Page 54 of Hunted By the Hard Highlander

“The bindin’,” she whispered, the words coming out of her mouth as though they were a curse.

Aurora made to jump to her feet. There were wedding bells ringing, and she needed to be within her chambers when Hilda came to dress her for the ceremony. She did not get far, though, Hendry’s arm darting out instinctively and pulling her back onto the cot. As he tucked her against him, she let out a squeak.

“Hendry,” she hissed, though she made no moves to break free of his hold. She was not sure if it was because she wanted to be here or because she knew that she would not be able to get away even if she tried. “We have guests. And the bindin’. I need to find Adair.”

“Mrs. Duncan will keep the boy safe,” Hendry said, his voice rough with sleep in a way that twisted Aurora’s stomach, not unpleasantly. “She has given me her word.”

“But we still have⁠—”

“I ken,” he said, cutting her off. When she rolled toward him, he had a single eye open. It was fixed on her, bleary with the remainders of his rest. “But the guests can wait, Aurora. I have spent years avoidin’ gatherin’s. One more mornin’ hidin’ away sounds much more appealin’ to me than entertainin’ half the Highlands.”

The soft giggle that came from Aurora’s lips seemed to surprise both of them. His eyes fully opened, and she found a warmth there that she had not seen before. She was not sure how to respond. She was sure that if she said anything, she would be embarrassed at what came out.

He huffed, the sound coming out as a soft puff of air against the back of her neck. It sent a shiver up her spine, making her all the more aware of their closeness. She wanted to stay here forever, but she did not wish to leave this warm embrace.

Even now, he was confusing her endlessly.

“Today of all days,” she said, clearing her throat when her voice came out a bit too high-pitched, “ye should be attendin’ to yer duties. Even a hermit must entertain his guests on the day of his weddin’.”

“Ach,” he said, not quite frustrated. She could hear the edge of a smile in his voice, making the room feel even warmer, like it was a cocoon that no one but the two of them could touch. “Must ye remind me of me obligations?”

“Will the Managers nae wish to speak with ye?” she asked, trying to memorize the press of his body against hers. “They expect to see the Laird of this land.”

“They will see me durin’ the ceremony,” he said. Then, he buried his face in her fiery curls, the action giving Aurora so much pause that she nearly stopped breathing. She was too afraid to move, too afraid of breaking the fragile moment he had just initiated in his sleep-soft state. Then, he grumbled, “I would rather have more of ye.”

She let out another breathless giggle, her face burning. If she stayed here any longer, she might turn around, connect her lips with his. He was driving her mad.

Then, outside there was another reminder that they could not stay here. A young boy, the shepherd or the groom she could not tell, yelled something at another servant. His voice was closer than the others had been before, a sign that the castle was waking up and that the final preparations were being made.

Still smiling, she reluctantly slipped away from his hold. As she straightened her dress, she kept her back to Hendry, knowing that if she were to look at him now, she could be tempted back into the cot. It would be so easy to ignore the rest of the world.

“Perhaps,” she said, taking a few steps toward the door before she glanced back over her shoulder, “today, me Laird… it is time that ye learned to obey.”

She did not give him a chance to answer, slipping out of the door and into the cool morning air. Then, careful to keep herself from being spotted, she made her way back to the castle, her entire body thrumming with the anticipation and anxiety of what the day would bring.

* * *

After Aurora’s exit, Hendry stayed where he was. The sheets were still warm, the blanket tucked firmly against his body. Yet, the place that she had just left felt several degrees colder.

“Fiery lass,” he muttered to himself.

He did not move right away, rubbing a hand over his face as he listened to the sounds of the castle and his guests beginning their days. It would not be long until he would have to leave and face them. They would most certainly be vying for his attention, trying to fit in all of the conversations that he had denied them simply by nature of his being.

Finally, with a deep grunt, he pushed himself upright, surveying the evidence of the night they had spent together. It was not much, only the labeled jars of herbs still sitting on the table presenting as evidence that she had been here. Otherwise, the room looked completely innocuous.

“I need to put those in their proper place,” he said, using the task to force himself to his feet.

He took care of it quickly, each glass jar put amongst the others, the newest going at the back of his line. Then, he meticulously put away his supplies. The shears found their place, the few excess containers he had retrieved returned to their cabinet. After he had cleared away the stems and other bits that were not useful, there was nothing else keeping him here.

After adjusting his hair, banishing all signs of the intimacy he had shared with Aurora, Hendry stepped out of the cabin.

The grounds had seemingly erupted with activity. There were more carriages pulling in, their passengers being unloaded by the staff of Castle Anderson. Horses whinnied and stomped their hooves impatiently as they waited for their turns to be unloaded. There was laughter, and the rich smell of the meal they would indulge in later in the day wafted through the air.

It seemed as if everyone was in good spirits, which was all he could ask for. Perhaps their excitement would be enough to make up for the lack of his own.

“There ye are, me Laird,” Willy said as Hendry stepped onto the stone that lined the courtyard. Willy’s eyes never left the activity, diligently scanning the area for any signs of intruders. “Nearly everyone has arrived. I believe there are two more carriages we are waitin’ for.”

“And the Managers?” Hendry asked, squinting as the sun peeked over the Highland hills and slanted into his eyes. “Have they arrived?”