Page 42 of The Ruthless Laird's Virgin
By the time that the sun was beginning to rise beyond her window, she was fully dressed and on he way to Callum’s chambers across the castle with the note in hand. She hesitatedfor a moment, wondering if she was doing the right thing, but then she knocked.
Her heart beat in her ears as she stilled and waited for a response.
An eternity seemed to pass before someone stirred within Callum’s chambers.
She knocked again, wondering if he had fallen back asleep.
“For goodness sake, I am comin’,” he grumbled loudly from behind the door.
Another moment or two passed until the door suddenly opened, revealing a half-dressed Callum wearing nothing more than his breeches. “What do ye…” His voice trailed off when his eyes landed on Eleanor.
Sucking in a sharp breath, Eleanor held out the note as she pried her eyes away from his bare chest. “I received this note under me door,” she quickly added.
Callum’s brow creased into a frown as he looked from her to the scrap of paper.
“Someone kens where me brother is, we always played at the ruins beside the loch,” she blurted out again when he failed to say anything at all.
He remained quiet for a moment before looking up. “Did ye nae see who left the note?”
Eleanor shook her head. “I had just woken up when I heard the note scraping across the floor.”
Lowering the note, Callum looked up with a frown. “Eleanor, I daenae think that…”
“Please, daenae say that we cannae go. I ken very well it may be a trap, but I willnae be able to live with meself if I daenae go and see. I came to ye first because I ken that ye would nae want me to go on me own, but I am beggin’ ye, Me Laird, I have to go…” Her voice trailed off as if she were about to cry.
Callum’s eyes searched her face, and just for a moment, she wondered if he would deny her request. “Ye said it yerself, lass, it could be a trap. Who in the castle would yer brother have told about the ruins?”
“That is just the thing, he must have kent the person very well to have said soemthin’ of the sort to them. I am hopin’ that he is hidin’ there, but if he isnae, then at least I would have done all I could to find out,” she finished breathlessly.
“And if it is a trap?” Callum raised an eyebrow.
She thought quickly, hoping that she was right. “Then ye shall be at me side. Whoever wrote that note suspects that I would act onme own. Why else would they have given it to me directly rather than givin’ it to ye?”
He seemed thoughtful for a moment before lowerin’ the note. “Aye, ye have a point. Ye are very impulsive, they wouldnae expect ye to come to me first.” He seemed almost shocked himself that she had not just gone and looked on her own.
I daenae have time to worry about ye…
His words came flooding back to her from when she had decided to take a ride on her own. “I didnae want ye to worry about me if I went on me own,” she said softly, knowing that she had subconsciously considered him before just acting on an impulse.
Sighing heavily, Callum ran his fingers through his hair. “Ye willnae rest until we have gone to these ruins, will ye?”
She shook her head, feeling hope spring up in her chest. “This means the world to me, me Laird.”
His expression softened. “Aye, I can see that. Allow me some time to sort things out with Iain. We cannae just walk into the ruins unaided, but we should be able to leave within the hour. Ye may go and prepare yerself for the journey. Meet me at the stables when ye are ready.”
The horses were saddled and ready by the time Eleanor reached the stables. To her surprise, Callum was already waiting for her with two horses.
“Will Iain be joinin’ us?” She asked as she climbed into the saddle.
Callum shook his head. “Someone needs to be here at the castle in case this was a plan to lure us both away. Some of the men will be follwin’ behind at a safe distance.” The horse he had saddled stepped to the side.
Eleanor nodded, though a small part of her had been expecting Iain to appear at any moment. “Aye, that is probably wise.”
Callum glanced toward her. “It is also wise because Iain would spend the entire journey complainin' about me decisions.”
A surprised laugh escaped her. “I thought he agreed with everythin' ye did.”
“Nay. He merely waits until afterward to tell me how foolish I was.”
