Page 46 of Hunted By the Hard Highlander

“That would be quite a good use of yer time,” Aurora said finally. “But I think it is better for yer digestion if ye take a wee walk before ye sit yerself in the library for hours on end.”

Adair considered it for a moment, his face twisting as he considered his options. It looked as if he was going to turn her down. But then, he sighed, turning fully around and looking up at her.

“Ye may be right,” he conceded, crossing his arms over his chest, making himself look like a tiny version of an adult. “Me physical health is just as important. Laird Anderson said that I must be strong for everyone.”

“Ye are already quite strong, Adair,” Aurora said, smiling when her brother took her arm and led her toward the foyer. “And ye will only get stronger.”

“I hope so,” he said as they stepped outside.

The afternoon rain from the day prior had gone away, and the sky was clear. Sunshine warmed the air, combating the slight chill that the breeze carried into the courtyard. Aurora’s hair fluttered in the wind, and Adair made a pleased sound in the back of his throat.

“I am glad to be outside,” he decided as they made a slow, lazy circle around the courtyard. “It is nice to stretch me legs.”

“It is, isnae it?” Aurora said with a contented smile. “Especially after the rain yesterday kept us inside.”

Adair made a noise of acknowledgement, pulling her toward the gardens where servants were maintaining the overgrowth. He was absorbed in the work the staff was doing, coming to a stop a few paces away from the work. Aurora did not mind, glad to watch as butterflies fluttered around nearby.

“What did ye and Laird Anderson discuss?” Aurora asked after a few minutes of silence. “It seems as if he truly inspired ye.”

“He came to discuss the handfastin’,” Adair said, though it was obvious that he was hiding something.

She would not press, though. As much as she disliked the thought of him growing up so quickly, she knew that she must let it happen. Whatever Hendry had said was important to Adair, important enough that he was willing to keep it a secret from Aurora.

“Aye, that is soon, isnae it?” she said thoughtfully. “Are ye lookin’ forward to it?”

“I believe I am,” he said, looking up at Aurora. “I’m lookin’ forward to the food. And the musicians. Mrs. Duncan told me that there are many wonderful musicians in the clan and they have been practicin’ every single day so they will be perfect once we have guests.”

“Saints, of course ye are lookin’ forward to the meal,” Aurora laughed, shaking her head. “I ken ye’ve been sneakin’ into the kitchens to eat.”

“What do ye mean?” Adair asked, his head whipping away from her at a comical pace. “I daenae ken what ye are talkin’ about.”

“Is that so?” Aurora asked, unable to hide her amusement. “Perhaps I was just hearin’ unfounded gossip, then.”

“That must be it,” he said with as much conviction as he could muster. Then, in what seemed like a desperate attempt to get the attention off of him, he asked, “What about ye? Are ye lookin’ forward to the handfastin’?”

“I…” Aurora began, unsure of how she truly felt. She had spent so long ignoring the upcoming celebration, her focus rightfully on the approaching danger that their uncle represented. “I havenae thought much of it.”

“Surely ye are a wee bit excited,” Adair said. “Ye will get to dance and dress up. There will be food and music.”

“Ye are quite fixated on the food,” she chuckled, ruffling his hair.

“And the music,” he said, seeming to accept her affection. “Ye and Laird Anderson both do that to me.”

Aurora withdrew her hand slowly, the soft strands flopping down over Adair’s forehead. Something warm, something that felt like affection, bloomed in her chest. She had known that Adair admired Hendry, but she had not expected to hear that the man was truly connecting with her brother.

I am lucky to have found Hendry. Nay one else would have tried to connect with Adair in this way.

“Well yer hair is quite soft,” Aurora said after a few moments of silence. “Is it so surprisin’ that we wish to touch it?”

“I am nae sure that is the reason,” Adair said, his attempt to sound dignified undermined by the way his hair rippled in the air.

“I think it is a perfectly fine explanation,” she said, pulling him along to continue their walk. “Come. Let us finish our walk so ye can get inside and give yerself a history lesson.”

“Aye,” he said, following along with Aurora.

“Ye ken,” she said after a few moments of walking in silence, “ye really are goin’ to be a great leader. Perhaps the best Laird that Clan MacGonagal has ever kent.”

Though he did not reply, she could feel the way Adair held himself a bit taller. His pride was a palpable thing, and she was glad to be part of the reason he felt that way. Once more, though, she could not deny that Hendry had played a significant role in this.