Page 24 of A Temptress in Tartan
Lachlan nodded. “Your families will be overjoyed to see you on the morrow.”
“Aye,” they all agreed.
Lachlan signaled them to head up the bluff, toward the building in the distance. He waited for Elizabeth to lead her horse up the path first, when Roland strode up beside her.
Her heart sank but she offered him a tight smile. As much as she had thought she loved Roland in the past, his presence irritated her now. She’d never realized how much he expected from her—her attention, her laughter, her agreement with everything he said or did. But at least she knew how to deal with him. He was safe, predictable, familiar, and . . . so unlike her husband.
She looked back over her shoulder at the man behind her and a fresh stab of confusion moved through her. She still didn’t trust him, but she’d seen a different side of him on their journey across the Firth. He’d been brave beyond compare to dive into the icy water and save the fishermen. He’d been relentless in his efforts to try to bring Dillon back from a watery grave. He’d been protective of her when the ship had encountered extreme weather, and yet she’d also seen a strange vulnerability in his eyes every time Roland drew near.
Elizabeth pushed thoughts of her husband aside, refusing to allow him to disturb her. Forcing interest into her voice she turned to Roland. “Will you stay in Aberlady for the night along with the fishermen, or continue on to Edinburgh?”
“Since I cannot make it all the way to the city before nightfall, I think it would be best to stay and start off fresh in the morning,” Roland replied as they continued up the path with the horse trailing behind them. He leaned closer to her, touching her arm. “Why are you with that . . . traitor? Leave him. Come with me.”
“Nay, Roland.” Elizabeth gently pulled her arm away.
“Why are you loyal to a man who is supposed to be your enemy?” She saw pleading in his brown eyes. “I can offer you so much more, give you the life you deserve.”
“I’m married, Roland. Not even you can change that fact.” Elizabeth looked back over her shoulder once more and met Lachlan’s disconcerting gaze. An uncomfortable wave of guilt came over her at the realization she had considered Roland’s offer for a heartbeat before dismissing it. Her response surprised and confused her. Quickly, she glanced away, summoning indifference. “Your path takes you to Edinburgh, Roland, mine to Whittingehame Castle. I don’t want to discuss this anymore.”
Roland’s eyes were dark. “Very well then, I will continue on to Edinburgh and my studies there. But if you should ever need my assistance, only send word and I will come for you wherever you are.”
She nodded then looked down at her feet as they crested the sandy trail and came up onto the solid, grassy turf. At the smell of grass, the mare’s slow plodding changed to a quick walk, taking Elizabeth with her as she moved toward the tufts of green grass. Giving the hungry horse a moment to graze, with relieved regret she watched Roland stride away toward the inn.
Lachlan came up beside her. “Come, let us give the horses a rest while we dine. We have a hard and fast trip ahead of us if we are to make our destination by nightfall.” He turned to the fishermen. “Wait here. My wife and I must settle the horses, then we’ll go together to the inn. Your meal and your stay will be at my expense.”
The fishermen thanked him. A moment later Lachlan and his mare set off in the direction of a well-maintained stable. He was several paces ahead of her when Elizabeth followed. There was an edge to his words, despite his civility. She frowned. Her conversation with Roland had obviously upset him. But why? She was still here with him. That should have pleased him at least a little bit. Grumbling to herself, she entered the stable after him and led her horse to Lachlan.
He took the reins from her and proceeded to remove the bridle and saddle from her horse before guiding it to a feeder he filled with several scoops of oats. The horses ate hungrily. “Why don’t you wait outside with the fishermen. I’ll meet you there in a moment after I replenish the water in the trough.”
“I could help.”
“I can accomplish the task faster on my own.”
She stiffened, feeling strangely abandoned. “I apologize for inconveniencing you.”
He frowned. “Why are you angry with me?”
Her lashes fell to veil the anger and uncertainty in her eyes. “I would not dare be angry with you.”
“You’d dare.” He looked at her an instant before returning to his work. “I apologize if I seem terse. This morning has not exactly turned out as we’d planned.”
“Nay, it has not.”
His gaze connected with hers once more. “What do you say we call a truce?”
She nodded. “Truce.”
A rare smile lit his face. “Good. I’ll be outside in no time at all,” he said, picking up a bucket and heading toward the nearby well.
She turned and headed back toward the stable door. He was a difficult man to understand, she thought wearily. At times he was all sharp edges, driven by duty and honor. At other times he was gentle and almost kind. And his smile . . . it had been beautiful and directed at her alone.
Elizabeth swallowed, pushing the thought away before it could stretch into something more. She took a quick step, then stopped dead in her tracks as a thin black cat, with a long, wiry tail leapt into her path. Its green eyes stared up at her as though appraising her. “Shoo,” she said, flicking her hand away from herself with the hope it would clear her path.
The black cat moved, but not in the direction she had intended. Instead it brushed up against her legs and began to purr. She wanted to be irritated with the beast, but found she could not. Instead, she bent down and gently stroked its back. Instantly the animal arched higher, as though begging for more of the same. “Are you starved for affection?” she asked, continuing to stroke the cat from its head to its tail. “Or are you simply starved? No mice in the stable to catch?”
Loud purring issued from the beast.
Elizabeth couldn’t help but smile as she stood once more. “Come with me. I’ll see if the innkeeper has a few scraps to spare for you.”
