They ended up pressed together in the narrow space, his back to her front, both breathing hard from the near-fall. Alpin could feel Mhairi's heart racing against his spine.
"Are ye all right?" he asked.
"Aye." Her hands had come up to grip his waist. "Though ye might want tae watch where ye're steppin’."
"Noted." He should have moved. Should continue navigating them toward the exit. But standing here in the darkness with Mhairi pressed against him felt too good to rush.
She must have felt the same because she didn't pull away either. Instead, her arms slid around his waist, and she rested her cheek against his back.
"Thank ye," she said softly.
"Ye already thanked me."
"I ken. But I wanted tae say it again." Her hands spread across his chest. "I dinnae think I could've gotten through today without ye."
Alpin turned in her arms, which was awkward in the confined space but necessary. He had to see her face when he said this.
"Ye're stronger than ye think, Mhairi. Ye would've gotten through it." He tilted her chin up with one finger. "But I'm glad ye didnae have tae dae it alone."
In the dim torchlight, her eyes were dark and luminous. She leaned into him, and he bent his head to kiss her, slow and sweet and full of promises he was only beginning to understand he wanted to make.
When they finally pulled apart, Mhairi was smiling. "We should probably keep movin’ before someone realizes we've both disappeared."
"Aye. Though I'm rather enjoyin’ being trapped in here with ye."
"Trapped? This was yer idea."
"And an excellent idea it was." But he was already moving again, leading her deeper into the passage. "Come on. The exit is just ahead."
They navigated the rest of the passage in comfortable silence, stepping over debris and ducking under low sections untilfinally, Alpin found the door he'd been looking for. He pressed the release mechanism, and it swung open into a side corridor that was blessedly empty.
Sunlight streamed through windows at the far end, and fresh air replaced the musty smell of the passage.
Alpin stepped out first, checking that the coast was clear before helping Mhairi emerge.
They both looked considerably more disheveled than they had entering the library. Mhairi's dress was dusty from brushing against stone walls, and Alpin was fairly certain he had cobwebs in his hair.
"We look like we've been crawlin’ through tunnels," Mhairi observed, brushing dust from her skirts.
"Because we have been." Alpin tried to smooth his hair down. "Is it very obvious?"
"Ye have a cobweb on yer shoulder."
He brushed it away, then reached out to adjust Mhairi's braid, which had come partially undone during their journey. His fingers lingered against her neck longer than strictly necessary, and she leaned into the touch.
"Better?" she asked.
"Presentable enough." Though her lips were still kiss-swollen and her cheeks still flushed. "Ready tae face the world?"
"As ready as I'll ever be."
They emerged into the main corridor just as a servant rushed past, barely sparing them a glance. Apparently disheveled nobles were common enough not to warrant attention.
They'd made it perhaps ten steps when Duncan appeared at the end of the corridor, moving at a pace just short of running.
"Me laird!" he called. "Thank God I found ye. We've had reports."
Alpin's relaxed mood evaporated instantly. "What reports?"
