“Aye, I can understand that, lass. Very well, I will allow ye tae go. So, ye should go and prepare yerself.”
“Thank ye, Father. I am glad ye understand.”
“Ella has been writin’ tae me about it as well, and I ken ye would like tae be near yer sister while she is expectin’.”
Ada smiled genuinely at the thought of becoming an aunt. “May I go tomorrow?”
Graeme nodded with a small smile. “Aye, and send her me love. I would rather ye go sooner rather than later so that I can keep the marriage date set with Irving.”
“Ye already kenned the date?” she asked, her anger returning, but she quickly tamped it down. It would no longer do for her to spew her anger at him for she needed him to agree to let her go.
“Aye.” There was nothing like guilt in his eyes, and she nearly sighed with frustration.
“Well, when is it?”
“In a month’s time. They wanted tae prepare a few things first.”
“Then I will go tae Ella as long as I can, perhaps three weeks.”
“Very well,” he said resignedly. “Aye, ye may go tomorrow morn, so be prepared. I will make the arrangements.”
“Thank ye, Father!” She was amazed at how easily he’d agreed. Maybe the heavens were smiling on her.
She rushed around the side of the desk and kissed him on the cheek. But then she backed away, surprised at her own actions. It had been some time since she’d done that—not since she was a child. He looked surprised too.
“I will go get ready,” she said quickly, opening the door.
In her excitement, she didn’t see that someone was already standing in front of the door, and as soon as she hit him and they tumbled to the ground, she knew exactly who it was.
Ada had always desired to be like her sister Ella, so beautiful and elegant. Ella was the daughter who did everything right and would never break a glass, fall from a tree, or topple into her guard until they were twisted together in a heap on the ground.
But nae, it seems that fate is continually against me.
How was it possible to become entangled with the same woman over and over, and why did it have to be the woman whose touch enflamed his desire in every way? Blair thought the world unfair. The one person he could not touch and should not touch was the one person he wanted to touch literallyall the time.
Her silky hair was kissing his face, her leg was between his two, and her left hand was dangerously close to his manhood that didn’t need much to get excited once again. For heaven’s sake, even the lavender smell she carried was enough to keep him hard for hours.
“Shite,” he said, groaning as he sat up, his arm wrapped around Ada. “Are ye tryin’ tae kill me, woman?” he asked, surprised at his familiar tone. “Forgive me, Lady Ada,” he said hurriedly, catching her eye as he helped her to her feet.
When she was steadied, he could finally take his hands away from her sides. His fingertips tingled as he pulled away. It was as if his skin came alive only when he touched her.
“I was just—” She pointed with her thumb to the door and then turned back to him. She looked confused, as if she didn't know why she'd started a sentence. It was an unusual look for Ada, who always seemed to have a ready word.
“Seein’ yer father?” he completed for her.
“Aye, aye,” she replied, nodding.
Blair wasn't sure if he'd seen Ada that embarrassed before, for that was what it appeared like. Her cheeks were growing red, and she wasn’t able to come up with a witty retort.
“Well, I'm here as well tae see him,” Blair said. “I've sent Angus up tae yer room.”
“Fine, then,” she said, turning to go.
As she turned away, Blair realized that he wasn't sure he liked this docile version of her. What had her father said that had muted her normal enthusiasm and energy? Or perhaps it was the kiss.Perhaps she also kens that it was a mistake.She paused, and he turned away so that she didn’t realize he’d been staring at the back of her.
“Och, I almost forgot. Here.”
Blair looked down to see that Ada was passing him a square bit of paper. He took it between his fingers, being careful not to touch her again. But when he looked up, he paused. Both their hands were on the paper, and they didn’t move. She had come close enough to him that he could see the pulse fluttering rapidly at her throat.
