Her inner walls clenched at the thought.
The way he had made her feel… she was not ready to go without that. She could only fervently hope that it had not been a fluke.
Her entire body trembled as she recalled how her climax had ripped through her like a hurricane. Her hand rose of its own accord to brush her lips. She flicked out her tongue, swiping it fast across her finger as her body lit up.
Realizing what she was doing, she snatched her hand away and put it behind her back as if that might negate her actions. She shook her head frantically and hurried up the stairs, fiercely hoping that no one had spotted her idiocy.
“What am I doing?” she murmured before flinging herself into her chambers and collapsing on the bed.
She lay there, bosom heaving as she stared at the canopy. All day, Kayden had occupied her thoughts. Even when she was doing something else, he had been in the periphery, waiting to get just a bit of her attention.
“Am I pining over a Highlander? Surely not,” she huffed in disbelief.
She could not believe how quickly her life had changed. Not many weeks ago, she’d left London ready to fulfill a lifelong dream of helping people in need. Now, she was married to a laird and asking herself when she might see him again.
This is ludicrous.
She bolted upright and shook her head, trying to rid herself of the invasive thoughts. She jumped off the bed and crossed to her desk, where she grabbed her journal and a quill and began to write.
I still cannot find the cause of the illness, and it’s frustrating that the symptoms vary so much. I have collected water samples to test. Hopefully, that will help me know more.
I’m worried that this disease has no cure and I won’t be able to help. I’m afraid they might blame?—
She stopped writing when a knock sounded at the door.
“Come in.”
The door opened, and Betsy came in bearing a tray of food.
Lilliana beamed. “Ah, Betsy, what would I do without you? You always look after me.”
Betsy grinned. “I brought you some broth and bread to fill your belly, since I know well how caught up you get in your work.”
Lilliana smiled. “Thank you.” She cast a coy glance at her. “Didyougo down to sup, though?”
Betsy gave her a surprised look. “Yes, I did, My Lady.”
“And… was the Laird at the table?”
Betsy narrowed her eyes at Lilliana. “I did see him at his table briefly, yes.”
“Mmm.” Lilliana wondered where he might have gone after that.
Betsy gave a loud sigh. “I don’t understand you, My Lady. You come all this way just to treat people, and your father agrees just because you’re so stubborn about it, but you act like you have to sit around and wait on the Laird to grace you with his presence. Why not just ask for what you want?”
Lilliana stared at her with wide eyes, quite shocked by her outburst. “What? I never…?”
Betsy gave her a droll look. “This is what I mean. He reduces you to a stammering mess. He is leading you by the nose. You shouldn’t stand for it.”
Lilliana blinked a few times, flabbergasted by her maid’s words. “He isnotleading me by—” She stopped, recalling how she’d been looking towards the road all day, hoping for Kayden to appear.
Maybe he is.
She heaved a deep sigh. “Perhaps you’re right.”
“There isn’t a perhaps about it, My Lady.” Betsy pointed to the tray. “Now, eat your food, get your strength up, and I’ll draw you a bath. Plenty of time for you to decide what you’ll do next.”
Lilliana smiled. “Fine.”
