“I have dresses.”
His gaze traveled pointedly down her worn brown dress, which was mostly covered by a much-darned apron.
“Aye, I can see that. But let’s get ye something better, eh? Clothes are more than just something ye sling on yer back. Good day, Emma. Good day, Delphine.”
Then, he was gone, striding out of the door and leaving it swinging behind him. Delphine watched him go, sighing. She turned back to Emma and raised her eyebrows questioningly.
“Care to explain what just happened?”
Emma was watching Thomas go, his broad shoulders disappearing down the hallway. “I have nay idea,” she admitted.
11
Emma couldn’t hide her surprise when she saw Thomas standing outside, dressed in a plaid, a well-worn pair of breeches, and high boots for riding.
He raised an eyebrow. “Did ye think I would forget?” he asked pointedly.
She flushed. “Nay.”
The truth was that she’d hopedhe would forget.
Yesterday, after he had left, the afternoon had passed in a confusing whirlwind. At one point, Emma had been sure that she must have misunderstood or simply misheard. Why would a laird want to take her to a gathering anyway, let alone out to buy her a dress?
She hadn’t dared dare ask Delphine, and the subject hadn’t come up. She had had another sleepless night, but this time it had been mostly due to the unseasonable warmth that had sprung up.
“A sure sign that there’ll be a thunderstorm soon,” Delphine had said ominously.
It wasn’t as if either of them could enjoy the warm weather in any case, ensconced as they were behind the thick walls of the Keep.
And now, it was the following day, breakfast was barely over, and Laird Thomas MacPherson was standing at the door to the Healer’s Chambers, waiting patiently for Emma to go with him.
“It’s not convenient,” she said. “I don’t need a new gown.”
He snorted. “Nobodyneedsa new gown.”
“Well, I can’t afford one.”
“Did ye think I would make ye pay, lass? I am a gentleman.” He winked, flashing that grin thatstillsent Emma fidgeting and flushing red.
“Go on with him, lassie,” Delphine called from inside the chamber. “Have a good time. He’s given his word to me that ye won’t be bothered, so I can assume that ye are safe. He wouldn’t dare lie tome.”
“I surely would not, Delphine,” Thomas said, laughing. He glanced back at Emma, raising his eyebrows. “Well? Are ye ready?”
Emma huffed, annoyed. “Fine. Give me a moment.”
Her heart was racing, and that was a bad start. She didn’t know how they intended to get to the nearest town—hopefully not sharing a horse saddle—but she would need to keep him at arm’s length.
The memory of the kiss refused to go away. She could hardly look him in the eye without remembering how his lips had tasted and the pleasant scrape of his stubble against her skin. And then, it seemed that if he looked into her eyes, he’d be able to hear her thoughts.
Wouldn’tthatbe mortifying?
Not for Thomas, of course. She imagined he would be smug, preening happily at the thought of her getting hot for him.
Not that she was, of course. No, absolutely not.
She changed into a pair of sturdier walking boots—a present from Delphine to help with trudging through the forest in search of herbs so that she could wear a thinner pair of slippers while in the Keep—and slung a shawl over her shoulders.
She turned to find that Thomas had followed her and was now standing in the doorway to her room. He was looking around with unapologetic interest.
