"I don't understand the secrecy,"Izzy said as Aaron pulled the reins to ease the horse to a stop. He slipped off the saddle and glanced around before offering to pull her down.
"Best go by foot from here,"he suggested.
"But…"Izzy started to protest, but the stern expression on Aaron's face gave her second thoughts. Rolling her eyes, she slipped off the horse into his outstretched arms. Her heart fluttered as he guided her to the ground.
"What are ye lookin'at?" Aaron asked as Izzy's gaze remained locked on him. She studied the jagged scars that made it look as if he'd been broken.
"How did you get your burns?"she asked. The question was direct and rude. She clapped her hand over her mouth, ashamed she could let such a sensitive question slip out so flippantly.
His eyebrows archedas he froze. The question was clearly one he had been expecting.
"I was eighteen when it happened,"he started as he offered his arm to her and guided the reins over the horse's head. Izzy took him by the arm and followed him.
"I wasnaein the castle ye see," he continued as he stole side glimpses. Izzy leaned closer to him. "But as soon as I saw the fire, I rushed to help. By the time I had got to me parents, me faither was dead, and me maither was holdin' me sister in her arms with nay way to get out of the room. The roof had dropped on them, trappin' me maither and sister."
"Chloe ?"Izzy asked as if uncertain she was the same sister. Aaron bobbed his head.
"I tookher and got her out just as the floor gave way. We lost our parents that day. I've been takin' care of her ever since. I ken it's nae like havin' a bairn of me own, but I certainly went through the hardship of such. Daenae let Chloe 's size fool ye; she has a set of pipes on her. There were many nights nay one in the castle could sleep."
Pity filledIzzy and instinctively her grip around his arm tightened. "I'm so sorry. That must have been very hard for you."
"Aye, well… there was nothin'I could have done to stop it. I wasnae there in time to tackle the culprit or douse water to put out the flames. Nay, by the time I showed, half the castle was nothin' but ash and soot. The servants were gathered outside,wailin' over those still inside. That's when I realized my parents hadnae come out. And I had to…" Aaron touched the scars on his neck and took in a sharp breath.
Pain rippled through her.She had never heard such a harrowing and sad story. She glanced at him, and the jagged scars were no more than a badge of honor in her opinion.
"I can't imagewhat Chloe must have felt growing up without her parents, knowing that you saved her…" Her thoughts trailed off for a moment as she tried to put herself into their shoes. She couldn't image such a turbulent memory; not even Aaron showing up at the party of the century in England to steal her away could compare.
"Aye, she's a strong lass,"Aaron said. "But never mind her. She's well cared for, nay matter which way the coin should drop."
There wasa hint of sadness tainting his words that felt out of place. Maybe it wasn't fear that Izzy picked up on but something far more raw. She pulled in a deep breath as questions lingered on the tip of her tongue. In the corner of her eye, she caught a flash of white.
"Did you see that?"Izzy gasped as she stopped in the middle of the path. Her head whipped around to the tree line in the distance. There, in the underbrush, she caught sight of it. "The white stag."
"They sayif ye can catch it, it'll grant ye wishes," Aaron said. For a moment she didn't know if he was serious. But the spark in his gaze as he marveled at the creature gave her the answer she had been looking for.
"And what wouldyou wish for? Would you ask for your parents back?" Izzy asked as she kept her eye on Aaron, studying his reaction.
"I daenae ken,"he answered. "What about ye? Would ye have me pick another at that party? What if I had gone to that blond in the navy blue dress?"
"Please,"Izzy objected shaking her head, "promise if you ever need to marry another English woman, you won't marry her. She's vile and rude. Catherine is her name, and believe you me, she's not the sort of wife you would want."
"And what sortof wife will ye make for me?" Aaron asked as he kept his eye on the stag. Slowly he turned his eye to her. There was a desire lingering in his gaze that rattled Izzy. He turned to face her as he lifted his hand. His fingertip grazed over her collarbone, sending hot flashes ripping through her body and igniting desires she didn't think she had.
"Complicated,"she answered, hoping he could hear the playfulness in her voice.
"Aye,I can see that ye just might be," he said with a chuckle as the stag shot off at the sound of some twig snapping in the distance. He turned his attention to the stone bridge that led tothe village and led her onward. "But I hope that ye'll at least have some enjoyment when ye can. It would an awfully borin' life if there wasnae at least a pinch of danger sprinkled in."
