Robert took a sip of his whiskey, earning himself a sharp look from Aaron that did absolutely nothing to dampen his mood.
“We should leave,” Caelan said, his expression neutral. “If ye still wish to see the village fair.”
Scarlett studied Aaron for a brief moment, uncertainty written all over her face. “Aaron.”
“Aye?”
“Ye’re certain nothing is troublin’ ye?”
“Certain.”
“Alright,” she said, leaving the matter to rest.
They stepped off the stairs and headed in the direction of the Great Hall before the sound of distant footsteps drew Aaron’s attention.
Edith appeared in the doorway, her cheeks slightly flushed, her braided hair still adorned with those small white flowers. Her eyes caught Aaron’s first, and she paused, her expression carefully composed in the particular way she had perfected over the past weeks.
“Forgive me,” she said, addressing the whole group. “The examination came unplanned, and it lasted longer than expected.”
“Och.” Scarlett was excited at once. “We thought ye left early for the fair,” she said warmly, crossing to embrace her again. “Pray tell, did it go well?”
“Aye,” Edith said, something genuine flickering briefly across her face before she caught herself. “Quite well.”
Aaron said nothing. He watched her accept Scarlett and Robert’s pleasant remarks, taking in the easy warmth she showed everyone in the room except him.
It doesnae matter, he reminded himself again, but it helped considerably less than it had the first dozen times.
“Shall we?” Robert asked, gesturing toward the corridor that led out of the castle.
Scarlett looped her arm through Edith’s, already chattering about the stalls they had planned to visit first, and the group began moving toward the entrance.
Aaron fell into step slightly behind them, his jaw still tight, his thoughts still circling back to an embrace that had lasted perhaps three seconds and had somehow managed to occupy the better part of his morning.
Caelan walked alongside him, saying nothing for once, though the look he gave him carried more understanding than Aaron wanted from him.
“Say it,” Aaron muttered, unable to bear the silence any longer.
“Say what?”
“Whatever it is ye’re nae sayin’.”
Caelan’s mouth curved faintly. “I have said nothin’ at all, me Laird.”
“Aye,” Aaron said grimly. “And that is precisely how it should stay.”
Ahead of them, Edith’s laugh carried back faintly on the morning air, bright and entirely unbothered by anything that had happened in the healer’s chamber.
Aaron’s jaw tightened further as they stepped out into the courtyard and headed to a fair he had absolutely no interest in attending.
He suspected the day was going to test his composure considerably more than he was prepared for.
CHAPTER THIRTY
The fair was alive with color and sound, laughter echoing through the open space as children ran freely between the stalls.
Edith breathed in, letting it all wash over her.
The smell of roasted chestnuts mixed with fresh bread filled the air. Bright fabrics spread across every cart, and musicians tuned their instruments before beginning to play.
