Page 29 of Highland Vows of Betrayal

“Aye,” he agreed, eating as he talked. “I was just a bairn in my father’s arms. He said it would get me used tae riding. Later, he brought me out here himself. I took my first rides on horseback along these paths.” He gestured widely to the forest.

“Ye love it here,” Eloise stated, and he grunted his acknowledgement.

“Yer a fine rider, too. As much as it pains me tae admit it, yer one of the best I’ve seen.”

“Oh, a compliment pains ye? Ouch!” Scarlett clutched her chest as if wounded and fell back on the blanket. Noah’s laughter burst from him suddenly and he leaned forward, realizing how easy it would be to mold their bodies together at that moment.

“Ye are recovered from yer mortal wound?”

“Aye.” She sat up and shook it off, causing him to laugh again. “So, I am one of the best ye have seen.”

“Aye. Where did ye learn tae ride so well? Did yer family teach ye?”

“Er, nae.” Her hesitation caught his interest. She fussed with the food in her lap for a minute. “I’d watched so many people ride that the first time I got on a horse, I did it of my own accord. Someone saw me ride poorly once. He offered to help me.”

“Who was that?”

“A soldier,” Eloise said softly.

“One of yer father’s?” At his words, she nodded hurriedly. “Well, they did a fine job.” Once he was done eating, he reached into the basket and pulled out a honey cake the cook had baked for them. He looked up to find Eloise watching him. “Ye stare, me lady.”

“I merely make an examination of yer character, my laird.”

“How goes yer examination?”

“Nae well at all.” Her overly dramatic grimace started Noah chuckling again.

What is happening? This isnae supposed tae be fun!

“Ye puzzle me.” She tilted her head as if she were that sparrowhawk once again, watching him with rapt attention.

“In what way?”

“Ye seem angry most of the time, enraged even, then ye do thoughtful things like this.” She gestured to the horses and the blanket laden with food, then leaned forward at such an angle he enjoyed a rather nice view of her neckline, though he didn’t mention it. It was his secret indulgence. “Who are ye really, Noah?” she asked softly.

“Ye cannae expect me tae answer that after two days of kenning each other, can ye?” His comment disappointed her, and she sat back. “But by all means, please renew yer position. I had a rather fine view before.”

“Yer insufferable!” she declared, looking down at her neckline.

CHAPTER TWELVE

This was nae supposed tae happen. They’d finished the cake between them and were now onto the fruit as they talked of the clan. Eloise had asked surprising questions about the clan and its financial troubles. Surprisingly, he spoke his mind, even discussing things the council was unsure of, and she listened openly.

“What else is there?” she asked, taking a knife from the basket and cutting the apple in her lap.

“I have told ye much about the Chattan clan already.”

“Ye said yer bride must ken about the clan, nae?” she asked, a smile on her lips. “So, I am learning. What else should I ken?” When his eyes narrowed, she laughed. “Stop looking at me like that.”

“Like what?”

“Like whether tae leave me here in the meadow all alone.”

“Believe me, that is nae what that look meant.” Noah’s voice deepened. She rolled her eyes and paid close attention to her apple.

“Aye, ye look at me the way ye do yer mistresses. Is that what that look means?” Her brows furrowed together. “For some reason, I think yer more likely tae look at me the way a poacher looks at a deer.”

“This is nae that look.”