“I beg to differ,” he smiled again, “I rather think the way the breeches flatter ye suits ye very well.” He was pleased to see the blush his words brought to her cheeks as he turned back to face the front.
They fell into an easy conversation again. Gone was the tension and the distance that had been between them early that morning. It had been replaced with pleasant chatter and a different kind of tension. Each time they touched or came near to touching, Erskine was painfully aware of it. It was as though the briefest chance of touching her was a torment to him, reminding him how much he had touched her the night before and wanting to go back to that moment.
This torment almost became too much for him when they took a break in one of the clan villages. There, Laura had scampered off to take her privy break before the others, as she always did, and Erskine watched her disappear with longing, thinking of how he could follow her, if he wished to, and steal another kiss before the others arrived.
Ye cannae do it!
Yet the way her arm had brushed his as she ran off had burned on his memory, taunting him. It was obvious, despite how complicated the situation was, that he would not be able to stay away from her. He could well picture hiding her in the town and knowing she was there whilst he attempted to sleep in the castle. He would be running to her side before he could stop himself. It was not just about the lust, though that was heady and so bewilderingly powerful that Erskine was surprised he hadn’t succumbed to it already. No, it was more than that. He could not let Laura marry Earl Moore. Everything in his body argued against such an idea.
The strong-willed, blue-eyed beauty who had saved his life, married to a man such as him? God…the very thought made him want to rage and punch the nearest tree to release some of his anger.
Aye, Laura, I need to get ye out of this mess somehow.
Chapter Thirteen
Fort Contin town took Laura’s breath away as they came to a stop on the mountain path just above it.
“Told ye it was more beautiful than England,” Erskine said with a chuckle, turning to see her face.
“I am still not admitting that,” she shook her head, though she couldn’t help her jaw dropping with amazement. “Yet, yes, it is truly an incredible place.”
Fort Contin castle was built of towering white and grey bricks that glistened in the sun until they were almost silver. It was set into the hill opposite where they stood and practically hung out over the cliff edge, hovering over the sea that rolled below. At the side of the castle was the town, built into the hill so that each house was staggered, as though it had grown organically out of the earth itself. A mixture of thatch roofs and white-stone houses, it shone in the sunlight.
“Nearly home,” Erskine sighed in front of her as the horse leaped forward to join the others.
Within minutes, they were wandering through the town. Erskine’s face was clearly well recognized as the eldest son of the local Laird, as many people called up to him on the horse, saying how pleased they were to see he was back and hoping his trip went well. Laura did not miss how nowhere near as many people called up to Dearg to say such things. Either as the younger son, Dearg was not as well known, or he did not have such a connection with the people. From what Laura knew of him and the way he kept scowling at her now, she expected it was the latter.
“We need to get back to the castle,” Dearg said eventually, interrupting Erskine’s latest conversations with a merchant nearby. Laura watched as Erskine stiffened in the saddle in front of her, clearly resenting the interruption. He bid the merchant a good day before turning the horse round to face Dearg.
“Aye, we do,” Erskine accepted, “there are other things we need to do first. Camden, Aiden, get yerselves home and rest up. Come to the castle this evening, and we’ll report how the trip went to me faither then.”
“Aye, sounds a good plan,” Camden steered the horse. “Good luck findin’ a place of work, Billie.”
“Thanks,” she said with a smile, seeing he genuinely meant it. As the two of them disappeared down one of the nearby lanes, Erskine turned his head to Tam.
“Tam, same for ye. I expect Lennox has long been missin’ yer company and will be glad to see a little of ye today as well,” Erskine smiled, and Laura had to bite her lip to prevent from laughing when she saw Tam shake his head.
“We are just friends, Erskine, for what feels like the hundredth time of sayin’ that.”
“As yer friend, will she nae have been missin’ yer company?” Erskine’s innocent question brought a small chuckle to Tam.
“Ye are persistent,” he steered the horse away. “See ye this evenin’. Good luck, Billie, let us ken where ye’re stayin’ when ye get settled.”
“Will do,” Laura smiled again as Tam waved and hurried off. Tam clearly intended to carry on the friendship made Laura sit straight in the saddle, happy indeed.
“Dearg,” Erskine’s voice lost all sense of warmth. “I have an idea where Billie could stay. I’ll join ye at the castle soon.”
“I could accompany ye?” Dearg said, his gaze flicking between the two of them. Laura felt the keenness of that gaze, and her smile dropped.
“That willnae be necessary,” Erskine’s voice was full of warning, but Dearg appeared not to notice.
“I wouldnae want ye to tarry too long with our new friend here,” Dearg gestured to Laura. She recoiled at the hand movement.
“I willnae be long,” Erskine turned the horse round. “Ye best get back to the castle, Dearg. Ye have caused enough problems by bein’ let out for one trip.”
Before Dearg could reply, Laura felt Erskine pull on the reins, and the horse leaped forward into a sudden gallop down an empty street. She held tightly onto the saddle, glancing back just once to see the dark way in which Dearg’s eyes followed the two of them.
On the next road, Erskine slowed the horse again. Laura could see the roads they were taking were traveling uphill, heading nearer to the castle.
