He rubbed his palms on his thighs. “I am hoping that the event will be a way for me to regain my flock and get them back on Campbell lands.”
“Ye miss them.”
It wasn’t a question but rather a statement.
He nodded. “Aye. ’Tis silly I ken. They are but animals.”
She turned to face him and shook her head, her brown eyes boring into his. “’Tis no’. No’ at all. I find it,” she tilted her head, searching for the right word, “endearing.”
With a chortle, he broke their eye contact.
“I am serious. ’Tis quite evident ye care verra much for them. The worry ye have over them creases your forehead.” She reached out, her fingers feathering over the skin of his brow.
His breath caught in his throat.
Palming his cheeks, she forced him to look at her. “I ken how much those sheep mean to ye. To your family. Your people.”
He closed his eyes, captivated by her touch and her words. Turning his face, he kissed her palm, and when he opened his eyes, she was so close. Just a few inches more and he could capture her mouth in his.
A pair of crested tits landed on a nearby tree, chittering loudly and breaking the spell. He leaned out of her touch, and they watched as the two birds flitted about, chasing each other from one branch to another.
“I have full confidence in ye that ye will be able to regain ownership. Ye’ve worked too hard, and they are rightfully yours.”
At a loss for words, he just nodded and continued to watch the birds.
“It irks me that ye have to go to such great lengths for them when they already belong to ye. E’eryone kens they belong to ye as well. One would have to be daft to bid against ye at the auction.”
He smiled. Her innocence in how the minds of men worked was sweet. Jacob Kitt was someone he’d only met recently, but it didn’t take a genius to ken the lout was of unsavory character.
Alexander feared that the bastard would go to great lengths to prevent him from getting what he wanted. But he would do what was necessary. Somehow, some way, he would make things right.
“Ye are verra kind to say such things.”
“I only speak the truth, Your Grace.”
His heart tugged. The emotional turmoil this beautiful lass caused him was getting harder and harder to ignore.
Standing, he held out his hand to Clarissa. At the sudden movement, the pair of birds skittered away. “Shall we continue?”
Her small hand was warm in his and he gave it a gentle squeeze.
“I should return to the house. We dinna want to be out here too long afore people become suspicious.”
“I can escort ye back.”
She shook her head. “No need, though I thank ye for the offer.” She looked around the garden. “And I thank ye for the tour. Your gardens are lovely.” She dipped into a curtsy before turning and heading towards the castle.
He watched her walk away, his heart feeling as if it had been abandoned. His eyes caught movement in one of the upper windows. Looking down at him were Gwen and Nicholas. Nicholas had his arms crossed as he watched from above. Gwen was speaking to him, but he wasn’t looking at her.
She swatted at his arm and pointed towards them.
Alexander had naught idea what they were discussing, but it clearly looked to be about him and Clarissa. He sighed. How could he get his best friend to see that he was falling in love with his sister? And that his feelings were true. Not something to pass in the night.
His mind made up, he, too, headed into the castle. He needed to talk to his best friend.
Inside, the corridors were quiet. He didn’t ken where Clarissa had disappeared to. Probably to her room. Upstairs, he made his way to the drawing room, as he neared, he heard his name and he slowed to listen.
Feeling a wee bit guilty for eavesdropping, he was just about to make his presence known, but dismissed that idea as he also heard Clarissa’s name.
