Page 62 of A Highlander Bound by Oath
Angus left, and Blair sat down at a table on his own. A servant served him a bowl of stew and a mug of ale. He thanked them quietly, and he ate without tasting the food. He wasn’t hungry, but it gave him an excuse to sit down there until he had a good reason to speak to Laird MacPherson about why he was leaving. As he sipped at his ale, he wished that there was a whole river of it that he could drink endlessly from so he could numb his mind and body from remembering just how good it had felt to be with Ada. But no, that memory was firmly placed, and he knew it would take a herculean effort to remove it.
When he was done, he stood and slowly made his way to the stairs. He would just have to say that he had stayed long enough at MacPherson Castle for Graeme to find him a replacement. He was meant to be Cameron’s man-at-arms, but he’d agreed to help with Ada until Graeme found someone else. Now that she was betrothed, she would be leaving soon, but Blair couldn’t stay there another minute. He couldn’t be sure that he could trust himself to not kiss Ada again or doing more—like kidnap her and take her away from Irving.
I have tae leave as soon as possible.
His gait was very slow as he made his way to Graeme’s study. When he got there, the door was closed, and he could hear voices inside—hervoice. He paused, unsure what to do when the voices raised, and then the door swung open and Ada rushed out, right into him. Together, in a twist of limbs and arms, they fell to the ground.
CHAPTER SIX
After the kiss, Ada had stayed in her room for a little while, trying to wrap her brain around it. It had been everything she wanted a kiss to be, not that she’d had any experience, but she knew deep down that it had been theperfectkiss. Every sense had been awoken by Blair’s touch, the feel of his mouth and tongue and scrape of the scruff on his jaw as he deepened the kiss.
Just like she’d always wanted, his hands had been on her, grabbing at her and pulling her close like he never wanted to let go. It had been heavenly, and she’d also pulled at him, wanting more. But then, it was over. Like jumping into an ice-cold loch, it was over, and a change had come over him in an instant.
After he’d left, she’d waited, wondering what would become of them. Blair had looked afraid as he’d fled, and she feared he would do something rash such as leave or perhaps even tell her father. And then, the pacing had gotten to be too much.
“I must go and speak tae Father now,” she said. “I cannae go through with this betrothal.”
She opened the door and, with steady steps, made her way to her father’s study.
I will tell him that I must go tae Ella’s before the wedding is tae be had. That will surely convince him, and I could find an escape from there if Ella will nae get in me way.
“Och, me lady,” one of the young maids said, rushing towards her, a little breathless. It was Jane, the maid that she saw earlier speaking with Irving. “I have a note for ye. Or rather it’s for Blair, but I could nae find him. I looked everywhere, and he seems nowhere tae be found.”
Ada blushed.That was me doin’.
“Here,” she held it out. “I thought perhaps that ye could give it tae him yerself since ye see him so often.”
“Aye, of course, Jane. Thank ye.” She took the note and looked into the girl’s eyes, searching for something but unsure of what. “Are ye alright? Ye were upset earlier. May I help ye with somethin’, whatever it is?”
“Nay, me lady. I’m alright. It was just a moment, nothin’ tae fear. I thank ye for yer kindness.”
Ada took the note in her hand and pushed it into the pocket of her gown while Jane scurried away quickly. She would see to it later. Right then, she needed to resolve the matter with her father. Knocking on the door, she didn’t wait until he allowed her in before she strode in confidently and shut the door behind her.
“Father, I ken what ye are goin’ tae say,” she said, not looking at him but holding a hand up. “But there is somethin’ I wish tae discuss with ye.”
Her father was quick to reply, “Ye ken that Irving has left now. He has taken his carriage and gone. He was tae stay the night, but he decided that he had urgent business and needed tae leave. What have ye done, Ada?”
“What haveIdone?” she said, getting entangled in her father’s accusations as usual before she could state her own point. “I did nothin’. I merely needed air, and then when I went outside, I saw Irving speakin’ tae a maid and givin’ her somethin’. He claimed it was a handkerchief, but there was somethin’ strange about it and about him.”
Her father rolled his eyes and stood leaning over the desk, his fists holding him up. “We are tae have good relations with Clan MacIntosh. They are powerful in these lands, and yer marriage was meant tae help solidify our relationship with them.”
She crossed her arms. “I thought it was meant tae trap me intae yet another prison and set ye free from watchin’ over me.”
“Ada,” he began, his voice getting low. “I dinnae have time for this. What matters is that ye fled the table when a guest was here, and nae doubt Irving has taken offense, so much so that he has gone and left!”
“Father, ye were nae there. Can ye nae listen tae me? I felt so uneasy with him, so unsure. There was somethin’ about him that frightened me.”
Her father dismissed her words with a wave of his hand, and she steeled herself against the emotional pain it caused. “Ye are only tryin’ tae lie tae get out of marryin’ him. I ken ye well, lass. But this marriage will happen, and ye will understand why I have pushed it so in the end. He’s a handsome man, powerful and strong. He’s perfect. What dinnae ye like?”
He’s too perfect, and nothin’ good can come of it.Ada was about to rush out, but she stayed where she was. There was no use in arguing about Irving, but she could find a way to make her escape.
“Very well,” she said, and her father paused as if he hadn’t heard her properly. “If I am tae marry this man, then perhaps ye can give me one last thing before I wed.”
“Och, and what is that?”
“I should like tae visit Ella and Cameron for a little. Spend some time on me own with my sister before I must go away tae a new castle.” She tried to keep her face placid so that her father couldnot see the plan in her eyes. “I miss her, Father. Seein’ her will settle me nerves.”
Ada even released a tear and felt bad for lying to her father. But what choice did she have? He frowned and sat back down. His fingers drummed on the table as he thought.
