Page 29 of Highland Ruse

“It’s beautiful,” Delilah breathed.

“They dinna have this in London.” A slight smile touched the corner of Kaid’s mouth. It was closer to a smile than she anticipated seeing on him anytime soon, and it lightened her heart.

Donnan hopped down from the driver’s seat with the food bag in his hand and a wide grin on his face. “I could go for an early midday meal.”

She caught the faint scent of spiced meat and freshly baked bread. Her mouth watered in anticipation.

The food, the entire reason they’d stopped when they did, had been unwanted after the attack. Now she felt as though she could devour the entire sack on her own and said as much.

Donnan laughed and swung the food behind his back. “Then ye’ll no’ get any at all.” He peered playfully toward the coach. “Where’s Leasa?”

Her head poked tentatively from the door.

“Come join us, Leasa. It’s lovely,” Delilah said.

Leasa tucked her lower lip into her mouth and shrank back inside slightly. “I thought you—”

Donnan swept into the coach and emerged with Leasa in his arms along with the bag of food. “I’ve the finest seat for ye.”

She gave a shrill cry, but the smile on her face showed it was all in good fun. Delilah couldn’t help the laugh bubbling up from her throat. A quick glance at Kaid showed a true, genuine smile on his lips.

Donnan set Leasa on the grass by the water’s edge, far enough away to ensure she would not get wet, and then plopped down beside her. “See? The finest seat in the land.” He winked. “By me.”

Kaid appeared at Delilah’s side and held out the crook of his arm to her like a courtier. “My lady,” he offered with a formal bow.

“How could a lady refuse?” Delilah asked and slipped her hand to his arm. His sleeves were pulled up, and her fingertips brushed his naked forearm. The sprinkling of dark hair was far less coarse than it appeared, and it was all she could do to keep from giving into the temptation to stroke his skin.

Kaid formally showed her to her place on the ground then sank down beside her. They supped on their midday meal in a bubble of light and happiness, the morning a shoved-aside memory for the moment.

It was as perfect a day as Delilah had ever had.

All until she rose from where she sat and someone gripped her hard around the wrist.

“My lady,” Leasa hissed, her eyes wide with horror.

Delilah’s heart skipped a beat. She scanned the area and found nothing amiss. Kaid had gone to the coach to tuck away the rest of the food, and Donnan had disappeared for a moment into the forest.

“What is it?” Delilah asked.

Leasa’s face crumpled. “I don’t remember which flask I put the drops in.”

Delilah’s blood went cold. “The drops?”

“The poison you told me to use.” Leasa looked genuinely confused and held up the blue bottle.

It was empty.

Delilah shook her head. “No, I told you in the coach not to use it.”

Leasa’s mouth fell open. “I thought…” The color bled from her face. “I thought you’d wanted me to stay in the coach.”

Suddenly it made sense, the reason why Leasa had not been as eager to leave the enclosed compartment. Frustration clambered through Delilah, but she quickly held it back.

It had been an honest mistake.

“Think on which flask you used,” Delilah said.

Tears shone bright in Leasa’s eyes. “They both look the same. I don’t know, and we all shared them.”