Violet’s face lit up. She shifted awkwardly from one foot to another, suddenly unable to hold still.
Edith watched in quiet disbelief as the maid blushed over the healer. And for a moment, she forgot about Aaron completely.
She forgot about his lips, his eyes, and his sharp jaw. Only for a moment. Then, inevitably, her thoughts found their way back to him.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
It was impossible not to think of her.
Aaron sat alone in his chamber, a cup of whiskey in one hand as the clock ticked steadily toward midnight.
He had not bothered getting into bed. There was no point. Not when thoughts of the lass had completely plagued his mind.
His gaze drifted to the door, and his jaw tightened as he imagined Edith in the chamber across from his. He had chosen to have her close by to keep an eye on her, and now he found it incredibly difficult to keep his mind off her, even when he so desperately wished to.
Perhaps she is awake.
His fingers curled tightly around the arm of his chair as he caught himself thinking of her again.
Perhaps she might even leave her door open like she did the first night.
Aaron shook his head sharply, dismissing the thought before he was tempted to check on her as he had done that night.
Surely, she didnae. Nae after what happened on the stair landing.
The stair landing had been a fluke. A mere mishap that should be forgotten without trouble. Or at least, that was how he chose to see it.
But he had kissed her and then left her lying on the floor. Surely, she would not want to risk seeing him at all.
Damn me.
His jaw clenched tighter as he poured the last of the whiskey into his cup. It was a wonder that he was nowhere near drunk. The flask had been half full when he started.
He groaned, pushing himself to his feet.
The fake betrothal with Edith had been a ploy to simplify matters for himself. But now, it had successfully begun to keep him up at night.
“It was only a kiss,” he muttered into the dark room, his grip tightening on his cup as irritation flared in his chest.
Why then could he not stop thinking about it?
He was Aaron Gallaway, the Laird of Clan Hallow. If he wished for a woman’s attention, all he needed to do was raise a finger, and it would be his.
Powerful Lairds fought to have their daughters wed him. And yet, for some reason, none of that brought him comfort now.
None of those women could raise their chins in his presence, much less argue with him. None of them could look at him as though they wished to throw a chair at his head one moment and then kiss him fiercely the next. None of them smelled like wild lavender.
His face hardened. His brows drew together as he downed the rest of the whiskey in one gulp, the amber liquid burning its way down his throat.
He dropped his empty cup with a clatter. Before he could think better of it, he threw on a cloak and walked out of his chamber, careful to avoid as much as a glance toward Edith’s door.
He found his way to the quiet Great Hall, crossing it and stepping out into the cold air. The courtyard was empty.
Perfect.
Perhaps a long walk would finally clear his head.
He knew his way around in the dark. He walked the grounds, reaching the far end before returning to the courtyard again.
