“Most likely,” he replied in a casual tone.
Leana was horrified and found his attitude heartless in the extreme, but she could say nothing. She had angered him a few days ago and they had kept their house but who knew what would happen if she did it again? She would go along with what he said and try to persuade him to change his mind. “I will help ye, M’Laird,” she answered, and stood up.
Fraser held out the pouch with the rent money in it and Leana took it, giving him a mystified look. He smiled at her. “For your kindness and charity,” he said, his voice warm. “And for showing me the error of my ways. This month there is no rent to pay.”
Leana beamed her pleasure, and once again he was enchanted by her loveliness. She curtseyed. “M’Laird is very kind.” She gave the money to Joe. He looked as if the sun had come out just for him.
“Thank ye, M’Laird,” he said, grinning. “This will help us an awfy lot, wi’ the harvest bein’ so bad.”
Fraser felt good that he had helped the McBeths in a small way, but he knew he would have to make amends to them for the shocking way they lived, and he knew that they were not the only ones. Things would change, and it was all because of Leana.
“Can you ride?” he asked her as they left.
“Naw, M’Laird, an’ I have nae horse either,” she answered. “I can jist aboot stay on ane, but only if it is very quiet an’ goin’ nae faster than a slow walk.”
He laughed. He was finding out that apart from all her other assets she had a wonderful sense of humor. “Would you mind riding with me?” he asked. “I promise not to let you fall off.”
She thought for a moment; she would be very vulnerable, and wondered if she could trust him to keep his hands to himself. She glanced at the horse as if she could receive some help from her.
He must have guessed what she was thinking. “I will not molest you, Leana,” he assured her. “I swear on the blood of Christ.”
She gazed up again into his mesmerizing eyes and felt a powerful tug of attraction. He was the opposite of everything she was; big instead of small, muscular instead of soft and rounded, hairy instead of smooth. What would it be like to kiss him, have his arms around her? Would she feel protected or threatened?
She could not resist.
Presently she pulled her eyes away from him and nodded. “I will go wi’ ye M’Laird,” she said. “As long as ye promise no tae go too fast.” She made it look like she had no choice.
He laughed, and for the first time since she had met him, he looked genuinely happy. “I promise,” he replied.
Leana went inside to get her cloak and tell her father what was happening.
“Ye’re goin’ wi’ the Laird?” he asked in amazement. “On the same horse?”
“Aye, Paw,” she replied. “Dinnae worry. If he tries it on wi’ me I hae gey sharp elbows tae stick in his ribs!”
However, Joe still looked worried as she collected her cloak. She kissed him and went outside, where Fraser was waiting next to Annie. She thought he might help her mount by linking his hands under her foot and hoisting her up. Instead, he picked her up by putting his hands around her waist and lifting her into the saddle. She was surprised at how high up she was, and how unsafe and vulnerable she felt, till he got up behind her. He put his arms around her to grip the reins, then urged Annie into a walk.
The motion of the horse’s gait was soothing, and the pressure of his chest against her back, and his thighs against hers, was very pleasing to her. She was glad he could not see her face. She was gradually becoming aware of a pleasant fluttering sensation between her legs, and she unconsciously pressed her body closer against his. She began to feel new and wonderful sensations and wished the ride would never end.
Leana felt safe in a way she had not felt since she was a child and her parents had protected her from harm. For a moment an overwhelming desire to have his lips on her neck crossed her mind. God, she wished he would do that! Of course, she would protest afterwards but he was the Laird, he could do that if he wanted.
But did he?
6
They said little throughout the ride to the castle, but the silence was not uncomfortable, merely that of two people who knew each other well, and felt no need to make conversation for its own sake. This was strange, Fraser thought, since they had only just met. However, when they arrived and Fraser lifted her off the big horse, Leana stared around herself, a million questions on her lips.
Fraser could see how overawed by her surroundings she was, and he felt ashamed thinking of the difference between the way he lived and the way she did.
She looked into the doorway of a huge mahogany-paneled room with ceilings that were so high that her cottage could have fit comfortably underneath it. She let out an involuntary gasp of astonishment as she gazed at the crystal chandelier above her head with its myriad of jewels, each one twinkling and giving out its own little rainbow. The cornices of the ceiling were moulded into roses, oak leaves, and angels.
The day was dim, but there were silver candelabras placed about the room, each one with at least six branches, and the sweet aroma of beeswax filled the air. A great marble fireplace filled the wall between the long windows that were ornamented with jewel-colored silk brocade curtains, and when she looked down at her feet Leana saw the same bright hues mirrored in the Turkish rugs.
The furniture all around her shone with the rich red satin sheen of mahogany, and there were crystal bowls of flowers, both wild and cultivated, on every table; the scent of lavender filled the air.
When he spoke again his voice was grim. “Shall we deal with the matter at hand?” he asked.
Suddenly she felt her spirits drop. She had no wish to see this poor man but she knew that it was her duty to help him if she could.
