Ava’s heart jumped into her throat. “About what?”
“About Esther’s progress. What else?” But there was something in his tone, something in the way he looked at her, that suggested the conversation might not be entirely about his niece.
“I... aye. Of course. In yer study.” Where they’d be alone. Behind closed doors. With nothing but candlelight and dangerous proximity and?—
Stop. It.
“Are ye sure ye’re all right?” Noah asked, genuine concern flickering across his face now. “Ye look flushed. Are ye feelin’ ill?”
“I’m fine!” Ava’s voice came out too high. She cleared her throat. “Perfectly fine. Just adjustin’ to castle life. It’s very different from what I’m used to.”
“Aye, I imagine it is.” Noah’s gaze lingered on her face for another moment, then he turned his attention back to his meal.
But Ava couldn’t shake the feeling that he knew. Knew what she was thinking, what she was remembering, what kept her awake at night when she should have been sleeping.
The rest of the meal passed in a blur.
Ava went through the motions. Eating mechanically, responding when spoken to, and helping Esther with her food, but her mind was elsewhere—focused on the upcoming private conversation with Noah. As they sat there, his eyes kept finding hers across the table. She couldn’t shake the memory of his kiss, which refused to fade no matter how hard she tried to forget it.
Finally, mercifully, the meal ended. Esther was yawning, exhausted from her lessons and the excitement of the day.
“Come on, sweetheart,” Ava said, grateful for the excuse to escape. “Let’s get ye ready for a nap.”
“But I want to stay up,” Esther protested sleepily.
“When ye wake up, ye can play outside,” Ava promised. “But for now, ye need yer rest.”
She stood, intentionally avoiding eye contact with Noah, and took Esther’s hand. They were nearly at the door when his voice made her stop.
“Miss Harris. Thank ye. For doing this for Esther.”
Ava’s spine stiffened, but she nodded without turning around. “Aye, me Laird. It’s me pleasure.”
As she led Esther from the hall, she could feel Noah’s gaze burning into her back.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
“Again!”
Noah’s voice cracked across the training yard like a whip. The two guards—sweating, panting, barely able to lift their swords anymore—dragged themselves through another slash.
“That’s one hundred and seventy-three,” Elliot called out from his spot beside Noah, keeping count with his usual annoying cheerfulness. “Only twenty-seven more to go, lads. Ye can do it!”
“I hate ye,” one of the guards gasped.
“That’s the spirit!” Elliot grinned. “Channel that hatred into yer form. Really put yer back into it.”
Noah crossed his arms, watching the men struggle through their punishment with a grim sense of satisfaction.
Four days of this—extra training, weapon drills, and physical conditioning that would have broken lesser men. But these two were holding on, if barely.
“They’re improvin’,” Elliot observed quietly, his tone serious now. “Their endurance is better than it was.”
“It needs to be.” Noah’s jaw tightened. “They failed in their duty. Let Esther slip away while they were supposed to be watchin’ her. That cannae happen again.”
“It willnae.” Elliot glanced at him. “They’ve learned their lesson, me Laird. They apologized, accepted their punishment without complaint, and they’ve been workin’ harder than anyone else to make up for it. Maybe it’s time to ease up?”
“After they complete today’s two hundred slashes.” Noah’s voice was firm. “And then we’ll see.”
