Page 92 of The Laird’s Sinful Claim

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

"David!"

Elinor found him in the courtyard, preparing to ride out yet again.

She'd watched from her solar window as he'd strode across the yard, barking orders at guards, his shoulders rigid with tension. Watched as a stable hand brought his horse. Watched as he checked his weapons with the practiced efficiency of a man who'd done it a thousand times.

And something inside her snapped.

She was down the stairs and across the courtyard before she could think better of it, her skirts swishing around her ankles as she moved.

He turned at the sound of her voice, surprise flickering across his face. It was the first time she'd seen any real emotion from him in days.

"Elinor. Ye should be inside."

"Should I?" She stopped a few feet away, suddenly aware that half the courtyard was watching them. Guards pretending not to listen. Servants slowing their work. "According to whose orders?"

"Mine." His jaw tightened. "It's nae safe."

"It's never safe, apparently." She could hear the edge in her voice, sharp and bitter. "That's your excuse for everything now, isn't it?"

"It's nae an excuse. It's the truth." He glanced at the watching guards, then back at her. "Can we discuss this inside?"

"No. Because you're leaving." She gestured to his horse. "Again. Like you have every day for the past week. Riding out to check defenses or patrol borders or whatever excuse you're using today to avoid me."

"I'm nae avoidin' ye. I'm protectin' ye."

"By locking me in the castle like a prisoner?" Her voice rose despite her attempts to control it. "By posting guards at every door? By refusing to let me leave, refusing to speak to me.”

"That's nae fair."

"Isn't it?" Elinor took a step closer, anger and hurt warring in her chest. "Tell me, David. What exactly have you said to me in the past five days? What conversations have we had? What explanations have you given for why I'm suddenly a prisoner in my own home?"

"Ye're nae a prisoner."

"Then what am I?" She spread her hands. "Because I can't leave the castle. Can't go to the village. Can't even walk in the gardens without an escort of guards following me everywhere. If that's not a prisoner, what is it?"

David's hands curled into fists at his sides. "It's temporary. Until I'm sure."

"Sure of what? That Langley's men are gone? That there are no more threats?" Her laugh was bitter. "There will always be threats, David. There will always be something to worry about. Some reason to lock me away and keep me safe."

"Aye. There will." His voice was hard now, matching hers. "Because ye were nearly taken from me! Because I had tae watch a blade at yer throat and ken that if I'd been one second slower, ye'd be gone. Dead or worse. So forgive me if I'm takin' extra precautions tae make sure that daesnae happen again!"

The raw pain in his voice made her falter. But only for a moment.

"Extra precautions," she repeated. "Is that what you call this? Shutting me out? Treating me like I'm made of glass? Refusing to talk to me about what you're thinking or feeling or planning?"

"Christ, I'm protectin' ye."

She took a step closer. "When's the last time you looked at me, David? Really looked at me? When's the last time we had a conversation that wasn't you barking orders?”

"Elinor—"

"You kissed me," she continued, the words tumbling out now. "Right after the attack. In our bedchamber. You kissed me like—like it meant something. And then everything went wrong and you've barely looked at me since. Was it just—" Her throat tightened. "Was it just the favor? Just something you did because I asked? Or did it mean something to you too?"

"Of course it meant somethin'." His voice was rough. "But…"

"But what? But it scared you? But it made you realize you actually care about me and that terrifies you?" She pulled her arm free. "So you ran. You've been running for five days. Hiding behind duty and protection and security measures rather than dealing with what's actually happening between us."