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Chapter Twenty-Six
Blair
They dressed in silence as darkness fell, using the last rays to find their way back to their clothes. She left her corset loose, yet she frowned at the dirt marring her gown. Thankfully, it was black, and no stains were displayed on the material. She swiped off the noticeable soot and shook her skirts to ensure no more remained. Aindreas tried in vain to straighten the wrinkles marring his shirt before finally giving up and stuffing on his shoes, placing his knife into his boot.
Aindreas’s stallion waited for them just outside the forest, munching on some grass. Her hands stroked the beast's haunches, enjoying its silky smooth fur as she ran her fingers through it. Everything felt new. As if being with Aindreas had made her reborn. She loved the twinkling stars above her, the sound of the crickets in the fields, the light gust of wind blowing through her hair. Everything was beautiful, different, as if she was seeing it for the first time.
“Blair, are ye ready?”
She turned around, and she couldn’t help but smile at Aindreas watching her. There was so much adoration in his eyes. She didn’t think she could ever get used to his beauty nor the idea of this man loving her. How? she wanted to ask. Why her of all people? She wasn’t nearly as beautiful as all the other maids of the castle, at least she believed. And yet, Aindreas wanted her.
She felt giddy knowing it.
Blair nodded, watching him mount his horse before helping her up. She sat in front of him, her flesh prickling with desire as she felt his breath on her throat, his chest pressing against her back. Her thoughts were filled with him, reliving his body inside hers, wishing she could have more of him, wishing they never had to leave this forest.
“Do ye think they’ve been looking for us?” Blair asked with a shy smile as they rode towards the castle. She could make out the torches in the distance and Tavis’s tower.
Aindreas chuckled. “Possibly.”
Seeing Tavis’s tower made Blair frown. Just this morning, she was going to leave without saying goodbye. She worried the healer would be upset with her, especially for missing her lessons. Her gaze drifted to the basket in front of her, hoping the herbs she collected inside would suffice as an apology.
Aindreas groaned. “I’m sure I’m going to get scolded by the village speakers. I was supposed to meet with them about the taxes.”
Blair chuckled. “And what excuse will ye give them?”
She felt Aindreas’s lips on her neck and shivered. “I suppose I can’t tell them the truth.”
Blair smiled. “I’m sure ye will think of something.”
Aindreas’s hold around her tightened. “Aye, I’ll tell them that a green-eyed fairy completely enchanted me. She finally let me go once I satisfied her desires.”
Blair gasped and smacked his hand. “Ye will say nae such thing.”
Aindreas laughed, and she decided she loved the sound of it. She loved hearing his joy and knowing she was the cause of it. “And what do ye think I shall tell them?”
Blair flushed as memories of him kissing her knee returned. “Ye will tell them ye had a very important meeting ye had to attend to.”
Aindreas barked with laughter, and her face flushed even redder, feeling as if she had stuck it in flames. The gate opened, and she worried with all the torches Aindreas would see that her face was as red.
“I wonder if they will—“
Aindreas stopped, and Blair felt the very breath leave her as her eyes landed on Laird Cambel standing in the middle of the courtyard. On either side stood his men, their hands on their hilts while they looked around warily at the MacBean men standing on the battlements around them. No arrows were drawn. All swords were sheathed, yet there was tension in the air, making the hair on the back of Blair’s neck rise.
“Laird Cambel,” Aindreas said uneasily. “I thought ye were on yer way home.”
“Aye, I was,” said the laird with a curt nod, his eyes narrowing on Blair.
Aindreas dismounted from his horse before reaching for Blair. Blair swallowed, not knowing how this would look to the laird that Aindreas was alone with another woman. She grabbed Aindreas’s arms, sliding off the horse and trying her best not to touch him too much.
“Why are ye out here and not dining with the others?”
Laird Cambel scoffed. “I was waiting for yer return. I didn’t think ye would be this long, lad.”
Blair flushed at his accusatory tone. She kept her gaze on the cobblestones, and her hands pressed together in front of her to keep from fidgeting.
“Apologies for making ye wait,” she heard Aindreas say. He sounded commanding. There was no fear in his voice. “Shall we speak in my study?”
She lifted her gaze, her stomach twisting when she found Laird Cambel’s gaze still on her. “Aye,” he said while staring at her. “We shall.”
