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Her virtue?
She shivered. As if his paternal presence could curb her improper thoughts. Sinful thoughts of Aidan danced in her head every day, throughout the day, no matter the place, no matter the company.
Discomfited, she tossed out the first rational words that popped into her head. “You’ll recall, Da, it was you who taught me the importance of being a gracious host. ”
Her father only grunted, but Aidan was at her back in an instant. He brushed a surreptitious hand at her elbow, telling her quietly, “Don’t worry yourself on my account. Your father is welcome to stay. It’s his home after all. ” Though he gave her one of his jaunty smiles, it wasn’t in his eyes. Reaching from behind her, he snatched the table and stool from her hands. “I’ll just stoke the fire before we begin. I’ve noticed you see better by the firelight. ”
The heat of him at her back made her skin pull taut. “I … yes … that’d be lovely, thank you. ”
“Well, aren’t you two just a couple of maids in the henhouse?” Her father tapped his pipe against the windowsill, then began to refill it from a pouch in his sporran. “Is this a lesson or a tea party?”
“Da, I told you, you’re welcome to stay, but please hold your tongue. ” She stole a glance at Aidan as he tended the fire. She longed to gauge his mood, but it was impossible to read him from just the set of that strong back.
Her father was being a horrible curmudgeon, and she was terrified he might frighten Aidan off. She didn’t have much in her life, and getting to spend time with her roguish hero was a precious gift—one that she knew wouldn’t last forever.
But then Aidan turned, and she read calm on those chiseled features. There was no cowing him, she realized. The man had faced God knew what in his life; a cold shoulder and some harsh words from a country farmer would roll off him like rain from wool.
Elspeth admired him. She knew the MacAlpins were frustrated by what they thought were his secretive ways, but she knew Aidan was simply his own man, who kept his own counsel.
He was persistent—learning to read was no easy trick for a man grown—and brave, too, for it was only a courageous man who admitted his weaknesses. In fact, it seemed he’d returned from his last trip to Aberdeen with his passion for learning redoubled. And though it baffled
her, she didn’t question it.
So long as he kept coming.
“Do your worst,” he said, dropping onto the stool next to hers.
His knee jostled hers as he sat, and she burned with awareness of his body, his proximity. She attempted a breezy smile, hoping to be as charmingly casual as he.
“What’s this? Miss Beth with a smile?” Aidan leaned aside to let the firelight hit her full on her face. “I fear I am to be the victim of your cruel intent. ”
The flirtatious banter brought a flush to her cheeks. She worried she might begin at any moment to grin like a baboon with her pleasure, and her lips trembled with the effort to look dignified at all costs. “Not so dire as all that,” she said, pulling a prized manuscript from her lap.
“A fine thing. ” Her father’s voice boomed from the corner, where he sat glowering at both of them. “Having the lass read at night. Don’t you know it hurts her eyes?”
“I’m fine,” she protested, not lifting her eyes from the page. Cutting off the comment she knew might be coming, she quickly added, “A translation of Homer’s Iliad. It’s a bit rough going, but I thought we could both have a try reading from it. ”
“Ah,” he said, taking it from her hands. “This is the one you told me about?”
“Yes, with Achilles. ”
“Mary, Mother of God, preserve me,” her father erupted. “You’re not with that heathen nonsense again, are ye?” He tapped his pipe hard on the windowsill and then glared regretfully at the empty bowl.
Elspeth bit back a smile, realizing what would liberate them from her father. “Angus keeps a pipe. I imagine he can refill you. ”
Her father’s eyes flickered bright, but then worries of propriety drooped his shoulders. He looked for all the world like he wanted to flee, his tastes running more toward tales of Cromwell and songs made for singing in the fields.
“It’s truly fine for you to leave,” she pressed. “I’m alone with men all the time, with Angus and with other merchants too, sorting our accounts. ”
He shot a measuring glare at Aidan.
“We’ve coin to spare this month. ” She nodded toward the door. “Now go refill that wee pouch of yours. ”
That decided it for him. With a brusque nod and dire admonitions for his daughter’s safety, Elspeth’s father left.
“I apologize for his rudeness,” she said quietly.
Aidan waved it off. “To the contrary. I’m glad to see he has a care with you. I’d wondered, you know. ”
