Page 21 of In Bed with a Highland Liar

Aaden was, indeed, being utterly ridiculous, making a fool of himself to everyone, and Evander and Cameron could hardly contain their laughter seeing him act like that. And yet Lilith found herself smiling just a little despite herself. Aaden was being a fool, yes, but he was being a fool to win her over. He didn’t seem to care about what anyone else would have to say. He didn’t allow embarrassment to hold him back.

From the corner of her eye, Lilith could see her father watching her carefully, undoubtedly to see her reaction. He wasn’t laughing, either. He was only smiling softly, as he always did when he heard that song.

Squinting her eyes to take a better look at the troupe, Lilith found some very familiar faces surrounding Aaden as they played their instruments. That baffled her more than anything else and she couldn’t help but stare, her mouth hanging open in shock.

Are those me faither’s musicians? How did he convince them tae play fer him?

As the song neared its end, Aaden only doubled his efforts, one hand placed over his heart as the other stretched out towards the window where Lilith stood, as though he could reach her through sheer force of will. The song reached its crescendo and Aaden fell to his knees, before singing the last few lyrics softly, gazing up with such earnestness that Lilith couldn’t help but marvel at his performance.

He truly was an actor, she thought. He had been acting the part ever since he had stepped foot in the castle.

The moment he was done, the room erupted in cheers. Everyone but Lilith clapped, and Evander even goaded him to sing more, too amused by the performance to let it end so quickly.

When the room quieted, Aaden shouted up at Lilith. “Will ye allow me tae court ye?”

Lilith’s first instinct was to say no, but Freya grabbed her hand before she could speak. “Please let him, Lilith,” her sister begged, eyes wide and pleading. “Look at him! He truly wants it.”

Lilith glanced at Aaden through the window, taking in his cocky stance, arms open wide, and that infuriating grin on his face that told Lilith he already thought he had won. She wanted to say no just out of principle and to wipe that smug smile off his face, but in the end, she only gave a heavy sigh.

She didn’t know if she was more frustrated with Aaden for putting her through this or with herself for finding it a little endearing. Surely, she must be losing her mind, she thought, for even staying there for the entire performance.

But no one had done such a thing for her before and no matter how much she wanted to find a fault with this, she couldn’t. It was a ridiculous show, but that only made the effort even more amiable.

“Fine,” she said to Freya and then turned to shout out of the window. “Ye may court me. But it doesnae mean I will wed ye.”

Once again, the room erupted in cheers and the musicians began to play once more in celebration as Aaden danced around them. He reminded Lilith of a goat, the way he jumped back and forth, and she couldn’t help but wonder if she had made a mistake.

Her heartbeat quickened at the sight of him now, her stomach tying itself into a knot. She had to admit there was a thrill to being pursued like this, excitement thrumming in her veins like never before. But those feelings were dangerous. It was better to push them down, repress them until she no longer felt them at all.

She turned around when it was impossible to contain her smile any longer. She didn’t want anyone to see it. In fact, she didn’t even want to see it herself.

CHAPTER TEN

There was a lake within the castle grounds, small and shallow, that had been Lilith’s sanctuary for many years. Whenever she found herself twisting and turning in bed at night, unable to sleep, she would go there and sit by the water, letting the breeze lull her into calmness.

It was one of those restless nights when sleep seemed entirely out of reach. She couldn’t stop thinking about Aaden and his ridiculous performance. She couldn’t stop thinking about the permission she had given him to court her and the fact that it may have been a mistake, after all.

Aaden had sat next to her afterwards while they had their meal, constantly teasing her and trying to engage her in conversation, and under any other circumstances, Lilith would have made plenty of scathing remarks for him that would have worked towards dissuading him from pursuing her any further. But for the first time in her life, she had been at a loss for words, stumbling over them like a foolish girl who was infatuated for the first time.

Why did I let them convince me? Why did I agree tae this?

As much as she hated to admit it, Aaden did have some charm about him that drew people close. She had tried to resist it, of course; at first, it hadn’t even been difficult. But his unabashed foolishness and her sister’s words had led her to agree to give him a chance.

Then again, she had only promised him that she would let him court her. It didn’t mean she had to give him anything else. Marriage was still out of the question.

Swinging her legs off the mattress, Lilith stood and dressed hastily, pulling her arisaid over her shoulders. Though it was warm in the room, the small fire that still burned doing wanders to keep out the chill, she could hear the wind outside that was bound to seep into her bones the moment she stepped foot out of the room.

Despite the chill, the sky was clear that night, The moon, almost full, shone brightly over the castle and though Lilith hardly needed the light to find her way to the lake, it helped her move faster, illuminating her way.

A good night tae see the stars.

Indeed, the sky was full of them and she looked up as she walked, trying to trace all the constellations her father had taught her. It was only when she neared the lake that she lowered her gaze once more, but the shadow she saw there brought her to an abrupt halt.

No one else came there so late at night, at least she had never encountered anyone there before. She was used to having the place for herself and now that there was someone else there, she didn’t want to share it.

It didn’t take her long to see it was none other than Aaden, his face glowing pale golden under the moonlight. She took a moment to truly study him now that she had the chance, as there was no one there to catch her in the act and Aaden hadn’t yet spotted her. Objectively, she knew he was a handsome man. His golden hair framed his eyes, curling lightly by the sharp edge of his jaw. His lips were full and though Lilith would never admit it to anyone, not even herself, she had wondered a few times what it would be like to kiss them.

He was most handsome now, of course, that he wasn’t speaking.