Aside from the determination, nothing in his expression was readable. He eventually stopped before her and gave a quick bow to Ava.
“Might I speak to Emma for a moment?” he asked, his voice clear.
“Definitely.” Ava took a step back.
Jack, however, took Emma’s hand and pulled her forward.
“Emma,” he said, stopping beside her. His gaze flicked to the child and softened. “I have changed me mind. Tonight, there will be nay training.”
She frowned. “Nay training?”
“Aye.”
“So I daenae have to come out tonight?”
“Ye do.”
“Ye just said there would be nay?—”
“I ken what I just said.”
“Then what?”
“Something else,” he said, his voice low. “Ye will see soon enough. Just come, and be ready to be surprised.”
“Are ye going to tell me what that something is?” she asked.
His mouth curved faintly. “Nay. Ye will find out when ye should.”
Good God.
What was it with this man and playing unnecessary games? Why did he like to torture her with his incomplete thoughts and supposed surprises?
Her eyes flicked to the smoke and eventually the fire behind the fences once again, and the words traveled to the tip of her tongue. She could just ask him now. All she needed to do was open her mouth and let the words fall out. So why was she hesitating?
He reached for the baby, interrupting her thoughts. “Here. Let me take her.”
“She is fine where she is,” Emma said without moving.
“That isnae a request, lass,” he grunted.
Their eyes met and held. His did not flicker away. Slowly, Emma eased Stella into his arms. The baby blinked once and settled, calm as if nothing was wrong in the world.
Emma kept her voice even. “Midnight?”
“Aye,” Jack said. “Outside me study.”
He turned and carried the child toward the castle.
Duncan cast Emma a brief, unfathomable look and then followed, and the remaining guards went after him. Chills crawled up her spine and lingered there after they had gone.
Midnight.
What could he possibly be planning anyway?
She racked her brain for what could make Jack ask her outside that night, if it wasn’t to train her, and she couldn’t settle on one thing.
Her spine grew rigid as the last question echoed in her mind. He wanted to meet her outside his study and not outside the castle. Did this mean he was going to…
