The rideback to the castle was quieter, both of them lost in thought. As the sun began to set, painting the sky in vibrant hues, Kenneth found himself wishing the day didn't have to end. He had never felt so at ease, so... happy.
When they reachedthe castle gates, Kenneth helped Sophie down from her horse, his hands lingering on her waist a moment longer than necessary. He could feel the warmth of her skin through the thin fabric of her dress, and it took all his willpower not to pull her closer.
"Thank ye for today,"Sophie said softly, looking up at him with warmth in her eyes. "I had a wonderful time."
Kenneth felta surge of emotion - desire, affection, and something deeper he wasn't ready to name. "As did I," he admitted, his voice low and husky.
For a moment,he was tempted to pull her close, to capture her lips in a kiss that would convey all the things he couldn't say. But he held back, not quite ready to cross that line.
"Goodnight, Kenneth,"Sophie said, a hint of longing in her voice as she turned to go.
"Goodnight, Sophie,"he replied, watching her walk away.
As Kenneth preparedfor bed that night, his mind was full of Sophie - her laughter, her kindness, the way she fit so naturally into his world. He knew he should be wary of the way she was slowly but surely breaking down the walls he'd built around his heart. But for once, he allowed himself to simply enjoy the warmth that thoughts of her brought.
CHAPTER TEN
Kenneth sat at his desk, the flickering candlelight casting long shadows across the pile of correspondence before him. The Highland Assembly loomed ever closer, and with it, the chance to secure his clan's future through an alliance with Laird MacDean. Yet instead of focusing on the crucial preparations, his thoughts kept drifting to Sophie.
He rubbed his temples,frustrated by his own distraction. Since their day in the village, he'd found it harder to keep his heart closed off. The memory of her laughter, the way her eyes lit up when she spoke with the villagers, the sweet scent of heather that seemed to follow her everywhere – these thoughts plagued him day and night.
"Ye're becoming weak,"he muttered to himself, hearing the words in his father's harsh voice.
A soft knockat the door interrupted his dark thoughts. "Enter," he called, his voice gruff.
Sophie stepped into the study,and Kenneth's breath caught. She wore a simple blue dress that brought out the green of her eyes, her hair falling in loose waves around her shoulders. The candlelight caught the golden strands, making them shimmer like threads of fine silk.
"Me laird,"she said, a slight tremor in her voice. "I was hopin' ye might have some ink to spare. I've run out, and I need it for me writin'."
Kenneth's eyes narrowed slightly.He'd noticed how she'd taken to avoiding him since their wedding night, and now here she was, seeking him out. "Aye, I've ink to spare," he said, gesturing to the extra pot on his desk.
Sophie approached;her steps hesitant. As she reached for the ink, Kenneth caught the scent of heather that seemed to follow her everywhere, making his head spin with want. "Thank ye," she murmured.
Instead of leaving,she lingered, her fingers tracing the edge of his desk. The simple movement drew his eye to her delicate hands, and he found himself remembering how they had felt in his own. "I've been workin' on me novel," she said softly.
Despite himself,Kenneth felt a spark of interest. "Yer novel?" he asked, setting down his quill. "What sort of tale do ye spin?"
A smile litup Sophie's face, and Kenneth felt his heart skip a beat. The transformation was remarkable – gone was the hesitant, uncertain woman who had entered his study. Inher place stood a passionate storyteller, her eyes bright with enthusiasm.
"It's an adventure story,"she said, her earlier nervousness forgotten. "About a lass who disguises herself as a lad to join a band of Highland warriors. She's brave and clever, but she's also afraid of being discovered. And there's this one warrior who suspects something about her isnae quite what it seems..."
"And what adventuresdoes this lass find herself in?" Kenneth asked, fighting back a smile at her obvious excitement.
Sophie's eyes sparkled."That's actually why I'm here. I was hopin'... well, I was hopin' ye might share one of yer own adventures with me. For inspiration, ye ken?"
Kenneth tensed,memories of darker times threatening to surface. "I daenae think me tales would be suitable for yer novel, lass."
"Please?"Sophie stepped closer, and Kenneth caught another whiff of heather. "Ye mentioned trackin' criminals before. Could ye tell me about one of those times?"
Kenneth studied her face,seeing only genuine interest there. With a sigh, he gestured to the chair across from his desk. "Very well. There was one time, about two years ago..."
As he spoke,Kenneth found himself drawn into the telling. He described tracking a cattle thief through the Highlands,following barely visible signs in the wilderness. The way broken twigs and disturbed leaves told a story as clear as any book to those who knew how to read them. How he'd followed the trail for three days, through driving rain that threatened to wash away all trace of his quarry.
Sophie leaned forward,completely engrossed. "But how did ye ken which way to go when the rain washed away the tracks?" she asked, her writer's mind clearly cataloging every detail.
"That's where instinct comes in,"Kenneth explained, surprised by how easily the words flowed. "Ye have to think like yer quarry. This man, he was desperate, running scared. He'd head for familiar ground, somewhere he felt safe. So, I studied the lay of the land, thought about where I would go if I were him."
"And ye were right?"
