Page 31 of When the Laird Conquers

She supposed there were worse things to be called, even if he was saying it in a frosty tone.

A flush heated her face, adding to the warmth of thinking about those stirring remarks last night: “Will ye be caught in the shadows with me, lass? Will ye press yerself against me by the trainin’ yard, for all the men to see? Will ye gasp as I lean in and whisper things in yer ear to make ye blush? Will ye sit in me lap when I invite a gatherin’ of people here? Will ye wriggle against me, so all who see ye ken that ye’re desperate to be alone with me?”

Had he known what those words would do to her? Had he known that she would not be able to forget or shake them from her mind?

I will not give him the satisfaction of seeing me squirm.

She tilted her chin up. “There was no rule about opening the curtains, my Laird. It is no good to always be in the dark.” She hardened her tone. “Indeed, my eyes have been hurting. I have had to strain them so much to see where I’m going.”

“Eyes adjust,” he argued.

“And you don’t?” she challenged.

There might have been a momentary smirk there, beneath his beard, but his grumbling voice made her doubt herself as he replied, “Careful, Sunshine. Ye’re forgettin’ that ye’re a guest here, and I didnae agree to ye makin’ changes.”

“You didn’t say no when I mentioned my rule to help run the castle.”

“We both ken that this isnae what ye meant.” He took a step closer. “Daenae take liberties, lass. Daenae overstep. If somethin’ is a certain way, it’s that way for a reason.”

All of her boldness faltered. She had not considered that. She had seen a problem and fixed it, not pausing to think why the curtains might be drawn in the first place.

“Of course, my Laird,” she mumbled. “I just thought… Never mind what I thought. But Lizzy has enjoyed being able to see everything. She just loves staring, taking in everything around her.”

“Is that so?”

Gordon leaned in as if he meant to kiss the top of the baby’s head, but Lizzy turned away from him, pulling a face. She might have been just six months old, but she certainly had some strong opinions.

“I would not take it personally,” Agnes said with a laugh. “I fear she has decided that a beard is not for her. I cannot blame her; I have always believed that you cannot trust a man with a beard, for you will forever wonder what he is hiding. Usually, it is just a weak jaw, but you never know.”

Gordon stepped back, frowning. “She didnae hate it when she tried to pull it from me face.”

“Perhaps she was trying to get rid of it,” Agnes teased.

Gordon grunted. “Aye, well, from now on, daenae change anythin’.”

“I shall do my best.” Agnes put on her brightest smile.

“See that ye do,” he muttered, walking off.

As far as reprimands went, that had not been nearly as bad as she had anticipated. But as she watched him go, admiring the ripple of muscles across his back and the way the sunlight added warmth to his dark hair, she half-wished that he would stay a little longer, even if it was just to shout at her.

For who knew when he might seek her out again?

Or would she see him only in her dreams from now on, and hear his stirring whispers only in her memory?

12

Eyes bloodshot from a long night in the tower, his mind settled in a fragile semblance of peace, though his body ached all over, Gordon splashed cold water on his face to wake himself up. He had only managed to get a couple of hours of sleep, and it showed.

That lass is goin’ to kill me if I cannae get her out of me head.

He paused and frowned at his reflection in the small mirror above the basin.

“Hidin’ a weak jaw, eh?” He snorted a laugh, running his fingers through his beard.

But that was no good reason to shave it off. He knew what he looked like underneath, and it didn’t bother him if Agnes thought otherwise. What did bother him, though he could not explain why, was the idea that Lizzy would turn away because of it.

I scratched her when I just wanted to comfort her. I made her cry instead of smile.