She swallowed,looking away. “The convent offers safety from such memories—a life where I willnae have to place me trust in someone who’ll only betray it in the end.”
Hector’s expressiondarkened at her words, something protective flickering in his eyes. But when he spoke, his tone remained challenging. “And yet here ye are, dressed to catch a man’s attention.”
“I can assure you,Hector, I’m nae tryin’ to snare ye,” she protested. She felt her cheeks flush again at the lie.
“Are ye nae?”His skepticism was plain.
“The stumble was real,”she insisted, tilting her head up.
“And the rest?”he challenged, finally setting her back on her feet, though his hands remained on her waist a moment longer before he let go.
Gabriella looked away,unable to maintain eye contact under his scrutiny. “I told ye, I simply wanted to look nice,” she said, reiterating her earlier defense.
Nae just for ye,but for me too.
“For a horse ride?Yer dress turned it into a walk that ye are hardly managin’ to keep up with.”
His disbelief was evident,but something else flickered in his eyes—something that might have been amusement.
Perhaps nae justfor the ride, then.
Hector studiedher face for a long moment, his expression unreadable. Then, he stepped back, resuming his Laird’s posture.
“A month passes quickly,Gabriella. We should return,” he said, his voice controlled once more. “The wind’s pickin’ up, and that dress will provide little protection against it.”
With that,he gestured for her to continue walking, maintaining a careful distance between them for the remainder of their journey.
9
Gabriella took a detour to her chamber to wash her face with cold water before she found her way to the library. The vast room still took her breath away—walls lined with more books than she’d ever imagined existed, leather-bound spines catching the warm glow of the fire crackling in the hearth.
Erica was already there,curled up in a window seat with a book open on her lap. She brightened when Gabriella entered. “Gabriella! How was the ridin’ lesson?” Erica asked, closing her book. “Did me braither prove to be a patient teacher?”
Gabriella almost laughed out loud,imagining Erica’s reaction when she told her what she’d done today, and how utterly foolish she’d been during the riding lesson.
“We took…”She paused, unsure how to describe her morning without revealing the confusing emotions it had stirred. “… a walk instead.”
“A walk?”Erica studied her with narrowed eyes. “Did anythin’ special happen, lass?”
Ye have nay idea.
Gabriella shook her head,reaching for the book Erica offered. “Just tired from the exertion.”
“Well,this should lift yer spirits.The Knight’s Secret Heart—quite scandalous in parts.” Erica’s eyes twinkled. “Hector would be horrified if he kenned I had it.”
Gabriella openedthe book to a random page, but the words swam before her eyes. She realized Erica had asked her a question only when the silence stretched uncomfortably.
“I’m sorry,what did ye say?”
“I askedif ye prefer tales of adventure or romance,” Erica repeated, watching her curiously. “Though perhaps I should ask what’s captured yer thoughts so thoroughly instead? Did me braither say something to ye?”
“Nothin’of importance,” Gabriella replied too quickly. “Livin’ in the castle can be… overwhelming. So much to adjust to.”
Just then a servantappeared at the door.
“Lady Erica,yer maither requests yer presence in her chambers. Somethin’ about the arrangements for the harvest festival.”
Erica sighed dramatically,rising with reluctance. “Duty calls, it seems.” She paused at the door, glancing back at Gabriella. “Whatever—or whoever—has ye so distracted, I hope it brings ye joy rather than trouble.” Her eyes narrowed thoughtfully. “Though in me experience, the two often walk hand in hand.”
