Page 34 of The Laird's Secret Bairn

If the scowl on his face wasn’t a hint enough that something was wrong, then his flat tone certainly was.

Stephen had known him long enough to push back on it. He was one of the few people Dougal would allow to do such a thing.

“Ye scowl like a man who’s swallowed a wasp. Even yer mask cannae hide it, me Laird.”

“I’m fine.”

Even Dougal didn’t believe the words.

He did not bother to hide what he was experiencing. There was simply no point when Stephen already knew.

“Fine? Is that the story ye want to go with?”

“I am fine,” he ground out.

“Fine, truly?”

He bit back a growl. “How many times must ye ask the same thing, Stephen? Do ye want to push yer luck?”

“Aye, ye look it. I daenae think I’ve ever seen a man look as fine as ye do right now.” Stephen crossed his arms, entirely too pleased with himself. “I’ve seen the way ye two look at each other, ye ken. Might save us all some trouble if ye admitted it. Maybe Lady Kenna and I should get a betting pool going.”

Dougal gritted his teeth. “Ye should watch yerself. Stephen.”

“I wouldnae say anything unless it was the truth,” Stephen said lightly. “Ye ken that. However, I was joking about the betting pool. Partly.”

And he was right.

Dougal said nothing else. There was nothing he could say anyway.

He turned and left the study, leaving Stephen chuckling behind him, and did not look back to see if Skye had noticed him leave.

Let Lily have the rest of her treasure hunt in peace. She was enjoying herself, and he didn’t want to take that away from her.

But he was going to speak with Skye later that night. That much he was sure of.

He needed distance from the crowd, if only for an hour. The image of her laughing, head tipped back, slender neck bared, wouldn’t leave him. Neither would the ache it stirred inside him.

It was entirely unwelcome.

A month. It is only a month.

But the reminder rang hollow.

If this was how it was going to be after only a few days, then how was it going to be after a month?

Dougal needed to find her tonight and say what he needed to say. Whatever happened after that was up to the fates.

13

The moment had been entirely innocent. Nothing more to it for either her or Stephen, as far as she was concerned.

Stephen had spent most of the time talking about Lily and Dougal. According to him, Dougal was an excellent father.

“Ye ken, he doesnae let just anyone near her.”

She glanced over at Lily, who was giggling up a storm. “Lily?”

“Aye,” Stephen said, nodding towards Dougal. “Tutors come and go. Servants keep their distance, mostly by his order. But he watches ye with her differently than he does the rest. Less like a protective faither and more with relief.”