Nay. Daenae let it be Aaron.
Her prayer went unanswered, for Aaron stepped inside, and her heart immediately betrayed her with a violent thump.
He looked annoyingly well-rested for a man who had spent the previous evening nearly kissing her in front of his clansfolk. His gaze landed on her at once, and she could have sworn she saw a smile tug at the corner of his mouth.
“Good mornin’, Edith.”
Her eyes squeezed shut. Of course, he was going to join her at the table. Of course, he was also having a late breakfast. What were the odds?
She looked up slowly, meeting his gaze again. “Me Laird.”
Aaron’s brows lifted slightly. “Ye are late for breakfast,” he noted.
She could hardly tell if he was mocking her or not.
“So are ye.”
His mouth twitched, the traitorous movement almost distracting her. “I always eat at this hour.”
Edith blinked. “Nay, ye daenae.”
“Aye, I do.”
“Nay.”
Aaron pulled out the chair beside her and sat. “Have ye been keepin’ track of me meals?”
Her face reddened at once. “Nay,” she blurted.
Aaron smirked. “Then how would ye ken?”
Edith opened her mouth to say something, then closed it again. She frowned at him, but he looked entirely too pleased with himself.
Breakfast was a terrible idea.
She stood abruptly, and he looked at her, stealing a glance at her bowl of porridge before speaking.
“Ye havenae finished yer meal.”
“Aye. I suddenly remembered something.”
“What?”
“I cannae tell ye, me Laird.”
Aaron’s brows drew together. He stared at her, confusion written all over his face.
Edith nodded once, satisfied with her explanation. Then she grabbed a small piece of bread and escaped before he could question her further.
Edith stepped into the main library, her heart soaring when she found it empty.
No one at Hallow Castle ever read a book before noon. It was just the perfect place to escape, and it looked as though it had been waiting for her.
Rows upon rows of shelves stretched around her, filled with books so old that some looked ready to crumble if she breathed on them too hard.
Surely, Aaron willnae come here after breakfast.
She wandered in, walking between the deeper rows of shelves until she found a secluded corner near one of the narrow windows. Dust floated lazily through the sunlight, and for the first time that morning, she felt herself relax.
