Aiden emerged from the shadows, his presence commanding immediate attention. “Iwill show me betrothed around,” he stated, his voice firm and uncompromising.
“Aye, Me Laird,” the soldier responded, nodding in understanding. “I’ll fetch the kitchen maid.”
“Go, we’ll sup together.”
Katie shot Aiden a withering glare as the soldier retreated to the kitchens. She didn’t speak—she simply turned away from him and took her seat at one of the nearest tables.
“Yer place is there,” he said, pointing at the high table.
“I’m comfortable here,My Laird.”
“Where have ye been all day?” he asked stubbornly, sitting across from her.
“In the castle,” she responded, glancing over her shoulder at the kitchen entrance.
“Where?”
“Does it matter? I was busy.”
“With who?”
“Just leave me alone. I’ve had an excellent day, and I don’t need you to ruin it.”
Aiden went silent, stewing in his anger as the maid entered the hall with a large tray of food and drink. Katie was kind to the woman, thanking her before she ate silently. The maid returned to the kitchen, and Aiden sat picking at his food, sipping the strong ale and wondering what Katie was hiding from him.
As he glanced at her, desire and annoyance swirled in his chest. Her supple skin, lush lips, and heaving chest caught his eye every time. He hated being so desperate for her, and he resented the power she had over him—a power to which she was oblivious.
Aiden waited impatiently as she ate. He’d never seen a woman eat more slowly. It was only when she set down her utensils and finished her ale that he stood up, firmly meeting her eyes.
“Come, I’ll show ye the grounds.”
Without waiting for a response, he turned on his heel and headed toward the castle’s entrance. He wanted her attention, her laughter, and most importantly, he wanted her to stop hating him.
Aiden and Katie walked side by side through the castle’s lush grounds, inhaling the crisp, invigorating Scottish air and admiring the expansive landscape that stretched out before them. The loch, a serene expanse of shimmering blue, glistened under the early evening sun.
As they approached the loch, Aiden glanced at Katie, who seemed genuinely fascinated by the beauty around her.
“’Tis one of me favorite spots,” he said, softening his voice. “’Tis where I come to clear me mind.”
Katie took a deep breath, savoring the fresh, earthy scent of the surrounding woods that Aiden loved so well. “It’s beautiful. I can see why you like it here.”
Aiden shrugged, trying to maintain his usual stoic demeanor without making her bristle. “Aye, ‘tis peaceful. Sometimes I need that. The sea can be as tumultuous as a ceilidh.”
Katie turned to him, curious. “I’ve always enjoyed them. They’re lively and fun.”
“Aye,” he replied with a hint of a smile. “’Tis a traditional dance event that can be amusing and spirited. I spent many years at sea, away from the noise and crowds. Those gatherings arenae me favorite.”
Katie raised an eyebrow. “But surely you must have enjoyed them once?”
“Nay,” Aiden said, shaking his head. “Too many people, too much fuss. I feel more at ease when I’m alone or with a small group. The sea… ‘tis a different kind of freedom.”
They walked along the edge of the loch, the water sparkling in the fading sunlight.
Katie’s curiosity was piqued. “What was it like, being at sea?”
Aiden’s gaze softened as he looked out over the water. “’Tis hard to describe. There’s a vastness to it, a feelin’ of being small against its grandness. The sea doesnae judge—it just is. When ye’re swimmin’ in it, ye can let go of everythin’ that’s weighin’ ye down. ‘Tis freeing.”
Katie listened intently, her thoughts wandering to the romanticized idea of a life at sea, far from the constraints she felt now. “That sounds… wonderful. Being so connected to nature in that way is something I’ve never experienced.”
