Page 38 of The Wolf Laird's Obsession
“Aye,” Sorcha replied, forcing a small smile. “It means ye can wait without fear. It means ye trust where yer path is takin’ ye.”
Even as she spoke, something twisted in her chest.
Do I?
Her thoughts drifted back to last night. How she had waited all night for a man who could somehow make her excited at the prospect of him coming and at the same time make her feel foolish.
Patience has always been me shield. Now it feels like a cage.
She straightened slightly, pushing the thought away before it could take hold.
Elspeth seemed to consider this carefully as she watched Mr. Turtle continue to eat. “I think Mr. Turtle is very strong then,” she said finally.
Sorcha let out a quiet breath, something easing in her chest. “Aye, I think he is.” Her eyes flicked to Rowan’s empty chair, a question slipping past her lips before she could stop it. “Morag, have ye seen Laird MacLaren this mornin’?”
“Nay.” Morag eyed her knowingly.
Sorcha wondered if she knew about last night. Knowing Morag, she probably did.
Elspeth chimed in, humming as she pet Mr. Turtle, as if used to not seeing her father at mealtimes. “I havenae either.”
Sorcha nodded slowly, her eyes lingering on the empty chair.
This time, she did not feel anything. The empty chair no longer taunted her with possibilities.
Turtles chose every step. Perhaps it was time she did the same.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Rowan walked through the corridors, his heart heavy as he made his way to the Great Hall. He’d almost decided to skip breakfast to avoid Sorcha, but his pride would not let him.
There was also a part of him, a part he would rather not acknowledge, that wanted to see her face. Guilt had wound itself around his heart, and he wondered how she was doing after he had failed to show up last night.
Shaking his head, he tried hard to reason with his guilt.
I didnae do anythin’ wrong. I did what was necessary.
He had reached the bottom of the stairs to her chambers last night before memories of his first wife froze him in place. Then he had retreated to his study and stayed there until dawn.
Coward.
The word echoed in his mind over and over.
Exhaling through his nose, he pushed that thought down where it belonged.
Nae cowardice, but control. I shouldnae have told her I was comin’ at all.
The urge to retreat seized him again as the doors to the Great Hall came into view. Beyond the doors, Sorcha’s laughter mingled with Elspeth’s.
Suddenly, he remembered her laughter by the pond yesterday. How the sound had made his heartbeat quicken and eased the tension in his body at the same time. How it had pulled him to her before he could stop himself.
The harder he tried to deny himself, the harder it became for him to avoid her. It seemed fate wanted nothing more than to push her into his path. How much longer before he could no longer resist?
The guards opened the doors as he approached.
Elspeth sat with Morag, her head on the table as she watched the turtle eat from her hand. Sorcha was sitting across from them, smiling softly at Elspeth.
Rowan found himself holding his breath, waiting for the moment when Sorcha would look into his eyes. Waiting for the anger he thought he would see.
