Alaina stared at her feet. “Nay, braither.”
“Ye are right. I wouldnae. Secondly, do ye think that actin’ likethis,” he paused to stamp his feet peevishly and clench his fists like Alaina had, “is goin’ to make me think that ye are a wise grown woman who can be trusted? Eh?”
Alaina went red. She said nothing, only shook her head.
“Aye, that’s right. It doesnae make ye look very wise, lass. Still, I have always told ye to stay away from love, and I wonder that ye have not listened to me.”
Alaina glanced over at Megan, and something passed between them. Ryder narrowed his eyes, trying and failing to decipherwhat it was. When she wasn’t furiously blushing, however, Megan’s thoughts were not easy to read, so he gave up.
“Nobody can live without love, braither,” Alaina said quietly. “I cannae do it, and I daenae intend to. I wish that ye would nae, either. Ye are goin’ to make yerself miserable, and I daenae… I daenae want to see ye miserable.”
He lifted an eyebrow. “I thought that it was exactly what ye wanted.”
She bit her lip, clearly fighting not to roll her eyes.
“I want ye to behappy, Ryder. And I… I didnae mean to humiliate ye by ignorin’ yer orders. I didnae mean it when I said that I hated ye, and… and when it came to sneakin’ off, it really was me idea, not Hamish’s. He just went along with what I wanted.”
Ryder glanced over at Hamish, who met his gaze with a surprisingly even stare. Hamish would be an impressive warrior one day. He was still a little coltish and gawky, with teenage spots and a nose he hadn’t quite grown into, but a fine warrior would not be a terrible match for a woman like Alaina.
Not, of course, that Alaina would think much about what sort of match she “ought” to have.
“Ye didnae let me finish,” Ryder said at last. “Thank ye for what ye have said, Alaina. Both ye and Megan have warned me thatme harsh methods to keep yer safe might backfire, and I suppose I am seein’ the truth of it now. So, I have decided to take away the guards from yer door.”
Alaina’s head shot up, her eyes widening. “Truly?”
“Aye. And before ye get too excited, there will be conditions. I daenae want ye walkin’ about in the courtyard unaccompanied, not yet. The Keep is safe enough, but all kinds of folks walk around in the courtyard, comin’ in and out every day. I want ye escorted into the courtyard, aye? Take Megan, or somebody else like that, eh?”
Alaina nodded, eyes wide, clearly not trusting herself to speak.
“As for leavin’ the Keep, ye must get me permission first,” Ryder continued. “There are a thousand dangers out there for a young woman, and that’s before we even think about who ye are, aye? Please believe me on this. If there is somewhere ye want to go—a festival with yer friends, for instance—talk to me. I will do what I can to make it happen, but yemustabide by me rules. And, Alaina?” he stood up and took a step forward, placing his hands on her shoulders so that she had to look up at him. “If I forbid ye from doin’ a thing, please believe that I daenae want to spoil yer fun, or set rules in place simply for the sake of it. Please trust me, and believe that I have yer interests at heart. I will do me best to be reasonable, and ye must do yer best to trust me. Do ye understand?”
Alaina nodded again, swallowing thickly.
“And as for this business with ye and Hamish,” Ryder added, his voice taking on an edge. “Sixteen and seventeen is far too young to speak of love.”
“Ryder!” Alaina exclaimed, dismayed. He glanced down at her and winked.
“Did I nae just say that ye had better learn to trust me, lass? Eh?”
She bit her lip, reddening. “Aye. Ye… ye did.”
“Good. Right, well, as I was sayin’, ye are both entirely too young, so any sort of relationship is out of the question. And I do mean that, by the way. Hamish, as a guardsman, yer loyalty is to me, so remember that.”
Hamish bowed his head. “I didnae mean to defy ye, me Laird.”
“Never mind that,” Ryder muttered, reaching out impulsively to ruffle Hamish’s hair. “When ye are twenty, Alaina, if ye still believe that ye are in love with this man, ye can think of marriage then. But nae before, do ye understand?”
Alaina let out a breathless gasp. “But I can still… I can still see him? Talk to him?”
“Aye, so long as that’s all ye do,” Ryder muttered darkly, shooting a look at Hamish which made him wilt a little. “I will be watchin’ ye both.”
Alaina glanced over at Hamish, who looked shocked. A quick look, heavy with meaning, passed between them. Ryder found himself taken aback.
Was it possible that therewasmore than infatuation here? After all, four years was a lifetime for someone aged sixteen. He could remember how time used to drag.
Me little sister is growin’ up more with each passin’ day,he thought, with a pang. One day, I’ll hardly recognize her. And I have a feeling that day is closer than I ever imagined.
She reached out tentatively, taking Hamish’s hand. They held hands for only a split second, and then she abruptly flung herself at Ryder, wrapping her arms around his shoulders.
