"Aye, she does," Hugh agreed, leading Anna back into the stables. "I'll find the groom and have him help ye get her in her tack."
Without waiting for her response, he turned and found the groom. Once he'd sent the boy to Anna, he marched toward the castle. Whatever it was that Callum wanted to speak about, Hugh could tell that it wouldn't be good.
This council is nae good for anythin' but addin' additional stress to me shoulders.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Callum's arrival and the abrupt end to the heated moment Anna had been sharing with Hugh left a hollow ache in the pit of her stomach. It was all but impossible not to dwell on what had just happened. She also couldn't shake the realization that both times she and Hugh had approached marital intimacy, Callum had appeared.
Something about that man doesn't sit right with me.
As the groom prepared her horse, Anna wondered if she was wrong for feeling uneasy about this man. Everything that Callum said seemed as though it was done out of concern for Hugh. His actions, though…
She shook her head, unsure of what Callum could even be accused of. It wasn't as if she'd ever witnessed him doing anything objectionable. Perhaps he simply had unfortunate timing when it came to the interruptions. And his personality could simply be overbearing and abrasive.
"Come this way, me Lady," the groom said, appearing with the horse saddled and ready for a short ride.
"Yes, thank you," Anna said, almost grateful for an excuse to abandon that line of thought.
She was new to the castle and had no reason to be suspicious of anyone. The conversation she'd had with Emelia about the missing money was another piece of information she needed to synthesize. On top of that, nearly every interaction Anna had with Hugh left her head fuzzy and effectively shut down the part of her brain responsible for critical thinking.
"I advise ye daenae ride past the tree line," the groom informed her as he handed over the reins. "The Laird has asked I keep an eye on ye. As long as ye ken how to ride, I'll let ye ride on yer own."
"I do know how to ride," she assured him. Showing off her ability, she pulled herself onto the horse. "And I won't go too far. Just a short trip."
"Ach, take yer time," the groom said, taking a step away. "And keep yerself out of trouble."
"I will," she promised with a laugh before urging the filly forward.
The animal moved obediently, clearly already well-trained by the groom. It took her only a few minutes to feel completelycomfortable. She simply had tosuggestthe direction that she wanted the horse to go, and she would go.
Picking up speed, Anna tilted her head up slightly. Warm sunlight spread over her cheeks. All the shivering and discomfort from the chill were forgotten. Instead, it was as if she were loads lighter, floating through the air of the castle grounds.
The green scenery blurred around her, dots of leaves losing their color and tufts of wildflowers that she couldn't yet name passing by. She let out a wild giggle, her laughter echoing off the trees surrounding the space. All of her worries seemed to escape her in that moment, the Highlands wrapping around her, welcoming her into the fold.
Once she'd fallen into a steady rhythm, it was as if nothing else mattered. They made several laps around the grounds, not stopping until Anna felt herself beginning to sweat. Only then did she guide them back to the stable where the groom was waiting for her.
"Ye werenae lyin' when ye said that ye kent how to ride," he said, offering his arm to help her to the ground. "The two of ye looked quite skilled out there."
"It's been a bit," Anna said, straightening her skirts as the groom grabbed hold of the reins. "And I've never met a horse like this one. I don't believe I've gone that fast, nor have I had so much fun while I was riding."
"It seems that this girl enjoyed the ride as well," he said, scratching the filly's neck.
"I'm glad. I will make sure that I make plenty of time to ride with her," Anna said, pressing her palm against the horse's muzzle. "I think the activity is good for both of us."
She took a few more moments to give the animal affection before dropping her hand. The groom led the filly away, but Anna still lingered. Her lips were curved slightly, her hand coming to rest on her chest to contain the swell of emotion.
After a beat, Anna took a deep breath and turned. Her feet carried her back toward the solid wooden doors of the castle. For a moment, she nearly forgot about the underground politics of the place. She was quickly reminded, however, when she spotted Callum walking out looking smug.
Something about the curve of his mouth made her uneasy. She knew she had no reason to feel this way, yet her instincts disagreed. There was a tight, insistent twist in her gut that screamed at her to be wary of him.
I've got to see what I can learn about him, if only to prove myself wrong.
When Hugh arrived in his study nearly an hour later, Callum was already there, pacing the floor. With a grunt, Hugh asked, "How did ye get in here?"
"Ye left yer door unlocked," the other man answered easily, stopping in his tracks. "Which ye shouldnae be doin'. Ye wouldnae want someone comin' in here and seein' all yer paperwork."
Even though Hugh knew for a fact that he'd locked the door when he left last, he didn't see a reason to press the issue. It was obvious to him that his brother had been visiting the study with his key. If Marcus was the reason for the room being unsecured, it was best that Callum didn't know.
