“Would ye care for another dance, me Lady? I promise this one will be safer,” Caden found himself asking.
“Do I have a choice?” she muttered to her dinner plate.
“Do ye remember me rules?” he whispered in her ear, feeling the lightest tickle of a red strand against his forehead.
He leaned back to see her reaction. Her cheeks turned a magnificent shade of pink that complemented her so well.
“Of course, as long as ye remember mine,” she replied in a hushed tone.
The corner of his mouth quirked up as he extended his hand toward her. Her thin fingers wrapped around his rough ones, and he felt his heart skip a beat.
He guided her to the clearing and led her through a slow ballad. The fiddlers and flutists winked at him as he swayed with her.
The sun was beginning to set, painting the sky in hues of deep purple and orange that reflected in her green eyes. Her scent wrapped around him like a spring morning wind.
Caden had not drunk much, but he felt intoxicated. Maybe Finlay had made him drink more wine than he remembered.
At the end of the song, he looked down to see Ava staring up into his face. She was the first person in years who was seemed more interested in his eyes than what was under his mask.
They cleared their throats at the same time.
“I…should get a glass of wine. Excuse me, me Laird,” she said and started walking away. Perhaps their little dance hadn’t affected only him after all. He watched from the clearing as she approached the table.
The moment she reached for her glass, he saw movement from under the table. At first he thought it could be a cat, but he should have known better.
After only a moment, out popped Nathan, his three-year-old nephew.
“Oh! Ye scared me!” He heard Ava gasp, as her free hand fled to her chest and she set her glass back down.
“I thought ye were a little kitty!” She teased.
The little boy just stared at her.
Caden decided it was now time to make the introductions, so he walked up to the table.
Upon seeing him, Nathan’s expression turned from curiosity to fear, and he ran away to his nursemaid. Of course. Much as he hated to admit it, it was obvious that the child needed to spend time with someone who actually knew how to act around him. Better company, as Ava had put it.
He drew to a halt next to her. “I see ye met me nephew. Nathan. As I’m sure ye noticed, ye’ll need to be patient with him. He doesnae do well with more than one person at a time.”
Ava nodded. “He’s just scared. As soon as he feels safe, he’ll start acting differently. Ye’ll see.” She sipped her wine, watching the little lad’s retreating figure.
“I certainly hope so…” Caden could not take his eyes offher, and it was beginning to bother him. This marriage could not work ifhecould not stick to his own rules. Separate lives, that was what he wanted. He had no intention of caring for her. He really should not. He cleared his throat.
“I had a room prepared for ye. I’ll see ye tomorrow—to discuss Nathan’s care in more detail.”
Ava turned to face him, a quizzical look on her face. “Why are we nae going to the same bedchambers… as per yer rule?”
His heart leaped into his throat. He notdid not dare cough.
His eyes fled to Finlay, who was still watching Ava with a wounded expression.
In that moment Caden found he did not wantto sleep with his wife.Yet.
Surely, desiring the lass was not the same as caring for her. But desiring yer bride when she was clearly still hurt by yer brother’s rejection…That would not do.
When she stopped avoiding her friend, when she did not care that he betrayed her any longer, when Caden would be able to possess every curve, every breath…Onlythenhe would claim her.
“I willnae claim ye until ye stop feeling hurt by other men’s actions, lassie. Until then, a maid can show ye to yer room.”
