Page 36 of Wedded to the Devilish Highlander
Eileen stopped walking.
Piper immediately flushed. “Forgive me, Me Lady. I only meant?—”
“Nay,” Eileen said, holding up a hand. “Ye’re right.”
She took a deep breath. The forest loomed just beyond the stone boundary, where the trees thinned out before thickening again into a tangled underbrush.
“Let’s walk farther,” she suggested.
Piper hesitated. “Is that wise?”
Eileen turned, walking backward as she replied, “I’ll be safe. I have me dirk, remember?”
Piper followed with a muttered prayer. “This is madness.”
They made it to the edge of the trees, where the light filtered through in dappled patches. Eileen could feel some of the tension drain from her limbs as the sun kissed her skin. Out here, she could breathe. She could think.
That was until a sharp voice cracked through the woods like a whip.
“Kilmartin!”
She spun around, her stomach flipping.
Archer was stomping toward them, fury carved into every line of his face.
“I went to yer room to speak with ye, and I found both ye and yer maid gone. For the life of me, I couldnae think where ye might be, but I hardly expected ye to be outside the castle grounds. Ye fair had me worried ye’d been taken.”
Eileen pulled out her dirk with a smile. “I brought this with me.”
“Och, dinnae play with me, lass.” Archer placed a hand on his chest. “I ken ye’re fierce, but are ye really ready to stab one of O’Gunn’s bandits.”
“Why would O’Gunn’s bandits be here to take me?” Eileen asked, suddenly feeling confused and sheepish.
“I dinnae ken if they would, but there’s somethin’ afoot, and until I discover what’s goin’ on, it’s me duty to ensure that ye’re nae kidnapped, especially as I’ve just sent a messenger to yer castle to inform them ye havenae been kidnapped.”
Piper jumped in. “Laird MacLennan, it was?—”
Eileen raised a hand. “No, Piper. Ye dinnae have to pretend and take the blame. It was me who decided on the walk, and I brought ye along with me.”
“Well, that was sensible at least,” Archer acknowledged. “I loathe to think of ye out here alone.”
Eileen almost smiled at seeing his worry for her. He’d arrived quickly to ensure her safety, but he was annoyed. She didn’t swat to antagonize him further when he was being protective, so she pursed her lips before speaking again.
“Ye’re nae to blame,” Archer told the maid. “If I had to guess who was the mastermind behind this little escapade, I would say it was Lady Eileen and nay one else. Will ye go back to the castle while I speak with me betrothed?”
“Aye, Me Laird,” Piper replied. She looked between them, a little uncertain, then turned back toward the keep with her head bowed.
Eileen waited until her maid was out of earshot before squaring her shoulders. “Ye dinnae need to be so worried about me, Me Laird,” she began. “If ye’d gifted me flowers or jewelry, I would be a sittin’ duck, but I have this.” She waved the dirk around.
“Och, watch where ye point it,” Archer complained. “Ye’ll gouge out someone’s eye. I really need to train ye.”
“Ye might find that I’m nae so easily trained,” Eileen jested.
“Och, I kenned that from the moment I met ye. Still, ye cannae keep runnin’ off like this.”
“I wasnae runnin’ off; I was goin’ for a walk with me maid. I’m nae a prisoner in me own castle. Am I, me betrothed?”
“Nae yet,” Archer replied.
