Page 13 of The Beast

“My brother would have a much larger staff, if given the choice. However, he agrees with me that we do not have a need for so many people about.”

Duncan had to admit to feeling at ease as he walked Beatrice around the sides and back of the house to show her the land. Something about her was different than other women. She didn’t seem to want anything from him other than company. Her curiosity was genuine as she gazed across the area, leaning forward, and rising to her toes, she pointed to the wall he’d been working on for over a year.

“Why is there a partial wall there?” She looked up to him, her clear gaze seeming to see much deeper than he would prefer.

Uneven, some portions higher than others, the wall was not exactly a work of art. If anything, it was an eyesore, with its haphazard shape and piles of stones around it.

“I work on it for exercise. To keep in shape for the games. As ye may have seen, I compete in the caber toss and stone throw.”

Intelligent eyes scanned his face for a moment and then she turned to the wall. “I see. Ye should at least make it look somewhat straight. It is visible from the house is it not?”

He almost laughed. Only a woman would care how a stone wall looked. Especially one that did not serve any true purpose.

“I may actually move it to over there,” he pointed to an area to the left. “Use the stones to wall in the space so it can be an enclosed garden.”

Beatrice shrugged. “I suppose if ye use it for training, then it matters not where ye build it.” Moving away, she turned back to the house. “It is a pity ye do not have a larger staff and entertain. The house is beautiful. The land flat and perfect for a gathering.”

A shudder ran through him at the thought of having groups of people about. Even before he’d become reclusive, he’d never been one for crowds. As a lad, he’d been shy and not as boisterous as his brothers.

“Ye are not one for company are ye?” Beatrice asked. “Some people prefer solitude. Although I have a hard time understanding it, I accept that not everyone wants the company of others.”

She then looked up to the sky. “Goodness, I best be heading back. Clouds are gathering and I do not wish to be caught in a storm.”

“I will escort ye back,” Duncan said not quite happy about going back to the keep. He’d be forced to remain the night by the way the clouds were gathering.

“Ye will not. I have already put ye out. I assure ye to be fine. I will ride fast and be back at the keep before very long.” Beatrice lifted her skirts and hurried back toward the house, every so often looking up at the sky.

He followed walking slower and wondering why she found it necessary to come in the first place. He’d told Stuart to inform her he’d come there so they could speak prior to her mother coming and demanding he marry her.

Had they even come up with a plan? He couldn’t remember much as he studied the woman in front of him. She was beautiful. In all probability the loveliest creature he’d ever seen.

It only took a few moments to saddle his horse and by the time Beatrice emerged from the house with her cloak on, he waited for her.

Her eyes widened. “I keep telling myself to stop being so impulsive, but then I do something without thinking it through. Now I am infringing on yer time.”

“We have not discussed what we will do when yer mother comes,” Duncan said as he took her by the waist and lifted the woman to her horse. It was hard to ignore the feel of her body under his hands and the soft fragrance from her clothing as she arranged herself atop the horse.

Once he mounted, they began riding toward his family home. With each moment that passed, the clouds became darker and soon he realized they would not be able to outride the storm.

There were two options: attempt to ride through a downpour; or find shelter.

Duncan looked to Beatrice, who gave him a worried look. “There is a place just over the bend where we can find shelter from the rain. Hopefully, it will not last too long.”

They rode to an abandoned place that had often been used by men to gather or hide. He prayed there was nothing too unfavorable in the place when they entered.

The skies rumbled and as soon as they reached the empty building, a downpour began.

Chapter Four

Despite not having to ride far in the rain, by the time they came to the dilapidated house, Beatrice was soaked through and shivering.

After pulling the horses to a covered area, Beatrice watched as Duncan pushed a door open. Thankfully with him along, she felt safe to enter what looked to be a rather intimidating place.

The air was musty, but thankfully the room was dry. There was a fireplace, and Duncan hurried out to find some kindling to build a fire to warm up and dry their clothes with.

It was only a few moments later that a cheery fire burned in the hearth and both Beatrice and Duncan hovered close to it, holding their hands out. He’d taken a branch and cut off the smaller twigs and leaves then fashioned it between a broken chair and a table so that Beatrice could hang her cloak on it to dry. Unfortunately, her dress was wet as well, so she stood by the fire hoping the heat would dry most of the wetness away.

“I am not sure how long the rain will continue,” Duncan said unfolding a plaid he’d brought and kept in a bag on his saddle. “Ye can undress and wrap in this so that we can attempt to dry yer clothes. I will go see about the horses.”