Evan cleared his throat. “Are ye, ah... well, lass?”
“Yes. Fine.” She hesitated. “You?”
He nodded once and rubbed the back of his neck, trying to think of something to say. He couldn’t shake the memory of how she’d clung to him earlier, leaning into him as she’d recovered from her efforts with Isla. Nor could he forget how good it had felt.
“That knife I gave ye,” he said finally. “Would ye like me to teach ye how to use it?”
Her brows lifted. “I’d forgotten about that. Yes. Yes I would.”
“Right. Come on then.”
He led her a little further from the fire, to a patch of flat ground where no one would walk into a misjudged swing. He instructed her to draw the small knife he’d given her and showed her the proper grip. “Hold it like this.”
She held it gingerly at first, like a snake that might bite her, then adjusted her grip until it matched his demonstration. Her hands were smaller than his—delicate and yet with an understated strength.
“Feet apart,” he said, nudging her boot with his toe. “Wider. Aye, like that. Ye need balance more than anything.”
“Not falling over is a priority,” she muttered. “Got it.”
He showed her how to brace her weight, how to angle her shoulders, how to keep her wrist straight so the blade wouldn’t twist. She concentrated fiercely, tongue caught in the corner of her mouth. It was ridiculous how attractive he found that.
“Now,” he said, stepping behind her to adjust her posture, “if someone comes at ye—”
He rested a hand lightly on her waist to shift her stance, and she went completely still. Not tense. Not frightened. Just... aware. He cleared his throat and stepped back quickly.
“Right. Next movement.”
She practiced stepping, pivoting, turning her body instead of flailing her arm. She was awkward at first, but determined.
“Not bad,” he said when she managed a smooth sidestep.
“Thanks. You’re a patient teacher.”
“Ye sound surprised.”
“That’s because Iamsurprised. You’ve not shouted at me even once.”
“That’s because ye are a good student. Ye listen.”
She gave him a look. “Really? My fiancé said Ineverlistened. Ha! That’s rich.Hewas the one who never listened.” She fell silent abruptly, as though she’d said more than she meant to.
Evan paused. “Ye miss him?” he asked carefully. Why did the mention of her former betrothed put his hackles up so much?
“No.” Her answer was sharp, immediate. “Not even remotely.”
He studied her face in the dimness but her expression was carefully blank. It was clear from her tone it was a topic he should drop.
“What will ye do when ye reach Edinburgh?” he asked instead.
She laughed lightly. “Oh, that’s an easy one. I’ll draw myself a hot bath and soak for around a fortnight. Oh, and maybe pay a visit to Princes Street Gardens—that’s where all this began, after all.”
“Where?”
Ruby cocked her head at him. “Princes Street Gardens. You can’t miss it. Separates Old Town and New Town.”
He frowned at her. “I’ve never heard of those gardens—or Old Town or New Town for that matter.”
“What?” she asked incredulously. “But I thought you knew Edinburgh!”
