Page 21 of The Ruthless Laird's Virgin
Eleanor quickly shook her head. “I am well, just a bit thirsty.” She hurried forward, taking the tray and almost spilling the tea.
“I… I can do that, Mistress. If ye would just leave it to me,” Marion said gently through her confusion.
She seemed to ignore her maid completely, turning her back and pouring the tea.
“Me Laird!” Marion suddenly noticed him as she hurriedly curtsied, dipping her head low and her knees even lower.
“That will be all, thank ye, Marion.” He dismissed her with a nod.
What is she thinking?
Callum tried to ignore the fact that the maid kept looking from him to Eleanor, with a strange expression, before turning and leaving. It certainly looked suspicious to anyone, including him, but he did not care what anyone else thought. He had been trying to be more human.
“Shall we have our tea while going over the lists?” Eleanor finally asked, her voice more stable as she smiled and rubbed the back of her neck.
“Aye,” he said softly, not knowing how to react. He walked to the desk and sat across from her, allowing her to sit behind the desk where she had been making lists.
“I think we should go over the lists I have already made.” Eleanor kept her eyes fixed on the cup of tea before her. Her cheeks were still flushed as her lips parted just a little.
Dropping his gaze, Callum looked down at the cup in front of him. He had started teasing her as a way of regaining control, and he had liked the way she blushed for him, but things had changed in the space of a moment when he had seen how the attention had affected her.
He had felt bad for not only missing the fact that she had been longing for home, but for unknowingly taking advantage of that loneliness.
They sat in silence for a moment longer until Eleanor suddenly blurted out. “I think there is still a good chance that Andrew is alive.”
Callum looked up, noting the complete vulnerability in her eyes. “Aye, I think there is.” He lied while knowing that there was every chance that Andrew had been killed. The men who had wanted him dead had almost succeeded in killing him. It was not likely that Andrew had been spared if he had crossed their path.
“I just think that we shouldnae give up hope,” she continued, her breathing still strained.
She is tryin’ to move past what happened.
“I think I had better check on the men. The barrier that was repaired yesterday needs checkin’ again as well.” He used the back of his knees to push back his chair, causing the legs to scrape across the floor.
Looking up with a start, Eleanor frowned. “But yer tea?”
“It can grow cold, I have more important matters to see to,” he said gruffly before turning away from her and making his way toward the door.
If it was space that she needed to overcome the awkward moment between them, then he would give her that space. It had not been easy for him either at the moment when he had thought of his mother and father. He had spent years trying to overcome their memories, and in the space of one moment, all of the feelings had come rushing back to him.
“There ye are, me Laird.” Iain came striding toward him in the hallway. “I was just about to come and find ye. Are ye ill?” He paused a few steps away from Callum and tilted his head to the side with a frown.
Coming up straight, Callum glared at him. “Have ye ever ken me to be ill?”
Iain seemed thoughtful for a moment before shaking his head. “Nay, I cannae say that I have.”
“Then what are ye on about?” he barked, narrowing his eyes. He had wanted a moment alone, but the Laird never seemed to be allowed to rest.
“I didnae mean offense, me Laird.” Iain held his hands up in surrender.
Grumbling under his breath, Callum pushed past him, having had more than enough of everyone else for one day.
She is distractin’ me.
She had not been in his castle for very long, and she was already making him tense.
CHAPTER NINE
The great hall of Castle Fraser glowed with the golden light of dozens of torches. Their flames danced against the stone walls and gleamed upon polished shields, crossed swords, and faded clan banners that hung from the rafters. The scent of roasting venison, bannocks, peat smoke, and spiced ale filled the air.
