Theodore's jaw tightened.She had no idea what she was asking. No idea that her innocent invitation was torture. The carriage wasn't large—they'd be pressed close together, their legs nearly touching. He'd feel every sway of the wheels, every bump in the road that might send her leaning into him.
He couldn't trusthimself in there.
His gaze driftedto the horizon where gray clouds gathered over the sea, heavy with rain. Mist crawled along the shore, obscuring the path ahead. Fitting, he thought. Everything about this moment felt obscured—his reasons for sending her away growing hazier with every mile.
The council wanted him married.Madison had somehow carved a place for herself at his side despite their disapproval. But what was she to him? A temporary arrangement? A woman he'd rescued? Or something far more dangerous that he couldn't name?
He only knewthat when she was near, something in his chest eased. And when she left?—
Theodore pushed the thought away.
"I prefer the open air,"he said finally, his tone clipped.
Madison studiedhim for a long moment, her dark eyes too knowing. Then she pulled back inside the carriage without another word.
Theodore releaseda breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding.
“Ye said that an hour ago,and still I’ve watched ye shift yerself over and over. Just stop and come into the carriage.”
He dared not lookat her. The moment he did, Theodore knew he wouldn’t be able to contain himself. He wanted to wrap her up in his arms and swear she’d never leave him again. But that would only make him the monster his mother made him out to be. He ground his teeth and tried to force down the bile that rose at the thought of his mother.
A cracklike boulders crashing against each other rang out, startling the horses. Theodore’s body tightened and instantly took control of his horse before it could take off. He was at the front of the carriage, reaching for the reins that had slip in a flash. The last thing he needed or wanted was to see Madison injured before he delivered her back to her family.
“Ye all right?”he asked the driver of the carriage. As much as he wanted to keep his tone even, anger spilled out.
“Aye,me laird, I daenae ken what happened,” the driver said as Boyd came rushing back to them.
“What’s happened?”Boyd demanded and drew his blade as his eyes scanned the horizon for the danger.
“We’ve broken the axle,”the driver groaned as he ran his fingers through his head. Theodore’s gaze shot to Boyd before it fell directly on Madison. “It’ll take a good hour to fix.”
“We need that done sooner,”Theodore implored as a chill ran down his spine. His gaze shifted back to the gray horizon and the clouds darkened. “I daenae want to be out and about when that hits.”
“Aye, me laird,”the driver said as he moved to the back of the carriage and pulled down a small trunk. “I’ll get right to it.”
“Seemswe are fortunate to have time to spare,” Madison said as she stepped out of the carriage. Theodore’s chest tightened at the sight of her. She was grace and elegance all rolled into a feisty brunette he had ever met.
“Or, we go on horseback,”Theodore said. The words were like stones in his chest. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to let her ride with him. He wanted the extra time. But he also understood that after those moments were up, he’d have to let her go yet again.
“I think I’d rather walk,”she said and started for the shoreline. Frustration flooded him as he slipped from his saddle and forced the reins into Boyd’s hand.
“See the carriage is fixed promptly,”Theodore stated before turning on his heel and following Madison to the water’s edge.
Theodore watchedMadison’s skirts brush the sand as she walked. Even if he had the skills to paint and the patience to catch the moment forever, he couldn’t do the scene justice. The gray billowing clouds were intimidating, but the way she moved, it was as if even the weather would bend to her will.
“I have to admit,”she started as she glanced back over her shoulder. “I dinnae think I’d be returnin’ home so soon. Ye certainly held up yer end of our agreement. But I’ve been troubled with what’s to happen to ye after ye return without a bride. Won’t the council pull yer lands and title from ye?”
Theodore pursedhis lips into a tight line and shrugged. “The papers were clear. I was to have a bride by me birthday. The date came and went.”
“What?”Madison gasped. “Why dinnae ye say anythin’? Or do anythin’?”
“And what preytell would ye have me do? Throw a feast of sorts? Or perhaps have a bit of sport? Nay thank ye,” Theodore said sternly as he shook he head. “That’s nae who I am.”
“When was it?”she asked as the heat of her fingertips seared his forearm. He swallowed hard as his eyes bore into hers.
“Yesterday,”he answered plainly. “And by all accounts, ye were still mine last night.”
“I’m…”she started only to stop. Theodore’s chest tightened as his ears burned for her to continue. “I’m surprised to hear that. But I suppose that explains our time together.”
