He never wanted to see her with another man, but he wanted her to be happy. If there were someone else who could give it to her, then he wanted her to be able to find it.
“Let’s go home,” he commanded.
He began walking back to where he had left his horse, not once looking back at her.
CHAPTER 24
They did not seeeach other for the rest of the week.
At first, it had been Finlay’s choice. He did not leave his study for meals, and he filled his days with the preparations for the cèilidh, training, and attending to his people’s needs. There was far too much to do, and seeing Thalia would only distract him from other things that needed his attention far more.
He had hardly seen Daisy as well, though she would make it a point to come into his study every morning and every evening. She would charge in and tell him everything that she planned to do that day as soon as she was awake. Then, she would come back and inform him of everything she had learned from her lessons with Thalia and Rowena.
He would act as if he were merely entertaining her antics, but he rather enjoyed them. They broke up some of the monotony that was the never-ending paperwork on his desk.
When his mind and body grew too restless, he would go out to train with Peter and the rest of his men. Peter would give him updates about Laird MacGibbon’s men. After Thalia’s attempted kidnapping, they had reinforced security and further increased the training regimens for the men.
He tried not to look for Thalia during his time on the training grounds, but he still found his eyes drifting away from whatever was in front of him to scan the front entrance of the castle or the trail that led back to the gardens. His shortened attention span had caused him to get nicked more once by his sparring partners.
“Are ye feelin’ all right, me Laird?” Peter asked, approaching him after the second time it happened.
“Aye, I’m fine,” Finlay insisted. “Just a bit distracted.”
Peter nodded, looking as if he knew exactly what it was that was distracting Finlay. “I believe Lady Thalia has been using the servants’ entrance more as of late.”
“How do ye ken that?” Finlay asked, not bothering to deny that he had been looking for her.
“Me wife mentioned it,” Peter admitted. “Said that she and Daisy pass through the kitchens for their lessons in the gardens. Figured I would let ye ken before someone accidentally impaled ye.”
Finlay snickered at the joke, but his mind was racing.
Thalia was avoiding him, just as he was avoiding her. He should have been glad to hear that. It was exactly what he had been trying to convince her of ever since they had started this whole charade.
So then why did it bother him so much?
“I have… other matters to attend to,” he declared, handing his sword to Peter. “I’ll be in me bedchamber if ye need me.”
Peter nodded. He looked as if he wanted to say something else, then shook his head as if he had decided against it.
Finlay didn’t pry and went back to his bedchamber to clean up. He had a servant prepare him a bath, and when it was ready, he sank into the copper tub with a heavy sigh. The warm water felt good against his sore muscles, and the steam helped to clear his head.
Perhaps Thalia wasn’t truly avoiding him. She was probably just giving him space, as he had requested.
He should be happy that she was finally respecting his wishes, but he had gotten used to her constant presence. He almost expected her to seek him out again for one reason or another. To barge into his room and berate him for his actions with Daisy, or to interrupt his work for whatever it was she deemed more important in the moment.
I miss her.
He rested his head back against the rim, closing his eyes as he let the feeling settle over him. The cèilidh was tomorrow, and he would see her plenty then. Yet the need to see her now began to niggle at him.
The cooling water splashed over the sides of the tub as he rose. He would take his dinner in the dining hall tonight, and that should quell this urge until tomorrow.
With a new resolve, he quickly dressed and emerged with a lighter feeling in his chest than earlier. It was late enough that he knew dinner was already being served. He grabbed the attention of a passing maid on his way to the dining hall.
“I’ll be takin’ dinner tonight in the hall. Please bring an extra set, and I’ll head in there now,” he informed her.
The maid nodded and hurried away to grab what he needed.
Finlay opened both doors and strode into the dining hall. Immediately, he saw Ava and Daisy already seated and enjoying their dinner. They looked up at the commotion, and Daisy grinned at him.
