Page 32 of Hunted By the Hard Highlander

Deciding that she welcomed the company of another soul, Aurora padded over to the door, making a soft noise of acknowledgment so the girl knew she was coming. When she pulled it back, Hilda was smiling softly at her. A sweet, herbal scent wafted from the pot she had carried, the blend already doing wonders to calm her nerves.

“Thank ye,” Aurora said when she allowed the maid entry. “But ye dinnae have to do so. I was goin’ to take meself to bed shortly.”

“I heard ye get out of bed nearly half an hour ago,” Hilda explained as she placed the tray on Aurora’s nightstand. “I figured that ye must be havin’ trouble sleepin’. This tea should help relax ye a bit. It is chamomile with a wee sprig of mint from the herb garden. Perhaps havin’ a cup will help ye get some rest.”

“It smells incredible,” Aurora said as the aroma filled her room. It was floral and fresh, a comfort that she had not expected to come across after the evening she had had. “I daenae think I’ve ever been served anythin’ that seems quite so divine.”

“I came up with the blend meself,” Hilda said proudly, depositing a teacup into her hands, “Though, I wouldnae go so far as to call it divine. Bella told me that some of me teas have similar medicinal properties to her tinctures.”

“I think ye are bein’ much too humble.” Aurora took a sip, closing her eyes as the natural sweetness of the tea washed over her tongue. Before drinking more, she said, “It certainly tastes better than most of the tinctures I have had. Ye should be proud of this.”

“I am pleased to hear it,” Hilda replied. She stood, her hands folded in front of her as she watched Aurora. “Though I do wish that we had some lavender on hand in the kitchens. Then I could have made ye a tea that would have put ye right to sleep. I think it would have improved the taste significantly as well.”

Aurora leaned forward, setting her cup on the low table in front of her. The liquid inside sloshed slightly, curling up the sides but not quite reaching the rim. Then, she stood, hurrying over to the desk against the wall. She pulled out the sketch she had made of the potential lavender plot she had sketched out.

“It is funny that ye mention lavender,” Aurora said, walking toward the window and gesturing for Hilda to follow her. She had not had a chance to speak with anyone else about the plans she had been making. “I just told Laird Anderson a few days ago that his herb garden was missin’ them.” She pointed at the garden, barely visible in the moonlight. “That corner, the one that is raised a bit higher than the rest, I think it would be excellent for lavender if we put the plants in clay pots.”

“Because of the soil?” Hilda asked, accepting the parchment from Aurora and studying the diagram she had drawn. “That patch of earth does get quite wet durin’ the rainy seasons.”

“Aye,” Aurora confirmed, her excitement swelling in her chest, pushing the lingering fear and curiosity from the secret passageway to the back of her mind. “And if there was ever a time where the rain dinnae stop, the pots could be carted somewhere to keep them from drownin’.”

“And they could dry out even as the rain’s still comin’ down!” Hilda said, her eyes shining when she looked back at Aurora’s face. “That is a brilliant plan. I am quite surprised nay one has thought of it before ye did.”

“I thought so too. But I daenae think it is unthinkable that nay one else would have suggested it. I daenae think I’ve ever seen planter pots amongst others’ fields,” Aurora said, blushing at the honest praise. Though she knew she had done a good job, it was strange to hear someone else vocalizing it. “I havenae yet shown this to Laird Anderson, but…”

She glanced toward the window, trailing off as she tried to make sense of what she was seeing. Aurora shuffled forward, pressing her face against the glass as she squinted at the animal that was retreating. It was hard to tell what it was, only the shape of its haunches visible.

“Is that a deer?” Hilda asked, her shoulder pressing against Aurora’s as she joined her at the glass. “There by the trees?”

“Aye,” Aurora said after a moment. She resisted the urge to rub her eyes and clear them. It certainly could have been a deer, but she thought she saw someone riding atop its back. “It must be.”

Hilda hummed, stepping back from the window and urging Aurora to come along with her. Casting one last look in the direction that the animal had disappeared, Aurora allowed herself to be led to an armchair. When her tea was placed back into her palms, she whispered her thanks and took another sip.

For some reason, she could not get the image out of her mind. It was as if she could not trust her eyes. If there had truly been someone on the animal’s back, would not Hilda have seen it and said something?

I am much too into me head about that secret door.

“Ye seem distracted,” Hilda said. “Do ye wish to speak about what has ye awake at this hour? Sometimes speakin’ helps clear yer mind and get to sleep.”

Aurora stared down at the surface of her teacup, watching her reflection in the liquid. There was so much swirling in her mind. And it all started hours ago when she had lied down.

Not only was she fixated on what was going on in Hendry’s mind, but also on what secrets he could possibly be hiding here. The corridors that were hidden within the castle seemed to call to her. She had thought she was finally beginning to understand him, but after tonight, she was certain she did not know anything.

I daenae ken if I will ever ken a thing about him.

And, most troubling, she desperately wanted to know more about him. She wanted to know about the healer and the leader.

“I suppose I’ve been thinkin’ about just how old Castle Anderson is,” Aurora said, picking her words carefully. Even if she wished to talk about the entanglement of feelings she had in relation to Hendry, she did not have the first idea of where to begin, nor did she think it was entirely appropriate to be discussing it with her maid. “This place must have seen generations of Lairds and Anderson people.”

“Centuries worth of people,” Hilda confirmed softly. She hummed, clearly deep in thought. “I wish I kent more about the history to tell ye, me Lady. I daenae ken as much as some of the castle staff.”

“I am sure that I can find more information,” Aurora said, stifling a yawn as exhaustion finally started to catch up with her. She found herself grateful that her body seemed willing to let her rest. “Perhaps if I tire of me knittin’ and embroiderin’, I will go searchin’ the library for a bit of that history. I havenae spent much time there yet.”

Though, after what she had come across this evening, she was not entirely sure if she wanted to go back there. Even if the traps were all hidden behind the mantle, she was not sure if there was anything else hidden there. In fact, she was starting to wonder if there were not other secret doors, places where Hendry kept his secrets hidden.

I daenae want to accidentally come across any of them if they exist.

“That sounds like an excellent idea, Lady Aurora,” Hilda praised with a warm smile. She walked over to the mattress then, fluffing Aurora’s pillows and pulling back the comforter. “I will help ye into bed once ye finish yer tea.”