Page 72 of A Virgin for the Stone Highlander
“Money,” he said, his voice coming out even. “For the arrangement. Two outings. Two lessons. As promised.” He paused. “There will be more after the village fair and harvest festival.”
Edith’s eyes flashed with something, but he could not put a finger on it. Her fingers tightened slowly around the pouch.
“I see,” she said quietly, her spine straightening.
The softness in her eyes was gone.
“I thank ye,” she added, her voice colder than he’d ever heard it. She stepped back, putting distance between them. “Would ye excuse me?”
Aaron frowned slightly. “Of course.”
She dipped her head, not quite meeting his eyes, and walked away toward the stairs without looking back.
Aaron stood where she had left him.
He had done exactly as agreed. He had kept his word—given her what she wanted out of their agreement. Money. Freedom. A future of her own, away from Hallow Castle.
He looked at the space where she had been standing, the air still carrying the scent of wild lavender, and closed his eyes.
Perhaps there is something else.
He stood there a long moment longer than was necessary, then turned around and hurried down the corridor after her.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
The Great Hall was louder than ever.
Edith understood why the moment she stopped in the doorway. The preparations for the harvest festival had begun, and the castle had started to fill with clansfolk in preparation for the coming weeks.
The benches were packed, and the tables were loud with overlapping conversation. The scent of roasted meat and fresh bread filled the warm air, tangled with the smell of ale.
Aaron caught up with her in the doorway, and she stiffened. As they walked together into the Great Hall, every head turned toward them.
Edith kept her chin level, her etiquette lessons kicking in. Whatever she felt on the inside had no business appearing on her face in a room full of people watching for weakness. And today, she felt a great deal on the inside.
Her skin broke out in goosebumps as Aaron’s hand came to rest on the small of her back.
Such audacity.
She straightened, acting as though all was well as he guided her toward the high table. It did not matter. It was all just a performance.
She sat beside him, folded her hands in her lap, and breathed.
It will all be over soon.
The noise gradually resumed around them. Servants moved between the tables, cups were refilled, and the fire at the far end crackled steadily against the stone.
Edith reached for her goblet and drank. The pouch was still tucked in her pocket, the weight of it pulling down on her heart more than it did the fabric.
She stared down the table, her gaze fixed on nothing in particular as the matter slowly clouded her mind.
He wasnae wrong to give it to me.
The money was part of her agreement with Aaron—a part she took as seriously as her lessons with the healer because itmattered to her future. And yet she could not help but feel something tighten in her chest.
It felt wrong. Much more so because of how he had given it to her. When he had given it to her.
She bit her bottom lip, her fingers tightening around the goblet in her hand. She could still taste him on her lips. She could still feel his hand on her skin.
