Page 74 of Ruined By the Ruthless Highlander
“’Tisme Lairdfor ye,” he said in a bitter tone. “And I daenae report me movements to ye.”
Marian’s chest tightened, the words landing harder than they should have. A breath escaped her lips.
She took a step back as he stepped closer to her, the vast library suddenly shrinking around them.
“Apologies, my Laird.” She bent her head slightly.
Lachlan removed the torch from her hand, his fingers barely touching hers.
The brief contact sent a sharp jolt of awareness through her, almost impossible to ignore, and she straightened again, holding her chin up.
He leaned in slightly to peruse the book on the table, and she watched him, holding her hands together as her thumb grazed the area he’d touched.
“Ye were lookin’ through me ledgers?” he asked, glaring at her.
His scar was bold under the torchlight, and her fingers ached to reach out and trace it.
Marian hesitated, then nodded slightly, refusing to look away.
“Why?” Lachlan straightened, shutting the book with a loud thud.
Because I could not sleep.
“I… I would like to study,” she said, finally breaking eye contact. Her fingers knotted around each other.
“Study?” Lachlan scoffed, his scent enveloping her as he moved past her to the shelves. He tucked the ledger back in the uppermost shelf, beyond her reach. “Ye think ye can learn to run me estate through books?”
Marian raised her eyebrows, her shoulders squaring at the condescension in his tone. “Myestate,” she countered, her voice steadying. “And whatever is wrong with books?”
Lachlan huffed, leaning forward so that his face was now at the same level as hers. He studied her for a moment before responding.
“Highland women daenae run estates through ledgers,” he sneered.
Marian felt a shiver run down her spine.
She held the corner of the table, her fingers nearly drilling through the wood in her attempt to still herself. She looked at Lachlan sharply, her jaw tightening even as she struggled to fight back a blush.
Then, suddenly, an idea came to her.
“A fellow Englishwoman has recently married in the Highlands,” she said. “I would like to visit her today.”
Lachlan straightened, his eyebrow rising slightly. “And who would that be?” he asked, his skepticism immediately evident in his tone.
Marian nearly rolled her eyes. “Lady Anna Murray,” she replied evenly. “I knew her in London. She lives with her husband, Laird Hugh Murray.”
Lachlan’s eyes narrowed. “I ken the Murray lands,” he said slowly. “And I’ve heard the man is a fair laird.” His frown had not subsided.
Does he not believe me?
His gaze sharpened slightly, as if to answer her thought. “But ye expect me to believe this is merely a friendly visit?”
Of course, he doesn’t.
Marian crossed her arms. His question should have angered her, but it did not. She considered playing into his suspicion for a moment before deciding against it, relaxing her posture ever so slightly.
“I wish to see how a castle is managed,” she replied, looking up at him through her eyelashes. “Surely that does not threaten your authority, my Laird?”
Lachlan exhaled softly before muttering, “I daenae trust ye to travel alone.”
