Flora navigated to the library, peeking around every corner to ensure she wouldn’t run into Lucas. It had been difficult to turn him down the day before. Not only did she want to learn to ride, but part of her inexplicably wanted to spend time alone with him.
But me heart cannae stand havin’ him pull away from me. I daenae think I can handle gettin’ me hopes up. I ken that someone like him could never want someone like me.
The corridor was blessedly empty save for a few maids, all of whom greeted her with a soft incline of their heads. Perhaps it was a bit immature to be sneaking around in this way, but she didn’t know how else to handle herself. After the small tiff she’d had with Lucas the day prior, she was worried that she’d pushed too far.
“Is anyone here?” she asked as she walked into the library, wanting to ensure she was alone in the space.
She waited in the threshold for a moment, deciding that she would be left to herself here, before stepping inside. It was only then that Annabeth’s voice answered, “Flora? Is that ye? Come sit with me and Matthew while ye read!”
Flora stopped midstep, wondering if it would be rude to flee the situation. She’d already spoken, though. Leaving now would create too many questions that she wasn’t ready to answer.
And it’s nae as if Lucas is there with them.
“That sounds lovely,” she said, picking her way through the shelves and finding the two of them sat at a small table.
Atop the surface, she spotted a ledger. She pulled it toward herself, opening it up to the beginning. When Matthew saw what she was doing, he let out a low whistle and said, “Ye really enjoy lookin’ at those?”
“I like the numbers,” Flora replied easily, keeping her eyes focused on the columns.
“Ye might be the first person in this castle’s history to like those,” he said, sliding his chair forward slightly, only stopping when Annabeth clicked her tongue.
“Leave her be. Or I’ll tell her about the romance novel I caught ye readin’ when I walked in.”
“I told ye that I was readin’ it for research, nae for enjoyment,” he protested, though the embarrassment in his voice was enough for Flora to know that what he said wasn’t entirely true.
“Whatever ye say,” Annabeth said before she settled back into her seat. Flora met her eyes, unable to stop herself from returning the playful grin that was directed her way.
The threat was enough to quiet Matthew, and the three of them fell into a comfortable silence that was only punctuated by the turning of pages. The longer she sat there, the more Flora relaxed. The numbers in front of her seemed to help her focus on something other than the squabble her heart and her mind were engaged in.
She didn’t know how much time had passed when the library door swung open loudly, but the sound made her jump. Annabeth reached across the table, her hand covering Flora’s. Matthew glared toward the source of the sound.
“Were ye raised by wolves?” Matthew demanded.
“Well, ye were raised the same way,” Lucas replied, the sound of his voice making Flora’s back stiffen. “So ye tell me.”
“I ken better than to slam doors in the damn library.”
“Watch yer language,” Lucas said as he pulled out the chair next to Flora and settled next to her. “We’re among delicate company.”
“I’ve heard much worse from the two of ye,” Annabeth said, letting go of Flora’s hand. “Now what is it that’s so important ye had to storm in here?”
“Well, I was goin’ to ask if ye had seen Flora, but it seems that I dinnae need to ask,” he said.
“What—” Flora began, swallowing to clear her throat. “What is it that ye need?”
“Well, I was lookin’ over the clan’s ledgers and realized that I may need another set of eyes,” he said casually. “I ken ye’re quite fond of numbers. Perhaps it would be entertainin’ for ye.”
She nearly agreed before she caught herself. The offer was tempting, but she knew that agreeing would mean spending time alone with him. Her focus needed to be on taking care of herself, and that included taking care of her heart, even if it meant suffering a small disappointment now.
“I’m quite comfortable here,” she said, looking away from him lest she betray her convictions. The information in front of her no longer made sense, his gaze a physical weight. “Besides, are these nae the ledgers?”
“They’re ledgers from years ago,” Lucas said, sliding his chair closer to her. He pointed at a few places on the page, the calluses on his hands infinitely more interesting than the numbers scrawled in the columns. “They’re much simpler than the ledgers that I’ve got in me study. I’m sure ye’d find them much more interestin’ than those. They’d provide ye more of a challenge.”
“Perhaps another time,” Flora suggested, grateful that her hair was covering her burning ears. “I’m quite content where I am, thank ye.”
Both Annabeth and Matthew struggled to stifle laughter, and Flora could only imagine that Lucas’ expression was to blame. She couldn’t look away from the ledger in front of her, though. If she did, she wouldn’t be able to turn him down any longer.
“Ach, well,” Lucas said after a long, almost unbearable pause, “if ye change yer mind, ye let me ken. Or, if ye’d prefer I teach ye to ride, I’d welcome the break from lookin’ over the books. I’ll be off now.”
