“Aye,” he said. “And ye kent exactly what to do.”
Ariella rose to her feet, brushing flour from her skirt. “Skylar taught me well.”
Maxwell nodded once more, as if filing that away.
Then his posture shifted, the laird returning. “There is a market day in the village today. We should attend.”
Ariella stared at him. “We should?”
“Aye.”
“Ye,” she said, unable to hide her disbelief, “wish to go to the market? With me?”
Maxwell’s eyes narrowed. “Why does everyone, including me own wife, speak as if I am proposing to walk on me hands with me kilt over me face, bare to the world?”
“Because,” Ariella said, smiling, “ye daenae strike me as a man who enjoys stalls and gossip and —”
“Bread,” Moira muttered loudly from behind them. “He cannae conquer bread but he’ll conquer a market.”
Maxwell shot her a look. Moira grinned back, entirely unafraid.
Ariella tried not to laugh and failed.
Maxwell exhaled through his nose, then said, “It is expected. And it is useful. Folk talk at markets. We listen.”
Ariella’s brows lifted. “So it’s politics.”
“It isalwayspolitics,” he said.
“And yet ye said we should go,” Ariella pressed, “nae that wemustgo.”
Maxwell’s gaze flicked briefly to her mouth again, then away. “Aye.”
Ariella’s stomach fluttered.
He added, almost grudgingly, “They sell sweets.”
Ariella’s eyes widened. “Sweets?”
“Candied apples,” he said, as if it pained him to admit it. “Honey cakes. Spiced buns.”
Ariella’s agreement came far too quickly. “Aye. We should absolutely go.”
Maxwell’s mouth twitched, like he was fighting a smile.
Moira called after them, “If ye bring back honey cakes, I might forgive ye for killing me loaf, me Laird.”
Maxwell didn’t look back. “Bring better bread and I might forgive ye for chiding me.”
Moira cackled.
Ariella walked beside Maxwell as they left the kitchen, warmth blooming in her chest.
He was opening doors, albeit small ones, and she stepped through them eagerly.
17
“Just go on and stir it. Do ye ken how?” Moira asked, shoving the long wooden spoon into her laird’s hand as if she were arming him for war.
