She walked toward the carriage, and Aaron followed behind her, watching as she fetched a satchel. She poured water over his hands first, and he returned the gesture without comment.
For a while, neither of them spoke. The air around them was cold and silent, the night interrupted only by the sound of splashing water and the occasional whinnying of the horse.
He leaned in closer as she tried to get the mud off the side of her dress.
“Ye should…” he trailed off as he leaned forward, his finger brushing a speck of mud from her bodice.
Edith stilled at the touch.
“Why do ye refuse it?” she asked without looking up.
The water ran out at her words.
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
“Why do ye refuse it?” The question escaped Edith as the last drop of warm water touched her hand, and her breath almost caught in her throat.
Och, Edith.
She straightened, her face flushing slightly as she took the satchel from him. Her fingers brushed against his, and a thrill rushed through her, causing her to tremble slightly in the late evening breeze.
’Tis only the cold.
She set the satchel aside, hesitating for a brief moment before turning back to face Aaron, his expression indiscernible in the dark.
She had not meant to ask him the question. She had held her tongue all afternoon, telling herself that she wouldn’t and evenbelieving it. But it had escaped her anyway, and now it hung heavily between them.
Her chest tightened as she caught a glint in his dark green eyes.
Scarlett was wrong. Asking Aaron why he did not wish to marry was a dangerous idea. She should never have asked. She knew that now as Aaron’s gaze lingered on her.
He had not said a word in response.
Her lips pressed together slightly. She could swallow her curiosity along with her pride. She could step back into the carriage as though she had not just asked him a question. Instead, her mouth opened again.
“Why do ye refuse marriage?” Her voice was steadier than she felt.
Silence.
Her chest stirred with a growing mix of irritation and something else as she watched Aaron’s jaw tighten.
Why would he nae answer?
She knew for certain that Aaron was not like Martin, even though he’d said the same words. She had seen that look in his eyes countless times, which told her he wanted something.
She knew what she had felt the two times he had kissed her, and she knew how his hands had held on to her during those times, refusing to let her go.
What she did not know for certain was whether he had felt the same things she had.
Her fingers curled into her dress, tightening at the thought.
It made sense that Aaron would not want her. She was a maid’s daughter, a lowborn who had forgotten her place in their fake betrothal. Surely she would have understood it if that was what Aaron had said. But it was not. He had said he did not want any woman.
Perhaps he thinks himself too good for anyone.
“That lady the people speak of.” She swallowed, forcing herself to continue. “Laird MacFaris’s daughter. They say she is a beauty.” Her chest pinched with an ache that felt deeper than she had expected.
Aaron’s jaw tightened further, his green eyes darkening.
