Page 81 of Ruined By the Ruthless Highlander
Anna merely smiled. “The castle is quite full, my Laird,” she said sweetly as the maid took their belongings. “Had we known you were coming…”
Her gaze flicked from Lachlan’s clenched jaw to Marian’s wide eyes, and she paused for a moment, swallowing the rest of her sentence.
“Please.” She gestured toward the maid. “Allow her to show you to your chamber.”
Marian’s heart pounded with every step they took down the long, winding corridor.
Her fingers curled tightly into the sides of her dress as she followed behind Lachlan and the maid, only relaxing slightly once they were in the guest chamber.
Small was hardly the word for it.
It felt as though the walls could close in on them at any moment. The bed took up most of the space, leaving only a narrow stretch of floor between it and the far wall.
Marian stepped inside, unsure where to stand as servants hurried in with blankets and firewood for the hearth.
Lachlan crossed his arms and leaned back against the wall as though the space did not affect him at all, and she avoided his gaze entirely. Instead, she followed the servants’ every movement, watching them intently as though they might suddenly discover a hidden door, or another chamber tucked away behind the stone walls.
Am I truly going to spend the night here, with Lachlan?
One by one, the servants finished their tasks, bowing their heads slightly before turning to leave.
The door closed behind them with a soft click, leaving Marian, Lachlan, and the maid who had shown them to the room in an awkward silence.
“Me Laird, me Lady,” she murmured, her gaze darting between them. “I hope the room is to yer satisfaction.”
Lachlan pushed off the wall, his jaw clenching slightly as he turned to face her. “The Lady takes the bed,” he said firmly. “Bring more blankets. I’ll sleep on the floor.”
Marian turned sharply. “That is entirely unnecessary.” The words tumbled past her lips, even though she didn’t fully mean them.
She glanced at the maid.
This cannot be happening.
“Aye,” Lachlan said calmly, giving her a look. “But it’s happenin’ anyway.”
The maid dipped her head and left quickly, a small smile tugging at her lips as she disappeared through the door.
Marian stared at Lachlan from where she stood, her chest tightening and heating up all at once. Her thoughts scattered the moment she tried to gather them.
“You… you do realize how ridiculous this is,” she sputtered, looking down at the growing pile of blankets as the servants returned with more.
Or perhaps not.
Lachlan shrugged. He picked one more blanket from the bed and dropped it onto the floor.
It is true. We cannot possibly share a bed.
Her cheeks reddened at the thought, and she swallowed quickly. Fortunately, Lachlan did not notice.
“Ye came unannounced to a cèilidh,Sassenach,” he pointed out evenly, as though none of this bothered him. “Ridiculous was already guaranteed.”
Marian rolled her eyes despite herself.
How was I to know?
She glanced at the bed, too small for two people and yet too large for the room.
Her attention drifted to Lachlan as he set up a makeshift bed near the hearth, and she cleared her throat, eager to get out of the cramped chamber.
