“No’ yet, but ye want to,” he declared with a devilish grin.
She licked her lips. He was not wrong. She had been thinking about their stolen kisses and wanting them to happen again ever since. But she could not admit to such wanton needs. She rolled her lips inward, trying to think of what she should say to deter him.
“Come walk with me,” he stated, his hands dropping from her waist, and he entwined his fingers in hers, pulling her out of the hidden alcove.
She tugged her hand, looking down the corridor.
“Dinna fash about your brother and Gwen. They are,” he tilted his head. “How shall I say, otherwise occupied.”
Her eyes widened when she figured out what he meant.
He laughed. “They are still newly married. ’Tis only natural.”
“’Tis the middle of the day.”
He waggled his eyebrows. “When temptation strikes, ye must take it.” His eyes lowered to her lips.
Was he going to kiss her again? She had to fight the urge to close her eyes and lean into him, waiting for his mouth to claim hers.
“Let us go outside. The gardens are calling.”
“Are they?”
“Well, mayhap no’, but I saw ye admiring them earlier. I thought ye would like it.”
She nodded and gave him a smile, allowing him to tug her down the hall. “I would verra much enjoy that.”
Outside the sun was shining, but the air was crisp. Instinctively, she let go of Alexander’s hand and wrapped herarms around herself. She should have grabbed her shawl from her room first before coming out.
Concern creased his brows. “Are ye chilled? Here,” he tore off his waistcoat and wrapped it around her shoulders. “This should help.”
“Thank ye.” She grabbed the lapels and pulled them in close. The coat smelled like Alexander, and she couldn’t help herself. She inhaled his scent, which reminded her of the woods with a touch of spice.
They made their way around the back of the castle to where the entrance to the garden stood. Two heavy wooden doors marked the entry. They were so tall, they even towered over Alexander.
Pushing them open, he led her inside; he placed his hand lightly at her back.
“Which way do ye want to go first?”
Clarissa nibbled her lip as she studied the directions to decide which one she wanted to explore first. “Left,” she said, choosing the path that had more fauna than hedge.
He smiled. “Excellent choice.” He offered her his elbow and she slid her arm in his as they leisurely made their way deeper into the garden.
She commented on a few of the blooms familiar to her because Nicholas had them as a hearty mix to live through the cooler days of fall.
“Ye ken a lot about flowers,” he quipped.
“Nicholas has always had a soft spot for his flowers. The more rare, the more interesting he found them. He spent so many hours in his greenhouse trying to get them to grow and bloom.” The wind blew a tendril of hair into her face, and she swept it behind her ear.
“No’ so much now that he and Gwen are married, but when I wanted to engage Nicholas in conversation that I kenned he would find interesting, I made sure I was prepared.”
“How so?”
“Our library at Huntly is filled with books about fauna, flowers, plants, trees. Everything to do with gardening. Nicholas chose each one. I read them all multiple times, memorizing the types of flowers, what they needed to thrive, their native climates and environs.”
“I bet Nicholas really enjoyed engaging in those conversations with ye.”
She shrugged. “I believe so. I enjoyed them as well. The information was interesting even if I am no’ interested in gardening myself. I just wanted Nicholas to ken I supported him. That I was there for him, no matter what he was going through.” It also allowed her some time for adult conversation since so much of her time was spent with her younger siblings.
