The last vestiges of daylight had hardly been enough for her to see the true beauty of the view that lay just outside. Her room was positioned at the front of the castle, letting her peer down to the courtyard and the stretch of meadow that sat just behind it. She knew, of course, that there was a village somewhere, filled with families and people going about their day. But all she could see was the tranquil picture in front of her.
Heavy beating of a horse’s hooves cut through the air, silencing the songs of the morning birds. She regretted that the moment ended so quickly, but the regret was soon replaced with curiosity. It was still early in the morning—too early for visitors. Yet, one rode up to the castle with all the confidence in the world.
She stepped closer to the glass, almost pressing her face against the cool pane to try to make out who it was. He kept his back to her as he dismounted, patting his horse before handing the reins off to the awaiting stable boy. She was convinced that she wouldn’t get to see his face, but at the last moment, he turned and pulled his hat off.
“Who is that?” she asked Elizabeth, nodding with her head.
“How am I supposed to ken that? I have been here for the same length of time that ye have been. Come, let’s get ye dressed. The Laird is waitin’ for ye.”
Charlotte hesitated by the door, not yer ready to pull her eyes away from the bald man in the courtyard. He walked with purpose to the castle doors and disappeared from view, but her curiosity was far from appeased.
She rushed Elizabeth through putting on her day dress. It was a simple gown made of a deep, navy linen. It was one of her favorites, but she was more concerned with how breakfast would go and who had come to visit so early in the morning.
Not needing an escort this time, Charlotte glided through the castle hallways, her stomach rumbling. She hadn’t so much as touched the tea Elizabeth had brought and she was paying for it now. A hearty plate of food would be a welcome sight.
She reached the same set of doors she had been taken to for dinner the night before and knocked three times before letting herself in. She had been invited, no, requested to be here so she didn’t see the point in waiting to be let in.
Her arrival still seemed to be unexpected as she stepped in just in time to see Laird Knox’s head pop up, turning to face her, away from the bald man she had seen in the courtyard.
* * *
She was beautiful.Cameron’s mind could hardly think of anything else once she entered the room. She was unlike anything he had ever seen before and someone was trying to convince him that they were supposed to be married.
Her interruption was a welcome distraction from the lecture Alastair had been giving him. Taking the moment while he could, Cameron watched as Charlotte floated into the room, her dress swaying gracefully around her ankles. She slipped into a small curtsey in front of where he sat, before standing with a small smile on her face.
He knew that his face gave away his every emotion. Last night he cared a lot more about that, but seeing the way her round, pink lips tugged up at the corners for him made him want to toss aside all his worries. He wasn’t sure how it was possible to admire a person you had just met, but that was exactly how he felt about her. She was everything he was not—polite and graceful and charming.
She changed the entire atmosphere of the room just by being in it. It had taken him completely off guard when they first met. She made him feel every insecurity he had ever known with her quiet confidence. He had no idea how to handle it and so he had resorted to cold callousness, hoping to put some distance between them. Dinner hadn’t been much better.
In fact, that was just what Alastair had been lecturing him about when she interrupted. There was an immense pressure on Cameron not to screw things up, not to ruin the chance he might have with Charlotte by his side. And if dinner was any indication, then he had a lot of work to do.
Lost in his thoughts, Cameron didn’t notice how uncomfortable the room had gotten. Charlotte still stood in front of him, her hands folded, as though she was waiting for something. It wasn’t until Alastair cleared his throat that Cameron got the message.
“Are ye going to introduce us, Laird?” Alastair asked pointedly.
“Och, aye. Apologies. Alastair, this is Miss Charlotte Sinclair. Charlotte, this is Alastair. He is my advisor.”
An elbow nudged him in the ribs, but Cameron had no idea what he had done to deserve it.
Charlotte didn’t seem to notice as she turned her attention to Alastair. Cameron was immediately jealous, wanting to do whatever it took to get her smile directed back at him.
“I am verra pleased to make yer acquaintance, Miss Sinclair.”
Cameron took note of the fact that Alastair emphasized her name. It was the reminder he needed that he was to address her the same way, for now.
“I am sorry to have missed yer arrival last night. I was hoping to be back in time to help greet ye, but business called me away.”
“The pleasure is all mine, sir. And please, dinnae feel the need to apologize. I understand it takes a great deal of work to run a clan. I felt verra welcomed by yer Laird.”
“Aye, he is a most gracious host. I have never seen such hospitality anywhere else,” Alastair complemented.
Cameron shifted uncomfortably, not liking the doting words from the man. It was out of character for him. Since this entire thing had started, Alastair had been nothing but critical. It was coming from a good place, Cameron knew, but his mentor so rarely gave out compliments. Yet, now that Charlotte was in the room, it seemed like that was all the man could say.
“I must agree,” Charlotte answered. “I have never stayed in such bonny rooms. And the view here is unlike anything I have ever seen.”
Cameron tilted his head as he watched her speak. He wanted to know more about her. What did her room in her father’s castle look like? What did her father’s land look like? More than that, he wanted to know what she thought about his castle and his lands. He was still trying to make his own mind up about it all too.
Another brief moment of silence fell over the room, just as awkward and uncomfortable as the first. He knew they were both waiting for him to say something, anything, but for the life of him, he couldn’t figure out what.
