Page 107 of Tales of Highland Loyalty

William just nodded. He barely dared to look up. Inside, a voice in his head was yelling for him to get as far away and as fast away as he could. But William remained ramrod, seated where he was.

"Take yer time," he heard his voice say, even a little flippantly. It betrayed the nerves that he felt.

Taking a dram from a nearby jug, William attempted to wash away his nerves. It was not like him to have qualms of any sort. As the hot scotch washed down his gullet, William enjoyed its mellow hit.

"It's a wee bit early," said Nora unexpectedly.

William looked up. She was standing right before him. At some point, she must have opened the curtains, but William had not noticed. Berating himself, William stumbled to his feet. Close up, Nora was even more beguiling than before. And more beautiful.

Coming closer, Nora pressed her head toward him, her ringleted hair hanging down. Her curls spiraled like silk, begging for his touch. They weren't all that tempted him. The sheen of her skin drew him in. Instinctively, he moved to touch it. But then stopped.

She was too sweet, too perfect. And far too close to him. She watched him drink, an amused glint in her eye. Flustered, William stopped and looked over.

"I-I am sorry. Och, do ye want a dram?" asked William, proffering toward her the whiskey jug.

But Nora shook her head. "I said it's a wee bit early," she said, her green eyes dancing. Moments ago, she had been asleep, but that was washed away, and now, a wide smile lit up her quizzical face.

"I ken," said William, not realizing. He took another swig. "I didnae mean to wake ye from yer sleep."

"I mean for the whiskey," said Nora, watching him coyly as he drank.

Self-consciously, William put the goblet down. "Ach," he said, a burn reddening his cheeks. It was not the whiskey.

Smiling, Nora moved a little closer. "Is this what passes for breakfast in yer part o' the world?"

She smiled, enchanting him. William felt a buzz of energy scoot through him. She was soft and perfect. Every inch of her called out to be stroked. And the way her hair dangled down in front of him was almost too much to resist.

This morning she was more casually dressed, in a white-and-blue arisaid, with her hair loosed around her shoulders. The thick paste that had been on her face the previous night was gone, and she was aglow and natural.

Maybe a bit too natural. William could not help it. His hands strayed near. Now he was about an inch from her, and if he weren't careful, they would be touching. A barbed ripple ran all through him. The very thought of touching Nora filled him with heat.

"Well then," said Nora, her green eyes shining. "I presume ye dinnae just get a lass from her bed for no reason."

Nora fixed him with her sharpest gaze as the scent of flowers filled the air. Outside, spring was budding, and William wished for nothing more than to see it with her by his side.

"I..." began William.

He had an overwhelming desire to say, I did. Standing there, in the first light of day, he felt suddenly and completely glad of his decision to wake Nora up. But of course, he didn't say any such thing. Instead, he just stood there, a smile growing under his nose.

"I wanted to show ye the clan," he said, finally, when he could not stare into her eyes anymore.

The smell of daffodils burst through from somewhere, melting with the golden light. William was deliriously happy. It was so early, and it was just her and him. Not even the servants, usually banging around at all times, were present to spoil it.

Watching him, Nora opened her eyes.

"What, all o' it?" she said, her green eyes brimming with fun. William was about to say something when Nora grabbed her mantle. "Och, alright!"

And with no further ado, the pair of them were walking down the hall toward the stables. But as William walked with Nora at his side, he sensed an alteration. Her high spirits and sense of fun, which had just been rising, flattened off. And by the time they approached the stables, she was suddenly tense.

"Are ye alright, hen?" William was forced to ask, as Nora glanced around, looking suspicious, into the morning skies.

Suddenly, William was put on the back foot. A moment ago, everything had been so smooth, yet now, it seemed Nora was reticent about being alone with him.

"Aye, I am braw," said Nora coldly. She was by now mounted on her horse, but when William looked at her, she seemed anything but alright. A strange malaise seemed to have grabbed her, making her turn and jump at the slightest thing.

She doesnae want to be alone with me, William concluded sadly. He watched as Nora mounted her horse, an elegant gray mare, and sat atop of it, awaiting his instruction. Watching her, William pulled a frown. He would never work women out. Why on earth had she gone from being happy and pleased to sullen and tense instantly?

As he tried to work out what had gone wrong, William mounted his horse. By now the light was piercing and strong. Sunlight scratched his eyes, flooding in through the gaps in the stables. And as they silently rode out, it grew stronger until it was almost completely impossible to see.