Page 54 of A Hellion for the Highland Hawk
A bright grin spread across Adeline’s face, a look in her eyes that seemed to say,I knew it!
It would probably be quite the disappointment once Nancy pulled her aside and explained the situation properly, but she couldn’t very well do that with so many other people around. Especially Isla, who didn’t seem to realize that the betrothal was a ruse.
“Is Jane not here?” Nancy asked, eager to steer the conversation away from engagements and such.
Adeline smiled. “She’s just bathing Sylvia before dinner. We didn’t know when you were going to arrive, but I saw you coming up the road and thought one of us should greet you.” She cast a more professional smile at Hunter. “My husband is in Laird Culloch’s study, if you want to join them? I think they’ve got the good whiskey out.”
“I will, thank ye,” he replied.
“Well then, let’s get you all inside and settled,” she said cheerfully, before turning and leading the way across the courtyard.
Hunter’s hand didn’t stray from Nancy’s back, his body slightly turned toward her as if he meant to protect her from some unseen threat, his other hand resting on the pommel of his broadsword.
There was something so… intensely powerful about being within the sphere of his protection that she couldn’t even tease him for being on high alert inside an ally’s castle.
She liked to think of herself as independent, occasionally to a fault, able to take care of herself no matter what, but she’d never in her life felt as safe as she did in that moment. Almost like she could breathe for the first time.
“Nancy, shall I show you to your room?” Adeline asked, as they paused in the entrance hall. “I picked the best view for you.”
Hunter leaned in, whispering, “Go on, ye should rest after our journey. I heard ye complainin’ for miles, so ye must be sore.” He leaned in closer still, his lips nearly grazing Nancy’s ear. “I’ll see ye again at the cèilidh.”
With that, he withdrew his hand, though he didn’t move away until Adeline took her by the arm and guided her toward a drafty, spiraling stairwell. Even then, Nancy could feel his presence, his touch still tingling up her spine, as if he were still at her side.
“So… you found yourself a Scotsman, too?” Adeline asked with a grin, once they were out of sight.
Nancy puffed out a breath. How on earth was she going to explain this?
CHAPTER 22
As it turned out,Adeline was more understanding of the situation than Nancy had expected. The not-so-missing woman had seemed disappointed, perhaps, but not judgmental.
“It makes sense, believe me. You’ll never be as safe here as you are when you’re with a laird, and if this is how he can protect you, I’m all for it,”Adeline had said with a kindly smile.“And as long as he’s part of the scheme, then that’s… well, that’s all good. The 1700s aren’t for everyone, Nancy, and there’s no shame in that.”
Naturally, Nancy had neglected to mention that there had been… an event between her and Hunter, fearing that might encourage Adeline’s idea that every time-traveler should fall hopelessly in love with a sexy Highland laird. Or worse, that it might encourage her own tangled-up thoughts of Hunter.
After a pleasant tea and some shared stories of the 21stcentury, as well as a brief catch-up on the years that Adeline had been ‘missing,’ the truly lovely Lady Gibson had left Nancy to rest.
Perhaps it was the sea air that drifted in through the windows or the exhausting journey from Castle Lochlann or some latent effect of being in the wrong era, but by the time Nancy awoke, it was pitch black outside.
She looked around for a clock but couldn’t find one, though someone had clearly come in while she was sleeping to light the fire. Puzzled, she caught sight of a piece of paper that had been pushed under the door, and went to pick it up.
Didn’t want to disturb you. You’ve missed dinner, but if you’re hungry, just ask the guard outside for something to eat. If you’d like a bath, ask him, and he’ll arrange that too. Looking forward to meeting you; I’ve heard so much! Jane.
Rubbing her bleary eyes, Nancy set the note down on her bed and paused, unable to decide if she was hungry or not. Her stomach gave a quiet rumble of encouragement.
“Why did no one wake me?” she mumbled, thinking more of Hunter than the Clark sisters.
The cèilidh was tomorrow, so she knew she hadn’t missed that, but she’d assumed—perhaps wrongly—that Hunter would at least stop by to check on her. After all, he’d been so staunchly protective in the courtyard.
Shaking off her disappointment, she padded over to the door and slowly eased it open.
Sure enough, there were two guards stationed outside her bedroom, on the opposite side of the hallway. One looked like he might be asleep on his feet, but the other raised his head at the creak of the hinges. A flicker of surprise crossed his face, as if he hadn’t expected to be called upon tonight.
“Miss Kane.” He bowed his head. “Are ye well? Can I fetch ye somethin’?”
Nancy felt a little bit bad, sending him off to get her some dinner, but Janehadtold her to if she was hungry.
“Would it be possible to get something to eat? It’s fine if not. I guess everyone in the kitchen is probably asleep by now.”
