Page 19 of Seduction in a Kilt

CHAPTER EIGHT

That night, Liam lay in his bed, not far from where Ivy was lying in hers, unable to get her off his mind. Seeing her so defeated she could not even eat a morsel of food was deeply upsetting to him.

Despite all she had been through, and still had to endure if what she said about her brother and his sidekick Hamilton was true, he thought he had never seen such a beautiful woman in his life. There was just something about her that drew him like a moth to a flame. From deep inside him, the urge to protect her came bubbling up unbidden, and he frowned.

Liam felt bad every time she asked him to let her go, but he knew it was stupid. All right, he told himself, she claims we’ll be sending her back tae the hell she’s just escaped from, but there’s only her word fer that. Apart from stokin’ the fire fer her and makin’ sure she’s warm and comfortable, I’m nae prepared tae dae anythin’ more fer her.

He told himself all this over and over, but still sleep eluded him as Ivy danced through his weary mind. He had never felt as connected to a woman as he did to her, and stopping himself from worrying about her was becoming unusually difficult. Life had taught him not to seek love and happiness with a woman, and he had long resolved never to marry.

Bitter experience told him caring about folks was dangerous—the more you loved them, the more the likelihood was that they would be snatched away by death. He had loved his parents, and look what had happened to them, murdered by thieves in front of his and Tadhg’s eyes. And then, four years before, when Tadgh had gotten into serious trouble that threatened his life, Liam had been terrified he would lose his brother too. So, the thought of allowing himself to care for Ivy was out of the question. He would never put himself into that situation.

I cannae let mesel’ get attached tae Ivy. I have tae stay strong and keep me distance. I have a job tae dae here, and I’m gonnae dae it, come what may.

However, despite steeling himself for the unpleasant task ahead, when he saw Ivy the following day, maintaining an emotional distance from her proved highly challenging. The more he saw of her and talked with her, the more he liked her. She was brave and intelligent as well as beautiful.

“Dinnae ask me tae set ye free again,” he warned her as he entered the room and found her sitting at a table beneath a window, drinking tea from an otherwise untouched breakfast tray. He went over to her and inspected the tray. “Ye’ve nae eaten anythin’ again then,” he said, disappointed.

“I told ye, I cannae eat. If ye were bein’ sent back tae a monster ye’d just escaped from, I doubt ye’d be able tae eat either,” she answered quite sharply. He could not argue with that, and his conscience pricked him yet again.

“Even so, Ivy.”

“Ach, Liam, dinnae keep pretendin’ ye care about me. If ye did, ye’d let me go instead of usin’ me tae get yer friend his precious peace. Despite yer kind ways, ye’re really nae better than Carson.”

That hurt. “I’m naethin’ like yer braither,” he growled.

“Then prove it,” she said, shooting him a challenging look over her teacup.

Again, he did not know how to respond, so he sought a change of subject, hoping to lighten the atmosphere.

“I was thinkin’”, he began.

“Och, well done. Are ye waitin’ for a prize?”

He ignored her sarcasm and stoically continued, “I was thinkin’ that ye need new clothes. Ye’ve been wearing that lad’s outfit fer two days now. So, I’ve asked the housekeeper tae find some women’s clothes fer ye tae change intae.”

“What’s the point of that when I’m stayin’ locked up in here?” she asked,

putting down her teacup and looking at him keenly.

“D’ye nae want clean things then?”

“Aye, I want clean things,” she said this time with an air of defeat.

“And I thought ye might like tae bathe as well.”

She jumped to her feet forgetting her angry frown, a beautiful smile transforming her face and tugging at his heart strings. “I’d love tae bathe!”

“Why, I’ve never seen anyone so delighted at the thought of takin’ a bath,” he said jestingly.

“Ye should get out more then,” she told him, her quick wit making him smile. “When can I have me bath?” she asked.

As if on cue, there was a knock at the door. “How about now?” he answered, going over to the door, unlocking it, and opening it to see who was outside. For the next ten minutes or so, he stood guarding the open door as the tub was carried in and set by the fire, followed by servants lugging cans of steaming water and jugs of cold. Bit by bit, the tub was filled.

Just as the footmen were departing, a stout, middle-aged lady with red curls entered. She was carrying an armful of women’s clothing.

To Liam’s surprise, she bobbed a polite curtsey to Ivy and asked, “Where would ye like me tae put these, melady?” Liam realized Knox had given orders for Ivy to be treated as was her due as the sister of a laird, even if she was the enemy.

“Och, wonderful. If ye wouldnae mind just layin’ them on the bed, that would be grand. Thank ye fer bringin’ them up fer me,” Ivy told her gratefully.