Saints preserve me.
The final shreds of her pride withered away as Eleanor shook her head. It would be useless to try to dispute the fact with Marion when Eleanor knew very well that it would only make matters worse. A young girl with dreams in her head would not easily be persuaded. She quickly reminded herself that she was jumping to conclusions again and tried to empty her thoughts.
The moment, however, was short-lived when Callum came striding toward her. She had not even noticed the chair scraping over the floor when she had been caught up in her own thoughts. Her heart began to beat furiously again as she wondered what he needed.
Stopping just a few steps away from her, Callum narrowed his eyes. “I have been lookin’ for ye all mornin’. Have ye been restin’ yer old bones by the fire all day?” he said gruffly.
Eleanor took offense immediately and lowered her hands to her lap as she lifted her chin defiantly. “Well, I have been here all mornin’, me Laird. Did ye nae say that I was nae a prisoner in yer castle? Ye cannae expect me to be at yer beck and call all day every day. And I will have ye ken that I am nae a bairn, I am two-and-twenty.” Her pulse raced frantically as she stood her ground.
Raising a single eyebrow, Callum shot her a puzzled look. “I was talkin’ to Bran. We were supposed to go huntin’ this mornin’.” He gestured to her feet.
Good Lord.
Eleanor felt shame washing over her as she looked at the slumbering dog on the rug beneath her feet. She had been so nervous in his presence that she had snapped at him in the same manner that he had apologized to her for doing.
Sensing his master’s presence, Bran stretched his long, gray legs as he came up and yawned, taking full advantage of his nap as he shook out his shaggy coat.
“Away with ye then, ye lazy beast.” Callum smiled as the dog wandered happily to his side and accepted a gentle pet on the head.
The man must think I am a dobber.
Eleanor sat in silence, wanting the moment to be over. It was hard for her to remain composed when Marion seemed to be losing the battle to hide her amused expression.
Glancing in her direction, Callum simply nodded before walking off with his dog at his side.
Letting out a sigh, Eleanor shook her head. It was one thing to think inappropriate thoughts of the man, but another matter entirely to make a fool of herself in his presence.
Marion’s face was bright red by the time the men left them alone in the hall. Yet Eleanor could not help but notice that her own cheeks were ablaze, as if they had been set on fire.
Steel met steel with a metallic clank that sliced through the air, adding a deadly stillness to the night sky overhead. The sun had just set, and Callum could feel the strain on his muscles as hegritted his teeth. Yet the physical exertion from practice was all that could keep his mind from wandering back to Eleanor.
Iain did not hold back as he came at Callum with full force, brandishing his blade above his head as he let out a fierce cry of war.
Their blades met again as Callum easily stopped the blow, pushing Iain back and almost making him slip in the mud.
“Have ye had enough?” Callum practically growled as he watched his man-at-arms regain his footing.
“Aye, I think we had better stop. The ground is wet and doesnae allow for sure footin’,” he said almost breathlessly as he sheathed his sword and caught his breath.
Raising his brows, Callum buried his blade in the soft ground at his feet before leaning on the hilt. “An experienced soldier such as yerself should already ken how to move in the mud.”
Glaring back, Iain narrowed his eyes. “And a seasoned laird such as yerself should ken that accidents can happen on the slippery moors. I will be forgiven if I accidentally run me blade through an enemy. But impalin’ yer laird by accident isnae celebrated.”
Callum huffed this time as he smirked. “Ye are certainly sure of yerself if ye think ye can impale me by accident.”
“As sure as ye are that I willnae be able to,” Iain simply shook his head, worn out by the hours of rigorous practice.
“A laird should always be sure of himself, no matter what the situation is,” Callum replied.
Tilting one corner of his mouth up, Iain gave a half-smile. “As sure as ye are of yer plan with the mistress?”
Callum paused for a moment as he gave the question some thought. “All I need to do is keep me head on me shoulders for another six days. And then Eleanor will leave once she kens that her brother is dead.”
“Is he dead?” Iain asked with a concerned frown.
The sound of laughter drew their attention to the side as a group of maids passed by the courtyard with baskets of freshly dried linen. They were all chatting among themselves as their day came to an end.
Lifting a hand to the back of his neck, Iain paid close attention to them all, yet his face fell after a moment or two as he looked at his boots.
