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“Tell me, Father, what shall I do?” Aindreas’s voice shook as he leaned closer to the curtain, hoping the priest would give him advice on how to rid himself of Blair and his need for vengeance.
“Ten Hail Marys and Our Fathers should suffice.”
Aindreas nodded, but he couldn’t hide the disappointment from taking hold. He had said his prayers every day and night, hoping they would aid him in his fight against his sinful heart, yet every time he closed his eyes, she was there, beckoning him forward.
“Aye, Father,” he forced himself to say. “Thank ye for yer pure will.”
“Go in peace, my son.”
Aindreas stepped out of the confessional box, feeling even more drained than before. He moved his hands into a cross as he passed the image of Jesus and stepped out of the chapel, hoping to find someone to spar with. Yet, the courtyard was empty, and silence was his only greeting. The soldiers leaning against the castle’s walls would be too tired to fight him. It would be too easy. He looked around for Marcus, wondering if his friend was up yet, but there was still an hour left until the guards would change. Most likely, he would find his friend in the great hall, breaking his fast. Aindreas grimaced, knowing he would find Blair there as well.
He shoved his hair away from his face, allowing his feet to take him around the courtyard towards his mother’s garden, not knowing why of all the places he would go there. The last time he had stood in the garden was when he had been holding Blair, defending her against imaginary MacAlister assassins while trying to get a rise out of his father. The plan had obviously failed, given his father hadn’t said a word to him about that night, as if he hadn’t cared at all.
His brow furrowed at the voices coming from the garden. He recognized both but couldn’t place them. His eyes widened as he found Alisa and Blair standing in the middle of the flowers. Blair was staring down at the ground while his aunt was gazing at the young lass as if she was a rat she had found nibbling on her cheese.
“I want ye to stay away from my son,” said his aunt, her gaze darkening on Blair while her voice took on a stern, admonishing tone. “I don’t want ye ruining him.”
Aindreas’s hands fisted. Blair could never ruin Daniel. She was bonnie and sweet. Everything about her radiated with innocent wonder. Aindreas’s jaw clenched as he fought himself, knowing he shouldn’t get involved, yet despite that, his whole body wanted to step forth and block Blair from his aunt’s cruelty.
“He deserves more than the likes of ye. De ye understand me, lass?”
His eyes widened as he watched his aunt grab Blair’s chin, jerking her attention upwards. His aunt scowled at Blair’s face, and a chill fell over Aindreas’s flesh as he heard her say darkly, “I don’t know why the laird has decided to bring ye here after all these years. But know this, lass. I will not have ye ruining everything I’ve worked so hard for.”
Aindreas felt his body pulling towards Blair, demanding he confront his aunt and end her torment of the poor lass, but he held himself still. He ground his teeth as he fought his body’s commands, telling himself he shouldn’t lose focus.
Sorcha was still coming in three days' time. He needed to turn around. He needed to make a plan of how to court the girl. Instead, he remained rooted to the ground, as if the earthen floor had absorbed his legs and he could no longer move.
“Ye have nothing to be worried about,” he heard Blair say softly, a slight quiver to her words. “I will stay away from Daniel.”
“Swear it,” his aunt whispered harshly.
“I swear it, my lady. I will leave yer son be.”
How could his aunt be so cruel? Blair had done nothing wrong. And why was his aunt so concerned about Blair ruining anything? It was strange indeed the laird had brought the young lass to their castle, yet the laird had done many unusual things over the years, raising Aindreas as his son being one of them.
Aindreas sighed, dropping his gaze to the roots in front of him, recalling the harsh words he had said to Blair when they first met. He was just as bad as his aunt, worse even given he had called Blair such a terrible thing, accusing her of being a lady of the night when he hardly knew her. He took a step back, telling himself to leave, but when he lifted his gaze, he found his aunt gone and Blair kneeling in front of a patch of purple flowers.
He blinked, surprise filling him when he found her smiling tenderly at the blossoms, gathering several into her basket while she hummed a soft tune. Her voice was lovely, soothing the hate and anger he felt earlier when he first rose in the morn. The sun’s light glimmered down upon her, casting a halo on the crown of her head, making her appear like an angel had fallen from the heavens and blessing the Earth before her.
Aindreas leaned against the tree next to him, watching her hum and move through the garden. She was the most beautiful creature he had ever cast his gaze on, and she was making him crazy. There was a push and pull within him, demanding he go to her, kiss her, make her his, but at the same time, he knew it wasn’t right.
The Laird Cambel and his daughter would arrive in less than three days' time. He needed to court Sorcha, not Blair. There was no future for him with the young lass his father had brought. And even if he didn’t need Sorcha, he would just bring pain to Blair.
He was not a good man. Aindreas knew that much. Blair deserved more than him. She deserved someone like Daniel, who would make her smile; who wouldn’t lie to her.
The humming stopped, and Aindreas felt his heart flutter as emerald eyes met his. They widened in surprise and alarm before narrowing into a dark glare. Blair straightened, her grasp tightening on her basket. For a moment, he thought she would stalk towards him, demanding he explain his avoidance. Instead, she huffed and turned on her heel, striding towards the castle door.
Aindreas didn’t know what got into him. He found his feet taking him to her. “Wait,” he called, reaching for her. His hand grasped her arm, and he pulled her towards him.
Blair stumbled, emitting a sharp yelp as her back slammed into his chest. “Let me go,” she whispered, tugging her arm away from him.
“I-I—“ Aindreas didn’t know what to say. All words left him as those eyes turned upwards to him, looking startled. There was pain in that gaze, and he knew exactly why she was upset. Of course, she would be upset by his avoidance. He had made it so obvious he didn’t want to be around her. And for what? She had done nothing wrong.
“How are ye?” he found himself asking, his words startling himself.
Blair’s brows furrowed in confusion. Her gaze traveled to his hand still on her arm. There was a slight flush in her cheeks, making Aindreas’s insides heat in excitement. He wondered vaguely why she was no longer pulling away from him.
“Why do ye want to know?” she asked, her voice laced with bitterness.
