What kind of beast moves so beautifully?
A blow landed on the soldier’s neck, then another on his face. He spun to swing at Leo, but Leo dodged it easily and knocked him down with a punch to the gut. The soldier fell to his knees, a hand raised above his head, a white flag made of flesh.
“Give him a break, MacSween,” another soldier called. His tone was jovial, but Beatrice watched the soldiers around him tenseas he spoke. “Ye’re goin' to make him abandon his position if ye keep floggin’ him like that.”
Another surprise for Beatrice, as Leo laughed at the remark. He reached down a hand to the soldier, helping him back to his feet. For a moment, he lifted his gaze and caught Beatrice staring, but then he looked away and continued the lesson.
A kind of frustration rose in Beatrice's stomach, and burned her cheeks.
Is he pretendin’ I’m nae here? Is he nae lookin’ me way on purpose?
Leo circled another soldier who had stepped forward. The rest of the soldiers watched with rapt attention, studying his motions and strikes, committing them to memory to use them as effortlessly as he did.
Even when he was facing Beatrice's direction, he turned his head away, keeping his focus somewhere else. Standing in the shadows, Beatrice could believe that maybe he didn’t actually see her, that he wasn’t doing his damnedest not to see her standing there.
Well then, let’s make sure he can see me.
As Leo was demonstrating an elaborate punch to the poor soldier in front of him, she stepped out into the golden morning light. She smiled as she did, hoping she glowed in the warmth ofthe sun, hoping the sight of her there was impossible for him to avoid.
His eyes landed squarely on her. His feet shook beneath him, and he stumbled, catching himself before he hit the ground. The soldiers around him made strangled noises of surprise. One even rushed forward as if to help Leo back to his feet.
“Daenae!” Leo snapped.
All the others fell back, their faces drawn and embarrassed by their spontaneous reactions. Beatrice too was very still.
Leo rose to his full height, and her breath caught in her throat. He looked even taller now than the soldier who had dwarfed him moments ago, his dark features so rigid and his eyes locked so firmly onto her that she didn’t dare flinch as he drew closer.
This is what I wanted,she reminded herself. Though at that very second, she was unsure if she knew at all what she actually wanted.I didnae want to be ignored. I didnae want him to act like I wasnae standin’ right here.
Her lungs worked in shallow convulsions. The phantom touch that had lingered on her skin in the early morning returned more strongly.
Leo snatched up the sword he had discarded as he stepped closer to her. She very nearly told him that he was frightening enoughwithout it, that just his bare hands and his scowl sent a tremor through her.
But am I truly scared of him?
“Ye have a habit of steppin’ into places ye shouldnae be,” Leo rumbled. The sword tapped against his side, rhythmic as a metronome. “Ye have a way of interruptin’ me when I am busy as well.”
Beatrice managed a smile, though it was weak. “Me apologies, me Laird. I was tryin’ to reach the garden.”
“Were ye? Then how come ye’ve stopped right where I’m training with me men?”
“The garden’s through there, aye?” She pointed to a doorway at the far end of the courtyard. “I’m just makin’ me way to it. I suppose I’m to blame for the fact that ye’re occupyin’ the whole place?”
Leo moved without breaking eye contact. He threw his blade to the soldier standing closest to him, and to Beatrice's amazement, the soldier caught it. The clang of steel against steel boxed her ears, but she was determined not to flinch.
“On yer way, then,” Leo ordered, his tone so flat that she couldn’t tell whether he was angry with her or not.
She bobbed a quick curtsy and continued towards the entrance to the garden. Right before she crossed the threshold, she turned back to see Leo watching her intently while his men pretended they were looking anywhere but at her.
The truth of it came together in her mind like a vision born out of the ether.
He wasnae avoidin' me. He doesnae care enough to avoid me.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
“Can I meet her now?” Violet asked, leafing through a volume of plans and half-thought-out strategies Leo had been scribbling in for over a year. “Are ye really goin' to bind yerself to a lass and nae let her meet yer family?”
“She’s met some of the family. She’s met Allistair and Effie.”
