Page 59 of Claimed By a Ruthless Scot
The armory was hardly the place he expected to see her.
She paused just inside the doorway, her gaze finding him immediately.
“I have been looking fer ye,” she said instead of a morning greeting.
Duncan straightened slightly, setting the dagger aside. What he momentarily felt was quiet relief, because she was smiling. After the unfinished conversation in the garden the night before, he had half expected distance, perhaps even awkwardness. Instead, she looked entirely composed.
“Is everything alright?” he asked.
“Aye,” she answered quickly. “Everything is quite well.”
She stepped closer to the table, glancing briefly at the spread of weapons with mild curiosity before returning her attention to him.
“It is only that me materials seem tae be disappearing rather more quickly than I realized.”
Duncan raised a brow. “Yer herbs?”
“Some of them, aye. But also jars, linen, and certain supplies I use fer preparing remedies.” She shrugged lightly. “I suspect the castle is discovering the usefulness of a healer.”
“That sounds likely.”
Elaina smiled faintly.
“I was hoping ye might allow one of the guards tae accompany me tae the market.”
Duncan’s expression remained calm, though Iain’s words from earlier that morning surfaced immediately in his mind.
Strangers asking questions. Money changing hands.
He picked up the cloth again, though his attention remained firmly on her.
“What dae ye need?”
“Several things,” she said. “Dried chamomile, clean linen, a few glass jars. The merchant in town should have them.”
He wiped the blade carefully before setting it aside.
“I will come with ye.”
Elaina blinked. “If ye’re busy, as I ken ye are, ye dinnae need tae dae that.”
“Perhaps nae.” He met her gaze without hesitation. “But I will.”
She watched him, clearly weighing whether to argue. He could recognize that look now. Then, she gave a small nod.
“Very well.”
“We could go tomorrow or the day after tomorrow,” he suggested.
“Of course,” she smiled in return. “Thank ye.”
Before he could respond, she had already started down the corridor, her steps light and confident as she headed toward the courtyard. Duncan watched her for a moment.
If Elaina walked unguarded through a castle full of soldiers, he was going to make certain she did not attempt the same thing in town.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Elaina stepped out of the armory with a small breath of relief. The scent of oil and iron still clung faintly to her clothes. She brushed a loose strand of hair behind her ear as she walked down the corridor, her thoughts drifting back toward the garden.
