She turned on her side and pressed her fingers to the bone under her eye as if she could press the memory out through the skin.
This was not what she had agreed to. This was far from what was arranged in the first place.
For the love of God, an arrangement like this was already complicated enough without her putting feelings in the mix.Now here she was, rolling around on her bed, unable to sleep because she kept coming back to that exact moment.
“Good God,” she whispered.
Her heart still beat fast, but she kept her eyes closed and chased the darkness.
The last image that slipped under her lids was not of the ceiling.It was ofhim.And the last image she saw right as she drifted into sleep was that of his face, looking down at her.
Smiling.
CHAPTER 10
Alex keptboth hands on the map table. The parchment lay flat under his palms. Inked marks showed the eastern wall, the inner courtyard, and the stairs at the north tower. It was late morning, and the castle held the kind of quiet a man could use.
The door opened. He did not look up.
“Ye wanted to see me,” Calum said.
“Aye.” Alex tapped the eastern line. “I thought we could go through some of the more recent arrangements of the night guards. Two men here at all hours. A third on the hour till dusk. Any change since the festival?”
“Nay,” Calum said. He stepped close and looked where Alex pointed. “The rotations hold for now, and the inner courtyard is still clean.”
“Good.” Alex shifted to a small circle near the postern. “This corner. I want a lantern there at night. Nae bright, but enough to keep feet right.”
“I told Fergus,” Calum said. “He will see to it.”
Alex nodded once. “Any breach?”
“Nay.”
Silence ensued, but Calum did not fill it.
Alex knew his man-at-arms was the kind who let quiet do half the work. He straightened a little and rubbed his thumb along the table’s edge. However, he could tell from the look on Calum’s face that this was not just mere silence. There was something his man-at-arms wanted to discuss.
“Is there something on yer mind?” he asked.
Calum considered the question and nodded. “Forgive me, me Laird, but do ye think this charade will last?”
Alex looked up. “What do ye mean?”
Calum did not mince his words. “The household is growing used to her. Yer grandmaither, most of all.”
Alex said nothing.
Calum went on. “I heard her in the linen room this morning. She was speaking with Morag and Leah about what Erica might wear on her wedding day. She is making a plan, me Laird, and kenning yer grandmaither, I ken she intends to carry it out.”
Alex’s jaw clenched hard enough to ache. “She is free to plan her own joy,” he said.
Calum gave him a look that said the point had slipped by half. “She is taking this to heart,” he said. “If ye let it run on its own, she will build around it. I wouldnae be surprised if she starts asking for another grandchild.”
Alex’s head snapped up at that. “That is nae possible.” His voice was flat. “We have an arrangement. One month. Protection. Then she leaves. We let the noise die down. That is all.”
“I ken that,” Calum said. “And ye ken that.”
“I am happy we were able to clear that up,” Alex grumbled.
