“Wait.”
She stopped and saw that his expression had softened, no longer teasing or flirting. “What is it?” she asked.
“If ye really want to make up for all the trouble ye’ve caused me, there is somethin’ ye can help me with,” he admitted. “With Daisy.”
“What about her?”
“Ye were right earlier. About her bein’ sad and lonely. In truth, the happiest I’ve ever seen her was when I saw ye going out to the gardens this mornin’.”
“Oh.”
The thought pleased her. She enjoyed her time with Daisy, and it was nice to know that the feeling was mutual.
“I feel like nay matter what I do, I only make it worse. I cannae seem to help her.” He frowned.
Thalia sighed. “I’ll do what I can. This is somethin’ I’d be happy to help ye with.”
“Thank ye.”
“But ye can forget all of that nonsense about pleasure.” She gave him a small smirk of her own. “I’m still a lady.”
Finlay grunted, murmuring almost to himself. “Aye, like that’s the only thing stopping us.”
He turned back to his mount before she could ask what he meant. Hoisting himself up into the saddle, he did not look at her again as he rode out the gate.
She watched him go until he disappeared. Only then did she finally move from her spot and go back inside the castle.
Her uncle, Laird MacGibbon, Caden, and Ava had all gathered again in the foyer of MacAinsley Castle, and they turned to her as she entered through the door.
“Where’s Finlay?” Caden asked.
“He went for a ride,” Thalia said. “He needed to get some air.”
Caden nodded, before he and Ava exchanged a look.
“I suppose congratulations are in order,” Harrison said.
It was the first thing he had said to her since she arrived, and hearing his slimy, serpentine voice again was enough to make her blood run cold.
“Aye,” Thalia said, forcing her voice to remain steady. “I’m very happy.”
“Happy?” Archibald cackled. “Ye think this man is goin’ to make ye happy?”
“There are worse men I could choose,” Thalia argued, refusing to look at Harrison as she said it.
Archibald walked over to her, placing a firm hand on her shoulder. “I daenae understand ye, niece. But for all our sakes, ye had better really marry Laird MacAinsley. Because if ye daenae, war will break out.”
Thalia paled, and her stomach churned unpleasantly.
“Aye, Uncle,” she said.
Ava cleared her throat. “I think me sister has had a long day. Thalia? Shall I take ye up to yer room?”
Thalia nodded, grateful for her sister’s quick thinking.
The two women went up the stairs in silence, leaving the men behind. Ava placed her hand comfortingly on the small of Thalia’s back, rubbing small circles like their mother used to do when they were small.
As soon as they stepped into the room, Thalia collapsed into a heap on the bed. “All right. Go ahead. Let me have it,” she groaned.
