Page 73 of Ruined By the Ruthless Highlander
What could that be?
Her heart thumped in her chest, growing louder as the noise persisted. She took a nervous step forward, holding out the torch to see farther into the dark space ahead.
The sound suddenly stopped.
Perhaps it is the cat.
Her heart calmed for a moment, but her grip barely loosened on the torch.
I do not know that yet.
“Mossie?”
The torch’s flames obscured her vision as she took another step forward, and she looked around frantically.
“Moss—”
“Who in the devil is Mossie?” a man murmured from the shadows.
Marian jumped, nearly scorching herself with the flames. Her eyelashes fluttered from panic.
“Show yourself,” she commanded, raising her voice.
She held the torch with both hands now, ready to wield it as a weapon if need be, despite the tremors in her fingers.
A scoff sounded in the distance, followed by a few steady footsteps.
Marian turned in the direction of the sound just as it stopped again, the room going still except for the loud thumping of her heart.
“I can hear you,” she called, her voice quivering slightly. “Show yourself now, or I’ll call for the Laird.”
The silence that followed was almost deafening.
She glanced toward the door, gauging the distance to it.
Perhaps I should run. Or scream.
“And how do ye intend to do that?” the man in the shadows asked, louder this time.
Her eyebrows rose. The voice sounded familiar, but in an odd manner, as though whoever was speaking had made an effort to alter it.
Is it perhaps… Lachlan?
Marian shook her head, her eyebrows drawing together.
He cannot be so petty.
“It is best you stop hiding,” she said finally, hoping for the love of God that whoever it was would finally listen and step out of the shadows.
A dry laugh sounded through the library, and her shoulders squared.
“I am a guest of the Laird,” she added quickly. “Best you conduct yourself with care.”
“And perhaps ye should conduct yerself like a proper guest, Mairi,” the man said. “Quit roamin’ me castle.”
He stepped slowly into the light, and her eyes widened at once.
“Lachlan?” Relief flooded her chest so quickly that it almost angered her. Her cheeks immediately turned scarlet. “How long have you been watching me?”
