Page 26 of Highland Vows of Betrayal

“If ye wish to ken where my attentions will be, may I remind ye of something?” He bent down and whispered in her ear. “I found ye today giving yer attention to my brother.”

“I was greeting him,” she defended herself hurriedly, yet Noah said nothing more. He merely raised his eyebrows, showing disbelief, then retreated down the stairs. He turned in the corridor, heading in the opposite direction to the dining room.

Scarlett finished descending the stairs but moved slower, clinging to the banister, fearing another fall. As she reached the bottom, she caught sight of Noah disappearing into a meeting room where many men waited, then the door closed behind him and he was gone.

Sighing without understanding why she was disappointed, Scarlett headed for the dining room when, in the doorway, she nearly collided with Ian.

“Ah, Lady Eloise!” He jumped back, increasing the distance between them. “Forgive me, I didnae see you there.”

“’Tis nae matter.” She hesitated to step past him, seeing that the dining table set for supper was quite empty of people. Ian had a plate of food in his hand, clearly intending to leave with it. “Ye arenae eating here?”

“I’m joining the council meeting.” He gestured to the table. “Please, Lady Eloise. Sit, enjoy yer meal. We will join ye another time.” With these final words, he left the room and closed the door behind him.

Scarlett stood still, uncertain about what to do. A steward stood in the corner of the room, holding a jug of liquid, but other than that, she was alone.

This isnae what I expected.

She sat heavily in a chair at the table. She ate golden capon with honeyed carrots and leeks. She found herself staring at the empty chairs; carved backs were beautiful, but she would have preferred to look at a human face. There was always someone in the tavern, and she never imagined she'd miss it.

I would like someone tae talk tae. She looked at the head of the table where Noah should be sitting. The void seemed to stretch on forever until her stomach knotted. The steward approached her and poured her a glass of mead.

“Thank ye.” She took a sip, marveling at how much better it tasted than anything they'd ever had in the tavern, and then reached for the cutlery. She was frozen, unsure which cutlery to pick up. Eloise had taught her about it before she left, but Scarlett's mind had gone blank, and she had no idea what to do.

“Ahem.” The steward cleared his throat before tapping one of the silver forks quietly. Scarlett snatched it up with a smile and turned to face him.

“Thank ye again.”

He returned that smile, revealing a kind face, and then walked back to his side of the room. She was disappointed by the distance he created between them and considered asking him to stay and talk with her.

Maybe this castle is lonelier than I thought.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

“What’s all this?”

Noah turned from the basket prepared for their departure. Beside it were two long satchels he intended to take with them and the crossbow he always carried on his rides.

In the middle of the staircase stood Eloise. She was looking around him at the basket and the bags, her blue eyes wide.

“Are we nae having breakfast?” she asked and pointed toward the dining room.

“We are, but nae here.” He cast a glance to the footman checking the bags, who hurried out to give them a minute alone together. “As I said, Eloise, we will be spending the day together today. I hope ye’re prepared for it.” He smiled broadly, a look that made her tilt her head to the side, her eyes narrowing. “Ye watch me as a sparrowhawk eyes its prey.”

“Aye, I do.”

She slowly walked down the steps, never once taking her eyes off him. There was an intensity in that gaze that had his blood boiling in a good way.

“It is because yer wide grin is making me suspicious, my laird.”

“Noah,” he corrected her, just as a footman returned to take the next bag. He waited for him to leave before he approached his betrothed. He’d planned out this day carefully. She had frustrated him, angered him, and then tormented him all night in his dreams. He hoped to frustrate and anger her today in return.

I have something planned… a way tae challenge her. Maybe then she will learn her place better.

Even as he thought the words, he wasn’t sure it was exactly what he wanted. He rather liked the way Eloise challenged him, refusing to back down. None of his mistresses ever dared to argue with him.

“Noah,” she said his name as requested and gestured to the bags. “Why are ye smiling so much at all of this?”

“Because today we are going tae do things my way.” He placed a hand on his chest, watching as her eyes flicked down to that hand before looking at him once again.