Page 42 of The Dragon Laird’s Obsession

“It is a cold night,” he said instead. The words sounded useless even to him, but it was all he could give her. “Ye should retire early, Ma’am.”

Ailis stared at him, blinking. Then her mouth pulled into a tight line. “As ye wish, Me Laird,” she answered with a note of finality he appreciated.

At least, it put an end to the madness he was letting drag him down.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

By the next afternoon, Ailis had found another way to busy herself and distract her thoughts from the Laird.

She kept wondering why he had dismissed her last night.

And why didnae he speak of the kiss? Does he think me careless with me virtue?

Her cheeks burned with the thoughts, and she tried to ignore the flush spreading through her as well.

The morning had been too full of people, questions, and memories she did not wish to examine. Gordon had barely spoken to her since the previous night in the garden, and somehow, his silence had become more irritating than his temper.

She needed something to keep her hands occupied.

Paintin’ would do.

She slipped through the kitchen passage and into the storage room beside it, expecting to find Beth’s usual collection of linen, flour sacks, old baskets, and household odds and ends. Instead, she found Beth standing with both hands planted firmly on her hips.

And beneath the long wooden table, two enormous eyes stared back at her. Beth sighed. “Come out now, Lileas.”

Ailis pressed her lips together to keep from laughing. “What has she done?”

Beth looked toward her. “Stolen bread.”

A tiny rustle came from beneath the table. Ailis crouched slowly, peering beneath it.

Lileas had curled herself into as small a ball as possible, her dark curls spilling around her face, one hand clutching a crust of bread as though it were a precious treasure she meant to defend with her life.

Ailis’ heart softened. “And if she comes out,” Ailis asked, looking at Beth, “she may keep the bread, right?”

Beth tried to maintain her stern expression but failed. “Aye,” she said, shaking her head. “She may keep the bread.”

Lileas considered this arrangement carefully. “Truly?” she asked.

“Truly,” Beth assured her.

The child crawled forward, and Ailis held out her hand. “Come along, wee one.”

Lileas took it, still clutching her bread in the other.

Beth sighed. “Ye encourage her.”

“I didnae do such a thing,” she denied in a light tone, chuckling.

“Ye did.”

“I merely believe a woman ought to have bread when she is hungry.”

Beth snorted. “Ye will spoil her.”

Ailis glanced at the little girl.

Lileas had already begun eating her crust with great seriousness. “She deserves spoilin’.”