Page 53 of In Bed with her Highland Foe

She sighed and looked away. She should feel warm and thankful that Gilchrist was sending guards after her, but instead, she was furious. If he was so concerned about her welfare, could he not have come to dinner himself?

“Dinnae follow me,” she said coolly and turned to walk up the stairs again, yet she heard their boots behind her on the steps. She halted halfway up and turned to look at them with raised eyebrows. “Why are ye still here?”

“The captain said ye wouldnae like it,” the latter explained dutifully. “He said we were nae tae listen if ye sent us away.”

“And who has more power in this castle? Gilchrist or me?” she asked, folding her arms. The younger of the two guards had the decency to look guilty, but the other continued on with his puffed-out chest.

“I have me orders, me lady. By following them, I obey the captain, and I keep me Lady safe.” He bowed his head to her.

“In the name of the wee man above,” she muttered and turned once more, hurrying up the stairs. She moved increasingly fast for all she wanted to do was escape them. She snatched up the skirt of her gown and sprinted when she reached the landing, hurrying to her chamber. The guards followed but were forced to go at a slower pace because of their pikes.

When she reached her chamber, she flung the door open and hid inside the room, slamming the door shut behind her. Poor Helen sat up on the ottoman from where she had been tidying the jewelry box.

“What’s wrong?” Helen cried in panic.

“He didnae come,” Kyven said with a sudden gasp. Helen frowned, clearly having no idea what or who she was talking about.

Gilchrist finished his trencher and pushed it away on the table, stretching out his injured arm and testing the stitches. They still pulled at his skin and his arm was sore, but it was better than it had been that morning.

Lottie jumped up onto the table beside him and licked his plate clean for him.

“Dear God,” Aaden said with a sigh from the other side of the small table in Gilchrist’s chamber. “I never thought ye would become so attached to that thing.”

“Her,” Gilchrist corrected. “She’s nae a thing.” Aaden just raised his eyebrows, a glimmer of humor in his expression.

Gilchrist stroked Lottie’s back and she purred at his touch.

“So? How did it go when Kyven came tae check on ye? Werenae ye supposed tae be bathing?”

“Stop looking so amused,” Gilchrist warned.

“Cannae help it.” Aaden sat back, looking mightily pleased with himself. In spite of his words, he pushed his nearly empty plate forward, allowing the cat to pick at what remained of the chicken on his plate.

Gilchrist had not told Aaden the particulars of that morning and he had no intention of doing so. It was a pleasant memory, the way that Kyven had looked at him, giving him more confidence than he’d ever felt before in her presence.

There was hunger in her eyes, aye, even if she tried tae ignore it.

The gentleness of her fingers as she’d helped him wash, the seductiveness of it had made his mind wild, his gut tight, and his length hard. He had a feeling he’d be indulging in pleasant dreams of Kyven tonight when he slept.

“So, why are we hiding in yer chamber tonight?”

“Too injured tae attend the feast,” Gilchrist said simply, reaching for his glass of mead.

“Nothing tae dae with wanting Kyven tae wonder where ye are then?” Aaden asked, his smile growing. “This is good, ye’re starting tae play games of yer own now.”

“I thought ye had come tae keep me company. Nae needle me.”

“I ken, I ken.” Aaden held up his hands in innocence. “In truth, I came tae talk tae ye about this situation.” He leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. “If Larry has attacked ye at Laird Shay’s orders, there is nothing tae stop them trying again.”

“I ken.” Gilchrist downed what was left in his cup of mead.

“If they ken ye saw him as well, they have all the more reason tae attack again and fast, tae try and silence ye.”

“I ken that too.” Gilchrist topped up his mead and Aaden’s as well.

“So? What are we going tae dae?”

Gilchrist had no answer for this one. He could claim he’d be on his guard next time, but he was always on his guard, and he was no fool. If Shay wanted him dead, then he was simply going to keep trying.