eyes met Theodore’s, her breath hitched. There was a callousness to his gaze that sent an icy finger trailing down her spine. Madison’s body froze. Something was amiss, she was certain of it. Doubt and insecurity popped up like weeds, threatening to strangle her happiness and confidence.
She flexedjaw as every nerve flinched. The look in his eyes, she had seen it before. It was the look of distrust and betrayal. For every moment he stared at her without a word, she felt the tension mount. Theodore arched his eyebrow and rolled his shoulders back before making a direct beeline for the doorway.
He didn’t say a word.Madison stood there dumbstruck. There was not even a hint of recognition or desire. It was clear she hadn’t given him every he wanted last night. She had failed him in some regard and now, she was being punished for it.
“Laird MacLeon?”she called to him, only to have Boyd step into her line of sight. Boyd’s face was stern, but also soft.
“Lady Madison,”Boyd said, blocking her at every attempt to catch sight of Theodore. “Good ye’re here. Saves me the trouble of havin’ to track ye down.”
“What’s goin’on?” she asked as a sinking feeling came over her. She started for the door, if Boyd wasn’t going to talk to her, she’d get answers somewhere else. Boyd was on her, making the same step as she did to block her from gaining entrance to the castle. “What is happenin’?”
“That isnae for me to say,” Boyd answered in a cool, distant fashion.
“Then why didye need to track me down?” she insisted as she glanced at the study window. The room was as still and quiet as the grave. Her heart pounded violently in her chest as she noticed the servants coming through the doors and setting a trunk down.
A trunk.Her trunk.
“To ensurethat when the laird called for ye, I’d ken where ye were. Now that I have ye in sight, we are waitin’ for the laird,” he said as he stood before like a sentinel barring her any entry to the castle.
