The man laughed again as the woman whispered something Melissa couldn’t hear.
Craning her neck, Melissa tried to get a glimpse of the man that was clearly entertaining the woman. Her mind quickly filled with all the possibilities of kitchen maids falling in love with soldiers from the castle.
It’s Daniel!
She leaned even further from behind the trunk.
He was wearing a kilt and an off-white shirt as if he’d been working with the men in the fields.Or the orchards.She corrected herself after spotting a bright red stain on his sleeves. She wondered how it had gotten there after glancing back at the woman’s hands.
“I promise ye it happened just like that,” he said to the woman, giving her a charming smile that made Melissa angry beyond reason. “It’s nae me fault if ye cannae remember what we did back then.”
A pang of shock ran through Melissa’s body when she realized that Daniel seemed to be flirting with the woman.
This is why he said we should each do as we please.The woman must have already been in his life for a while.Perhaps he’s in love with her.
She felt her stomach clenching with the realization that the kiss in the tower had truly been fueled by ale and not lust.
“I think it’s ye that cannae recall things correctly, Me Laird.” The woman laughed again and playfully punched him on the shoulder. “Ye were the one who was always running after me. I dinnae recall ever having to chase ye down, it was always ye that followed me.”
Looking at her long black dress and apron, Melissa wondered who the woman was. Her dress was far too nice to be a maid, yet the stains on the simple apron tied at her waist spoke of work beyond that of a lady.
Not realizing that she’d been leaning on a pile of empty buckets with her leg, Melissa panicked as she suddenly slipped, knocking everything over and drawing unwanted attention to herself.
“Melissa?” Daniel asked with a frown, standing up straight as the other woman gave her a curious look.
“I was just…” Melissa scuttled over the ground to pick up the buckets and place them against the tree without success, making them fall to the ground once again.
“Just spying on us?” Daniel teased her while the woman bit her lower lip to suppress a laugh.
“I was not,” Melissa answered hotly and fixed her dress after finally replacing the buckets. The mirth on the other woman’s face infuriated her beyond words. She wasn’t about to be laughed at by her husband’s mistress.
“Then why were ye hiding behind a tree?” he asked in amusement.
“I…I…” Melissa stuttered as she searched for words. “I was just going for a walk,” she said firmly when she realized that she wasn’t the one who was having secret rendezvous in the orchard. “Good day to you both.” She curtsied to avoid any further humiliation and turned on her heel.
“Wait,” Daniel called after her, laughing again.
Ignoring all of his protests, she picked a random direction and set off between the trees, determined to put as much distance between her and the uncomfortable scene as possible.
Daniel watched as Melissa turned around and stormed away from him. Her face was utterly irate at having caught him talking to another woman in the privacy of the orchards. He couldn’t help but laugh at the adorable way she turned up her nose whenever she was angry or frustrated with him. She looked as if she were seconds away from stomping her foot and scolding them both.
Laughing, he apologized to his companion and set off after his wife. “Wait,” he called again as he jogged to keep up with her. “Ye dinnae have to leave in such a hurry.”
“No, no,” Melissa said stubbornly while keeping her eyes on the path. “I don’t want to interrupt your little rendezvous,” she huffed as she walked a little faster.
“Rendezvous?” Daniel asked as he caught up with her, smirking.
“Yes,” Melissa hissed angrily, trying her best to get away from him. “It means to meet someone in secret, especially when one does not wish to be seen with a lover!” She picked up the pace.
“I ken very well what a rendezvous means.” Daniel laughed even harder, realizing what she had thought.
“I’m sure you do!” She picked up her skirts and began to pant as she wove in and out of the trees.
“Slow down, lass! Ye will pass out if ye try any harder,” he cautioned, enjoying her irritation immensely as he slowed his pace and kept up with her.
“I will walk as fast as I like!” she retorted through her labored breaths. “You gave me freedom on our wedding day to do as I please, remember?”
He stopped her in her tracks by gently gripping her arm and spinning her around. “Are ye jealous, lass?” He gave her a mischievous smile.
