Keira gazed out of the window, in an attempt to calm her nerves, taking in the picturesque Scottish countryside. Rolling hills, adorned with a tapestry of greens and golds, stretched as far as the eye could see. It was a serene landscape, one that wouldeasily allow her thoughts to wander, but her rebellious thoughts wanted to remain within the confines of this carriage and focus on nothing else but the man seated opposite her.
Raphael had an air of quiet confidence about him. Occasionally, their eyes would meet, and she would notice that little smirk that only seemed to make her even more self-conscious. It made her want to check whether her hair was in place, whether her gown showed as little decolletage as possible. Or perhaps she wanted to show more? Her own mind was confusing her with its own wishes and desires, and that confusion was more than evident in the rosy, red hue on her cheeks.
But the desire to hear him speak was there again. She turned to him, wondering what she could ask him. Maybe start with herself?
“You know, this is probably the most adventurous thing I’ve ever done,” she admitted easily because it was the truth.
Raphael seemed to have been brought back from a silent reverie by her voice, and it took him a moment to process her comment. “This?” he echoed.
The sound of his voice reminded her how close they actually were, how dangerous this was, to be alone in a carriage with a strange man, to be headed somewhere where she had never been before. How strange, how dangerous, and how exciting.
“Yes.” Keira smiled a little nervously, noticing that he was not taking his eyes off her. In fact, he seemed to trace the entirelength of her body, from head to toe, slowly, languidly, taking his time.
She pretended not to notice, but that was easier said than done. “Before this, I think the most adventurous thing I’ve ever done was save a kitten from a tree. Despite what you think, it was quite the perilous task, let me tell you.”
His eyes widened in surprise as if he wasn’t sure whether he had heard her right. Then, he exploded into a boisterous chuckle, the likes of which she had never heard from a man. When he laughed, it was as if the cares of the world momentarily lifted, leaving behind an infectious mirth that easily spread to those around him.
It was a rich, warm sound that bubbled up from his chest, traveling up his throat and spilling out in musical notes, filling the air with a sense of lightness and happiness. She hadn’t been certain that he was even capable of such unrestrained laughter, yet she had just heard it.
“What about you?” she asked, once he was merely smiling.
“Me?” he repeated.
“Yes.” She nodded, a mischievous glint in her eyes. “What is the most adventurous thing you’ve ever done?”
He leaned back slightly. “An adventurer’s tale, ye say?” He seemed to ponder it for a few moments, then he continued. “Ionce climbed a rather treacherous peak in the Highlands durin’ a snowstorm. It was quite thrillin’.”
Keira raised an eyebrow in surprise. That seemed exactly like something an arrogant, self-sufficient Scottish laird would do. Yet, she liked everything about it.
“Scaling mountains in a snowstorm? Why does that not surprise me?”
He grinned, playing along. His eyes narrowed, and his teeth flashed at her. “Surprise is me middle name.”
“You’ve made that clear with your counteroffer,” she replied playfully.
“But in the end, it seems we are both exactly where we wanted to be,” he told her, tilting his head a little with that devilish smirk.
God, was he trying to be even more charming?
“Yes, aren’t we both quite the adventurers?”
She had no idea where these bold words and questions were coming from, but she knew that she wanted to keep going in exactly this direction. This was the woman she wanted to be with him—bold and unapologetic, completely herself, without any fear of any repercussions.
At that fleeting moment, their eyes locked, and for a heartbeat, time seemed to stand still. Unconsciously, Keira leaned closer, only to realize what she was doing. She blushed, quickly pulling back, but the draw was too strong. The chemistry between them was undeniable, a spark that held the promise of something intense.
“I have to say, ye’ve taken me by surprise, lass,” she heard him admit, much to her delight, while she was still adjusting in her seat, feeling like she was sitting on pins and needles.
“I have?” she asked, suppressing a smile.
“I honestly thought that the only adventures a lady of yer stature was accustomed to would be afternoon tea and quiet garden walks.”
Keira gasped in mock indignation. “How dare you underestimate the thrill of a carefully orchestrated tea party? The social intrigue alone is worthy of a full-length novel!”
Raphael chuckled again. “Ah, social intrigue, the true essence of high society. I stand corrected.”
This was the first time a gentleman had actually understood the jist of her joke and laughed so warmly. Members of the tondid not really enjoy a woman who had opinions, or even humor, for that matter.
Bickering with Raphael was unlike anything she had ever experienced. It was so refreshingly novel, and she was enjoying it more and more with each passing moment.
