“Are ye certain?” he asked.
All she could do was nod shakily.
Slowly, reluctantly, he let her go.
She could sympathize with him, for she did not want his big hands to leave her waist either. Not when they held her so firmly, not when they felt so warm and comforting. She was enveloped by him for a moment, his scent overwhelming, his breath intoxicatingly warm against her cheek, and then he was gone, stepping away from her, his eyes shuttered.
He gave a stiff bow. “Lilliana,” he murmured before walking away, Rua padding after him.
She watched him go, rooted to the spot. She wanted to call out to him, tell him they needed to talk, but she was struck by a strange shyness and found that she could not.
She watched his broad shoulders until he disappeared into his room and then released a breath she had not been aware she had been holding.
She shook her head, quite disappointed in herself. “This was your chance, Lilly. Why did you freeze like that?”
Since there was no one to answer her, she turned around and opened the door to her chambers, not wanting Betsy to find her lingering in the hall like a ghost.
Bramble sat on the bed, her claws out, scratching at the covers. Lilliana took a seat beside him and pulled him into her lap.
“Oh, Bramble.” She shook her head at the mess he made of the duvet. “What am I going to do?”
Kayden stood at his window, staring out as Rua settled by the fireplace.
It was a cold morning. The mist had yet to lift. The sounds of workers drifted up to him, though he could not see anyone. His hands twitched as a different voice drifted to him. One that was much closer.
He could still feel her soft curves beneath his hands as he steadied her earlier.
“Oh, Bramble, what am I going to do?”
He heard the words loud and clear through the door connecting their chambers and turned his head, taking a step towards it. He knew she had watched him walk into his chambers, so she must know he was here.
He took another step towards the door, unable to help himself.
“Did you see him?” she said. “No, of course you did not. If you had seen how he looked at me just now…”
He moved closer, wanting to hear the rest. He heard a loud sigh and a meow.
“He looks at me as though I am a problem to be managed rather than a woman to be spoken to,” she said softly. “Cold, commanding, and entirely convinced that his will is law. If that is the measure of a Highland husband, then I fear I married a stone.”
He took another step closer, shaking his head unconsciously.
Of course, she isnae that bad. Wherever did she get that idea?
“What kind of marriage will this be, Bram?” She sounded quite desolate.
He leaned his head against the door. The same question had been ringing in his head all night.
6
Instead of brooding in her chambers, Lilliana decided to go down to the kitchens. She had some brews she meant to make. If she could not go to the village, at least she could still help the castle’s residents.
Taking her medicine bag, she patted her thigh, calling Bramble to her. “You can give me a tour of the kitchens, since you have been spending so much time there.”
Bramble lifted her tail with dignity and walked past Lilliana, who snorted with frustration before following the cat. As they passed Kayden’s door, she glanced at it, wondering what he was doing. She heard his footsteps from her room. He seemed to be approaching the door between their chambers, but then he had not opened it.
Why can’t we be civil for once?
Looking away from the door, she continued on her way down the stairs, passing by maids lugging cleaning implements, going from room to room. She nodded in greeting and smiled, wanting to seem friendly. She would need all the allies she could get if she were to survive here.
