“Ah, look,” Gawyn said cheerfully. “Her Ladyship has awakened. Did you sleep well enough?”
She and Lachlan shared no more than a passing glance as he led her horse closer to the tent and tethered him to a nearby branch. In that brief moment, however, she saw in Lachlan’s eyes a secret desire and her heart fluttered with anticipation.
“Will we travel regardless of the rain?” she asked, making a deliberate effort to speak with casual indifference while hiding her impetuous urge to pull Lachlan back into the tent and repeat every delicious intimacy they had shared the night before.
“Aye,” Lachlan replied, without looking at her. “So you best get yourself up and ready, my lady, or you’ll soon feel the poles of that tent coming down on your head.”
Gawyn’s eyebrows lifted with surprise. “He’s just havin’ you on, Lady Catherine. He wouldn’t really do it, would you, Lachlan?”
He shrugged, as if to say,Why not?
Taking him quite seriously, Catherine retreated into her temporary abode and dressed for the day ahead.
Within the hour, they were trotting away from the beach and riding through the forest, where the tall evergreens provided at least some shelter from the rain. Lachlan and Roderick rode out front to lead the way while Gawyn, Rodney, and Alex followed behind Catherine in a single column.
They rode in silence for most of the morning, plodding along at a slow and easy pace, until the wind picked up and Catherine began to feel a wet chill seeping through the heavy wool of her cloak.
Soon Alex trotted up beside her. “Are you warm enough, Lady Catherine?” His expression was creased with concern.
The wind howled through the treetops and blew the bottom of her cloak across her lap. “I am well enough, Alex. Do not suggest we stop on my account, for I am eager to reach the village and enjoy a hot meal and warm bed tonight. It will be a welcome luxury, to be sure.”
An awkward silence ensued while he glanced over his shoulder at the others.
“Is there something wrong?” she asked.
His cheeks flushed bright red, but not from the cold. “I fear it is not my place to speak of such things, my lady—but I hold you in the highest regard, and for that reason, I cannot hold my tongue.”
“What is it you speak of, Alex?”
He hesitated, then cleared his throat. “I know that Lachlan was with you last night, Lady Catherine. I saw him leave your tent before dawn.”
Catherine worked hard to control her anger. “You are correct in one regard, Alex. It isnotyour place to speak of such things.”
His cheeks drained of all color. “I apologize, my lady. I did not mean to offend, but you asked me to speak freely.”
She regarded him carefully for a moment, scrutinizing the purpose of his intentions. “I did,” she admitted. “Was there anything else you saw? Or perhaps heard?”
Alex flushed anew. “I heard him say that he would visit you in your chamber again tonight, when we reach the inn. I heard him say he’d scale the walls.”
Catherine fought to hold on to her composure while another part of her railed with indignation. “I must repeat myself, Alex. This is none of your business. It is a private matter between Lachlan and me.”
“I understand that, my lady,” he argued, “and I am deeply sorry, but I must speak my mind. I do not mean to intrude upon your private affairs, but I feel it is my duty to inform you that Lachlan MacDonald is not to be trusted with your heart. He has a reputation for seducing young lassies just like yourself. He makes them behave in irrational ways, and there’s a curse upon him. I don’t want to see you get hurt.”
Catherine squeezed the leather reins in her gloved hands. “I am not one of those foolish young girls.”
But did she truly believe that? What she felt for Lachlan was anything but rational. Whenever he touched her, she became blind to every sensible thought and precaution, and last night she would have done anything to make him stay with her.Anything.
“I appreciate your concern,” she said nonetheless, “but I assure you I can take care of myself. Please do not speak of this again.”
She kicked in her heels and galloped off to ride ahead.
Chapter Twenty-five
They reached the village of Killin sooner than anticipated, arriving at the inn not long after the storm gained intensity, blowing bitter gusts of wind and rain across the fields and through the muddy streets.
They rode into the stable yard, where Lachlan helped Catherine down from her horse and through the driving rain to the door. He secured the most expensive room for her, on the third floor, and arranged lodgings for himself and the others on the first.
“A hot bath would be most welcome,” Catherine said to the innkeeper, who snapped his fingers and sent a young maid scurrying to the back room to make preparations; then Lachlan accompanied Catherine up the stairs.
