7
Izzy stared up at the beams of her ceiling as the night shifted to day. Her mind was buzzing with Aaron's proposal. Was she brave enough to go with him? What if it was some sort of trap? Her heart raced as her mind kept jumping from one decision to another. By the time the rooster had crowed three times, Izzy was far too wound up.
"Meet me at dawn."Aaron's words played back over in her head as she glanced to the window. The dark horizon was shifting and starting to fade to a soft purple. It wouldn't take long before the sun would peak over the horizon and flood the fields and moors, the crags and cliffs with a surreal glow that no doubt came straight from heaven.
"Oh fine,"Izzy huffed and tossed the blankets off her. It wasn't like she was getting any sleep in the first place. Dressing quickly, Izzy wondered what sort of day she'd have or if she should blow off Aaron all together and do something she wanted to do. Yet, the prospect of having her situation remedied was far too much temptation for her to pass up.
As she skippeddown the steps, her heart skipped right along with her. She couldn't remember the last time she had been so nervous. It was as if she were being judged by all theton. A small smirk played at the corner of her lips as her thoughts shifted to her old life back in England. Was there anyone who missed her? Or had her name been erased from the lips of high society? The thought was both liberating and disturbing.
The moanof the large oak doors stole the very warmth of her body. She froze and glanced over her shoulder, wondering who might have heard her leaving. When there was no one coming to stop her, an idea flickered into Izzy's mind.
If there was evera time she could escape, now would be that moment. But just as quickly as the thought jumped into her mind, it was squashed at the sight of Aaron around the corner of the castle, horse in tow. The smile stretching across his face was warm and welcoming as a chill settled in her bones.
"Mornin',"he said as he stopped at the bottom of the stone steps. "I have to admit, for a minute there, I dinnae think ye'd show."
"For a minute there,I wasn't sure I would either. But are you certain you want to leave in that?" Izzy asked as her attention shifted to the blanket of fog covering any resemblance of a path. Aaron's smirk stretched as he extended his hand to her.
"What'swrong with the weather? 'Tis a perfectly fine day to be goin' for a ride. Actually, it's a bit warmer than it has been. Must be changin' thanks to ye."
Well,isn't he charming… No… he's not charming; he's a brute.
"Come on then, up ye go."
Izzy frozeas fear tightened its grip around her heart. The horse had to be at least sixteen hands and was as black as soot with a long black mane and tail. Her mouth dropped at the grandeur of the beast. The horse stomped as she approached as if it could feel the nervousness rolling off her.
"Rupert willnae bolt,"Aaron reassured. "This horse was given to me by me faither when I was fifteen. He's the best horse I've ever had; ye just got to be confident when ye approach him."
Confident.Right, like that's ever as easy as it sounds.
She swallowedhard and took Aaron's hand. He pressed his hand to the horse's neck as she grabbed the saddle and pulled herself up. Aaron helped hoist her up and over the saddle before securing her feet in the stirrups.
"Are ye settled?"he asked.
"Like this?Are you mad? This is no way for a lady to ride," Izzy said breathlessly as she noticed the fabric of her dress bunched at her waist. The chill of the air curled about her ankles, sending little bumps racing up her leg.
The thoughtof riding like this through the ton caused her chest to tighten. Horror gripped her as she glanced over at Aaron andrealized he hadn't been talking to her, but the horse. The way he pet his horse made her think he was reassuring the beast all would be well.
"You're not expecting me to…"Izzy started just as Aaron climbed up into the empty space behind her.
"Handle Rupert?Nay, by the look of ye, he'd be carryin' ye all over the place."
"This is unheard of,"Izzy continued her complaint. "A lady needs to ride?—"
"With a firm grip on the beast,"Aaron said. "Ye cannae expect to ride like ye did when ye were in England. Ye're nae there anymore."
"As if Ineed a reminder of such things," Izzy huffed as Aaron took up the slack from the reins.
Izzy's bodytingled as she tried not to focus on the fact that Aaron's body shielded the bitterness of the morning air. The way his arms curled around her was like a blanket to her, ensuring she was well protected at least from the chill.
"Areyou sure you don't want to get a carriage or something? I can't even see the road ahead."
"Good thingI grew up here and ken this place like the back of me hand," he said. Sarcasm dripped off every word, and his hotbreath tickled her ear as he spoke. There was no point in shifting away; Aaron was all around her, warming her.
"Haveye never relaxed a day in yer life? It's like the English daenae ken how to just enjoy the moment."
"I knowhow to enjoy the moment; the only problem is, I'm not fond of this moment," Izzy confessed as she glanced to the side. The height was staggering even with her sitting on the beast. Aaron's body trembled as he chuckled, rocking her along with him.
"Why the fear?"
