Fortunately, the sun shined unusually bright. However, in winter, a clear, sunny day meant colder temperatures. And Miran shivered as Kai mounted his black warhorse, the exquisite saddle and matching bridle embellished with silver medallions and braided tassels, apparently prized possessions from his homeland. Even the beast’s mane and tail were braided to match.
Much to her dismay, she couldna help but admire how regal he looked upon his horse, broad-shouldered and straight as an arrow. To his left rode his chosen captain, with her on his right. Then it hit her, even though he claimed the Highlands as his home—even went by a Scot name—nothing could diminish his royal blood.Nothing. Prince Kureshfilled every aspect of his being, from the way he sat astride a horse to the way he talked. Even his clothes. Nearly always garbed in black, the usually drab color reserved for mourning or war, only accentuated his unnaturally dark features.
Beautiful features, really.Wait!Had she just called him beautiful?
They rode through the gates, up the horse trail that split north and south two miles from the manor house. The northern road led to the sea. The southern, toward the English. Frost-covered brush and trees dotted the landscape, the sound of crunching snow beneath the horses’ hooves as they walked filling the air around her.
Her attention returned to Kai, though she made sure not to stare at him for too long at a time. The man would think she desired him. Maybe she did somewhere deep inside. But if every woman acted upon her fantasies, the Highlands would be a very different place. Nay, Kai and anything she felt for him,ifshe did, must stay relegated to her dreams. There, at night, no one had the right to take away what she wished for, what she imagined. She swallowed hard. How many times had she seen Kai naked and swimming in the loch? His sculpted chest and arms shimmering wet in the summer light. Felt more than his lips upon her? She wiggled uncomfortably in the saddle, closed her eyes briefly, blew out a breath, then gazed quickly at him again.
He was watching her!
“Lady Miran?” He cast her a humorous look. “Are you cold? Would you rather ride with me?”
Even then, his almond-shaped eyes wreaked havoc on her. How dare he be so handsome, so utterly perfect. “Nay,” she snapped.
He grinned as if he’d heard her regretful praise and turned back to his captain.
Twould be a long journey if she dinna learn how to control her emotions. Everything she felt showed on her face. Jamie knew it, and so did Kai. He’d taken advantage of it many times, pursuing her at the most vulnerable moments. No wonder he stirred up the worst of her emotions and challenged her patience.
“Milady.” Cadha rode up beside her. Helen had assigned the woman to Miran, for if she had her way, she’d go without servants. “From where I was riding behind ye, it seems ye are restless, perhaps distressed?” The maid looked at Kai. “Ye stare at the captain too much.”
Blunt talk usually pleased Miran. But she was unprepared for a maid to make such a strong observation without gaining permission to speak openly. “Did I hear ye correctly, Cadha?”
Miran took in the physical details of her new maid. Brown hair, green eyes, an oval face… neither pretty or plain, Cadha must be at least ten years older than Miran. She supposed Helen had chosen her for a reason, and this must be it, her candor.
“Aye, mistress, ye dinna mishear me. Lady Helen instructed me to gently remind ye of the proper behavior of a lady.”
“She did?”
“Aye. I understand in the past ye chose to live irregularly, to put off yer birthright and seek solace through servitude. And I willna judge ye, ever. But I will remind ye, when I see fit, how a lady should conduct herself.”
Miran winced at the notion that Helen hadna trusted her enough to make her own choices on the journey. There was nothing more demeaning than realizing her own family doubted her intelligence. “In the future,” Miran began, adjusting her tone, “please doona assume the worst just because I am looking at Captain Kai. If ye remember that, I think we can get along, Cadha.” She dinna wait for the maid to reply, but clicked her heels against her mare’s sides and took off in a trot, riding ahead of Kai, enjoying the cold air on her face.
If a maid could read her feelings so easily, what did Kai know? Everything, she feared.
