“Good morning, my Laird,” she returned with a tilt of her head.
In the next moment, he sat down and attacked his food with gusto, only providing simple answers to his daughter’s many questions. From time to time, his gaze would drift to Violet, where her head was bent over her food, not making any effort to meet his gaze.
In no time, his plate was scraped clean. But before he stood up from the table, he turned to her.
“Miss Violet,” he called, waiting until she looked up at him. “We have to go somewhere. I will be waiting for ye outside. Ask yer maid to attire ye in proper clothes for the outdoors; there is a slight chill in the air.”
With a little bow of his head, he strode off.
Once outside, he stopped and took a deep breath. Violet was temptation. A temptation he now had to live with.
In a few moments, she was back with her crimson wrap that set off the gold in her hair. It definitely looked good on her.
“Here I am, my Laird,” she said with an exaggerated curtsey that brought a reluctant smile to his lips.
He simply led the way towards their destination, matching his pace to hers.
“So, where are we heading to?” she asked
“Ye will see,” he replied.
“You did not give me an idea about where we are going. I would have wanted to be suitably dressed. Not that I have my dresses here, but Ona, my maid, has been a wonder with the dresses she altered for me. They fit like a dream. I am sure she would have been able to find a suitable one.”
Yes, her dresses were a little too well-fitted for his peace of mind, but he could not admit that to her.
“Ye are suitably dressed,” he assured quietly.
“Keira would have loved to come too. She would be alone in the castle.”
“She would be with Grannie Ava.”
“Children need to play outdoors. She could play outside with us.”
“Where we are going isnae suitable for her.”
“Why?”
“Ye will see,” he replied evenly.
“You are very annoying, you know. Why are you answering in short sentences?”
“Ye will get yer answers eventually, daenae worry.”
Violet huffed in frustration.
Ruaridh felt the corners of his lips curve in a smile. She was impatient, and a part of him liked to stoke her fire. She was mesmerizing when she was annoyed.
And surely such thoughts were evidence that he was not in his right mind.
For the next few moments, they walked in silence, her eyes scanning the courtyard while he acknowledged the men sparring with a nod.
Soon, they arrived at their destination and found Logan waiting for them there.
“Good morn, me Laird, Miss Violet,” he greeted, bowing first to Ruaridh and then to Violet with a wide smile.
“Logan,” Violet greeted back with a wide smile. She was probably glad to see a friendly face.
While Ruaridh understood the reason for her warmth towards his man-at-arms, it did not stop his arm from itching to slap the silly smile off Logan’s face.
