Page 40 of Fire in his Highland Heart

“A dinner, more like. Tae thank ye, for savin’ Mirellain’s life.”

She smiled. “I get the feelin’ ye willnae take nay for an answer.”

He gave a wry smile. “Well, I can be very convincing.”

“Ye certainly can,” she agreed. He was still holding on to her, and she was loving the embrace, though she didn’t want to admit it. Blake was tall and strong, and she couldn’t deny the fact that she’d spent many an hour daydreaming about the time he caught her when she fell from the ladder in the library.

“So... tomorrow night, then?” he asked.

She nodded. “Tomorrow. I uh, I do look forward tae seein’ ye,” she said softly.

He kissed her once more, all lightness and sweetness. “And I ye.”

She giggled, a sound with which she was most unfamiliar. “I uh...I should get back tae work. Chores, and medicine, and all,” she said.

Blake cleared his throat and released her from his arms. “Of course, aye. Um...aye,” he stumbled over his words.

Arguen smiled again. “Dinnae ye worry, Blake. I’ll be happy tae see ye tomorrow night in the library,” she said. With that, she turned, and left the study.

To her surprise, James was still outside, leaning against the wall, studying the apple core with one eye open.

“What’re ye still doin’ here?” she asked. Part of her wondered if he could hear what they were saying, or worse, hear the kiss.

“I can take ye back tae the kitchens.”

Arguen shook her head. “Nay, I think I ken me way ‘round the castle now. But thank ye, James.”

“Anythin’ for yer ladyship,” he said.

She glared at him over her shoulder before she made her way back to the kitchens. When she was well out of sight and around the corner, she slumped against the stone wall, holding one arm across her stomach while her other hand went up to touch her lips reflexively. Had that really just happened? Had the handsome, brooding laird of the castle just kissed her like that, and then asked her to a private dinner in the library? She felt all giddy and lightheaded. Still, this was all for her, and she would tell no one, not even Mrs. Kinney.

When she walked back into the kitchens, she was trying desperately hard to mask her true emotions. Mrs. Kinney seemed to suspect something, but said nothing. After all, she’d seen the way Blake made eyes at her. ‘Twas only a matter of time, in her opinion.

Arguen checked on the bread she’d left on the windowsill, covered with a small tea towel.

“Och, ye need more time,” she said to herself, then turned around and leaned against the long wooden table.

Mrs. Kinney looked at her suspiciously. “So, what did his lairdship want from ye?” she asked.

Arguen cocked her head and regarded her with a curious gaze. “What’s this tone I hear?” she asked, half-joking.

“A curious one,” Mrs. Kinney answered simply.

Arguen smiled. “Och, he just wanted me tae check on Mirellain. The sickness is gone, aye, but she still needs tae get her strength up.”

That answer seemed to satisfy the older woman for the moment, and Arguen turned back to her bread dough on the windowsill. This was a most delicious little secret that filled her heart with such joy, and she was not going to share it with anyone just yet. Also, there was the more practical matter that if it was heard that Arguen attended a private dinner in the library with the laird of the castle, her good fortune could change in an instant. People would not hesitate to call her a whore and cast her out. No, she had too many good things going for her at the moment, and she was not willing to compromise. Not anymore.

* * *

James slunk into the study after Arguen left, wondering what was happening. She’d left in rather high spirits, a bit too high for a healer who was worked to the bone.

He was a little surprised to see Blake standing by the window, looking out, not down at the garden to where his daughter played, but out into the sky. Clearly his mind was somewhere else, and it seemed he liked that somewhere else, as there was the faintest hint of a smile on his face, one James hadn’t seen in nearly four years.

He whistled to get his friend’s attention, shaking Blake out of his reverie. The laird blinked his eyes a couple times before looking over at James. That smitten look was replaced by the usual sour one.

“What could ye possibly want now, James?” he asked, not even trying to hide the exasperation.

“Just wonderin’ why ye needed a private audience with the healer.”