Page 44 of Hunted By the Hard Highlander

“Ye truly think I’m a quick learner?” Aurora asked, watching the ease with which Mrs. Duncan corrected her work. She saw the place where her hand had been too heavy and thrown off the rest of her row. “I wouldnae say that I am.”

“Aye, of course ye wouldnae, ye are much too humble of a person to proudly say that ye pick up things quickly,” Mrs. Duncan said with a hint of amusement. She lowered her voice as she handed the shuttle back to Aurora. “I saw ye workin’ with the Laird this mornin’. It seems that ye picked up what he was teachin’ ye quite fast.”

Aurora stood frozen, blinking twice. She was not sure if anyone else was supposed to know about the training session she and Hendry had this morning. Worse, she felt flustered at the idea of anyone seeing the two of them working together.

There had been much more happening there than just learning. For a long moment, she had been sure that he was going to kiss her. If Mrs. Duncan saw that… she did not want to think about the conclusions the older woman may have drawn.

Though, perhaps it was not so scandalous. The two of them would be married soon. It was not so bad that they behaved the way that men and women did.

“Daenae seem so surprised, I am often awake before the rest of the castle,” Mrs. Duncan said, giving her a knowing smile. “Nay one else was awake to see yer lessons, though ye shouldnae be ashamed. I believe that all ladies of the land should ken how to use a dirk.”

“Aye, I dinnae realize how useful it would be,” Aurora said before accepting the shuttle once more. “But I daenae wish to use it.”

“Laird Anderson will do everythin’ in his power to keep ye from havin’ to use it,” Mrs. Duncan said, her conviction helping to settle the unease that radiated from where the knife was tucked against her breastbone. “There are many kinds of knowledge that we acquire and pray that we never need, nor ever lose.”

Aurora’s hands hesitated for a moment about halfway through her row. It gave her a new perspective on the things she was taught; the information that Hendry collected was never meant to be used. The skill he had taught her was a failsafe, only to be used when she was backed into a corner, when she had no other choice.

“Ye have a point,” Aurora admitted after a beat, finishing out the row with a steadier hand. “I have never considered it from that perspective.”

“Aye, I figured that ye would get caught up on that,” Mrs. Duncan said, taking a step back as Aurora pressed the treadles, shifting the linen down. “Ye arenae the kind of woman that would turn to force to get what ye want or keep yerself safe.”

“Ye ken me well,” Aurora said, turning the warp roller slightly and tightening her work.

She was still grappling with the looming danger of her uncle and his men who were on their way, but it had become easier to focus on the things that were happening right in front of her. She wanted to attribute it to Mrs. Duncan and her efforts to keep her busy, but Aurora knew Hendry played a much larger role.

Ever since their lesson this morning, the niggling fear had been eating at her since her parents’ deaths had not been at the very forefront of her mind. She could not attribute that to anyone other than Hendry.

“Ye would rather settle yer problems with words and kind negotiations,” Mrs. Duncan continued, her eyes sharp on Aurora’s working hands. “The world would be a much better place if that was how conflicts were resolved.”

“Perhaps I would feel a wee bit differently if I was as big as the men that throw their weight around,” Aurora mused, feeling herself relax further into the conversation. “If I could simply get me way by bein’ the strongest in the room, why would I bother usin’ me mind.”

From her chair near the window, Cecilia giggled. Her attention was still on her knitting, but her face was red as if she were embarrassed to be caught listening in on the conversation. Aurora found she did not mind. She liked feeling connected to the castle and its people in this way.

“Ye daenae mean that,” Mrs. Duncan said, laughter in her voice as well.

“Ye are right.” Aurora was grinning. It felt as if she could not stop it. “But I was tryin’ on their perspective for a moment. I daenae think I agree with it any more now that I’ve spoken it aloud.” She brought down the beater, tightening the rows. “I will stick with attemptin’ to talk me way out trouble.”

“Never underestimate the power of slippin’ away and hidin’,” Mrs. Duncan said. “Ye may nae win the battle, but if ye stay alive, ye can best yer enemy.”

“Aye,” Aurora said softly. “Stayin’ alive is the most important thing, isnae it?”

Chapter Twenty-One

Hendry’s knuckles knocked against the doorframe leading into Aurora’s chambers. He had not intended to come to visit her, but candlelight flooded out from the crack. He had found himself standing just outside before he had known what he was doing.

“Aurora,” he said, nudging the door open slightly without forcing himself inside.

Adair was sitting in the center of the floor, his legs crossed as he pushed a small wooden horse in circles, his brow furrowed as though he was deep in thought. When he looked away from his toy and spotted Hendry, he grinned. Though he did not get up, he turned to face Hendry fully.

“Laird Anderson,” he said. “Aurora isnae here right now.”

If it were not for the easy expression on the boy’s face, Hendry might have been worried. It pained him that he could not keep her under his watch at all times, especially as their handfasting grew closer, as more and more evidence of someone—likely MacGonagal—watching the clan came to light.

It did not help that if he were to forbid her from leaving her chambers, she would likely push back on that directive.

“Do ye ken where she snuck off to?” Hendry asked, crossing his arms and remaining in the threshold.

“She dinnae sneak off anywhere,” Adair said, politely resting his hands on his knees. “Mrs. Duncan came and stole her away to learn the weevil.”