Page 52 of Forever My Lass

“Exactly when have I ever played matchmaker?” she snorted with disgust. “You know I’m too direct for that.”

“That’s what I’m afraid of,” Sebastian said with a groan as he pressed his forehead against hers. “Isn’t taming one beast enough of a challenge for you, light of my life?”

“Now that you’ve broached the topic, I won’t deny you would often try the patience of Job himself.”

“And I remember telling you more than a year ago that you would need that kind of patience,” he sighed with resignation. “I do try, sweetheart.”

“I know you do,” she whispered, pressing her cheek against the warmth of his skin where his shirt splayed open. She suddenly pulled away from him to eye him with a mock glare.

“Oh, and for your edification, my lord. When we’re in polite company, my tongue is quite controlled.”

“Is it?” he murmured with an arched eyebrow. “As I recall, you almost called me a fuckwit this afternoon.”

“An excellent example of how well I’ve learned to control my tongue. Be grateful I called you something other than a fuckwit.”

“And fuddy-duddy was an improvement?” His eyebrows shot up again, but she saw the way his mouth twitched and the gleam of laughter in his dark gaze.

“There’s no pleasing you, is there?” Anna rolled her eyes as she laughed.

“Actually, I can think of several ways we can please each other, my love,” he whispered softly as his lips brushed against hers. “Ways that will make both of us quite happy.”

“Good Lord. Did you just propose we do something wicked, Lord Starling?” Anna caught his hand in hers and raised it to press a kiss to the back of his hand. With her eyes meeting his, she smiled slowly as she slid his forefinger into her mouth to gently suck on it. At his soft groan, she released him. “If you intend to prove you’re not a fuck-wit, then I suggest you do it now, while I can still keep my eyes open.”

“Oh, I can promise you’ll not fall asleep, Lady Starling,” he said with a grin. “I intend to make you sob my name as you admit I’m not a pompous ass.” The world shifted as he lifted her up into his arms. Her arm wrapped around his neck, she sighed happily. A moment later his mouth brushed against her ear.

“I love you, Anna.” The emotion in his voice made her heart soar, and she tipped her head back to meet his gaze.

“And I love you, my dark angel,” she whispered back as he carried her to bed.

Chapter 13

Iain closed his book of accounts with a grunt of disgust. Everyone had gone to bed more than an hour ago, but he’d been feeling too restless to retire. Unwilling to lie awake staring up at the ceiling, he’d gone to his study to work. It had been a pointless effort. He couldn’t concentrate, and he was still wide awake.

Rising to his feet, he blew out the oil lamp on his desk and headed upstairs. There were several books in his room. Perhaps reading one of them would help him fall asleep. Iain was halfway to his room when he heard a soft click drift through the quiet hallway. It took him a second to recognize the sound of a door opening, and before he could react, Madeline stepped out of the bathroom.

The two of them collided, and as she staggered backward, he pulled her into his chest to save her from falling. She gasped in surprise and clung to him for a brief moment to steady herself.

“I’m sorry. I wasn’t expecting anyone to be up at this hour,” she murmured quietly, pushing herself free of his embrace. Iain frowned as she avoided his gaze.

“You’re feeling better?” His fingers tipped her head up, and she blinked in confusion then nodded.

“Yes, thank you.”

“You were missed at dinner this evening. I missed you.” Startled by his admission, a warning bell rang loudly in the back of his head. Madeline swallowed hard then looked away from him.

“Iain, I…I’ve decided to look for employment in the medical profession. I don’t know how long it will take to find—”

“Ye are leaving?” Stunned, he stared down at her as shouts of protest drowned out the warning bell resounding in the back of his mind.

“Yes, I think it’s time.” Madeline nodded, and he caught her chin with his fingers, forcing her to look at him. The hopelessness shimmering in her eyes made his gut clench.

“I dinnae understand why ye wish to leave. Are ye unhappy here?”

“I think it’s best for the girls. If I stay much longer…I don’t want them to grow too attached to me. It’s not healthy for them.”

The fact that she’d not answered his question irritated him. She’d displayed no sign of being unhappy at Muchalls Hall over the past couple of weeks. Remembering the echo of laughter in the hall this morning as she’d refused to give way to Ainslie’s protests in some unknown matter, Iain had heard the happiness in the sound.

Something had changed between that moment of laughter and the late afternoon. The memory of her wan appearance when he and Sebastian had found Madeline and Anna in the garden made him study her intently.