She encountered no servants on the way, and she arrived at the small shed easily. It was barely one room, built atop the creek that ran past the back of the castle through the gardens. The door creaked open as she pressed her hand against it, and she found butter and cheese that had been made earlier that day. A small glass of thick white milk sat next to them.
Thalia pressed her hand against it. It was still cool to the touch. She took the glass and walked back to the servants’ entrance, as it was the closest way to the kitchen.
The hall was still as she entered, and she assumed that everyone was asleep, until she turned the corner and saw the faint flicker of shadows from a lit candle. She entered the kitchen, expecting to find a maid or a cook, and nearly jumped out of her skin when, instead, she found Finlay leaning against the table.
His eyes widened in surprise, and he straightened quickly as if he were a young boy caught doing something he shouldn’t. Her eyes went straight to his exposed torso, and her face warmed as the memory of what those muscles felt like under her hands flashed through her mind.
Why must I always find him undressed? Doesnae he own enough shirts?
“Apologies,” she blurted, forcing her eyes back to his face. “I didnae ken ye’d be here.”
She turned to leave when his voice rang out across the room. “Stay.”
She turned back and was shocked to see his face more open than it had been the last time she had seen him.
He gestured to the glass in her hands. “Do ye need help with that?”
“I just wanted to warm it up to drink,” she replied.
Finlay nodded, turning to the fire behind him. The embers glowed bright red, and he grabbed a log from the pile as well as some of the smaller sticks lying near it. After a few minutes of carefully organizing the wood, and with a few blows of encouragement, a small fire roared to life.
Thalia grabbed the nearby kettle and poured the milk inside before handing it to Finlay, who hung it on the hook above the fire.
“Should only be a few minutes,” he murmured.
Thalia had watched him throughout the entire process in silence, but she could not hold back any longer. “I’m surprised ye would do that.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Ye think I daenae ken how to cook me own food?”
“Nay,” she huffed. “I’m sure ye’ve cooked yer own food when ye’re out on the road or before goin’ into battle. But I would have thought ye’d have gotten a servant to do it for ye in yer own castle.”
“I daenae like to wake them unless it is necessary.” He shifted the box on the table, and Thalia eyed it with interest.
“What are ye doin’ up so late anyway?” she asked.
His features twisted into a guilty expression again, and he lifted the lid of the box. Thalia leaned over to see what was inside and found it full of small brown squares.
“I couldnae sleep, so I came down here to clear me head.” He gestured to the box again. “And I couldnae resist havin’ some while they were here.”
“Chocolate?” Thalia asked, amusement clear in her voice.
He really did seem like a boy, sneaking out of bed for some sweets.
“Aye.” His tone rang with a hint of defensiveness. “I cannae eat them in front of Daisy.”
She waited for him to elaborate, but when he didn’t, she decided to ask, “Why?”
He gave a long sigh. “Because she will eat all of them. She would look at me with those big eyes, and I cannae refuse her, given everything she’s been through, so I’d let her have some. And then, before I ken it, she’d eat all of them, ruining her dinner. And I’d be left with nothing.”
He looked so upset, so offended by letting the young girl eat all of his chocolate, that Thalia couldn’t help but giggle. She tried to keep it in, but the second the first snicker came out, she was done for. Laughter burst out of her, and she clapped a hand over her mouth in an effort to stifle it.
“‘Tis nae funny!” Finlay protested, but the corners of his mouth curled up as well.
He cleared his throat, forcing his expression into one of a stern and powerful laird, only for her to laugh harder.
“Oh, of course nae,” she said, breathless from laughter. “Who would have thought the big Highland Wolf would be so…”
“So…?”
