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She squinted in the darkness, wondering who could be out at this hour. Stepping forward, she stopped when a twig snapped, jarring the person before her. Her eyes widened when the person straightened, turning his blue gaze upon her.
Aindreas.
“Apologies,” she muttered, quickly turning around and walking back to the door. “I shall take my leave. I didn’t know anyone would be out here at this hour.”
“Wait.”
Blair wished she had continued, yet her feet stubbornly stopped. She glanced over her shoulder, finding Aindreas standing now. There was a sadness in his gaze, one she wished to take away.
“Would ye care to join me?” he asked while gesturing towards the bench behind him.
Blair bit her bottom lip, wondering if this was some sort of trick, and snakes were slithering beneath the bench. Or perhaps when she sat down, there would be ink staining her sleeping gown. Still, she found herself moving towards him. Her feet moved carefully, not wanting to crush any of the flowers as she stepped lightly towards him.
Aindreas grabbed her hand, placing a chaste kiss on her knuckles while smiling kindly up at her. He guided her towards the bench. On closer inspection, she found no ink on the marble and no snakes slithering underneath.
Perhaps he was genuine when he requested for her to join him.
She placed her candle on the ground before sitting on the marble bench and gazed at the beautiful flowers adorning the stone walls. Ivy grew up one side, blossoming white flowers she didn’t recall the name of.
“I apologize for my words from before,” he said while sitting next to her.
Blair was uncomfortably aware of his leg brushing against hers as well as her state of attire. If she looked the beggar before, she probably looked the mistress now dressed in only a sleeping gown and a shawl. She gathered the fabric closer to her bosom, hoping the flimsy material was enough coverage to his roaming eyes.
“It was uncalled for,” he continued. “I do not know ye or yer character, and it was rude of me to presume the worst.” He took her hand in his, lacing his fingers with hers. The touch made her face heat, and the kindness in his gaze made her want more. “I hope ye can find it in yer heart to forgive me.”
Blair found herself nodding. “Aye, I forgive ye,” she whispered.
She didn’t understand how a man could go from being cruel to the handsome prince from her Mamó’s tales. Blair didn’t want to overthink it. He was apologizing. He hadn’t meant what he said, and she wanted to believe this attraction she felt for him wasn’t nothing.
Her heart fluttered as he leaned towards her, brushing her hair behind her ear. The touch was delicate, and yet it made her stomach twist and turn with desire. “Would ye walk with me?” he whispered in her ear, making shivers ripple down her spine.
She found words were difficult to utter, and she bobbed her head up and down. He tugged her hand towards him, guiding her upwards before resting her palm against his arm. Her face felt as if she had stuck it in a boiling pot, and she worried under the moon’s glow, he would see the red tinge in her cheeks.
“I would like to know ye, Blair. Tell me about yerself. How did my father come to find ye?”
“Yer father—“ Blair paused. She couldn’t tell him about his father’s illness. She grimaced, wondering briefly why the laird wanted to keep it a secret from his son, but she had made a promise, and she intended to keep it. “Well, I suppose I should start from the beginning.” She chuckled nervously. “My Mamó died a couple of years ago.” She bit her bottom lip, feeling tears prickling in her eyes as she thought of her sweet Mamó and the final moments leading towards her death. “I didn’t know my mother. She died shortly after I was born. I’ve been alone ever since.”
Aindreas’s brows furrowed in concern. “And yer father? What of him?”
Blair smiled sadly and shook her head. “I’ve never known my father. Mamó didn’t like to speak of him.”
Aindreas’s frown deepened, yet he didn’t say another word as they continued through the garden.
“Yer father was visiting my village.” Blair winced. It wasn’t quite a lie, yet it wasn’t an absolute truth, given she lived miles away from the closest village. “When he learned of my state, he offered his support.”
They stopped in the middle of the path. Aindreas stroked her cheek, and she felt her heart flutter once more at his touch. There was so much sadness and confusion in his gaze as he stared down at her. “I’m so sorry for yer loss,” he breathed as he leaned in close.
