Page 29 of A Wife for the Highland Villain (Breaking the Highland Rules #3)

Lily’s eyes settled on Daisy, who had entered carrying a tray of tablets and wild berries. She balanced it carefully and set it on the table between her and her sister.

“Here they are,” Daisy said, brushing her palms against her dress.

Lily gave her a smile. “Thank ye. How are the preparations for the cèilidh going?”

“Quite well,” Daisy replied. “Nathan has posted more guards at every entrance of the hall. He is with them now in the guard room, giving orders.”

Lily lifted her eyebrows. “That is thorough.”

“It is,” Daisy agreed. “He says all must be secure.”

“Good. Thank ye, Daisy. Do ye need to tend to anything else?”

Daisy shook her head. “Only to ask if ye need more before I go.”

“We are fine,” Lily said softly.

The maid curtsied with a smile and eventually slipped out the door.

As soon as she was gone, Brigid’s eyes narrowed. “Who is Nathan? And why are they posting more guards for a celebration?”

Lily leaned back against the bedpost. “He’s the man-at-arms, and I daenae ken. Likely, Alasdair is being extra careful again.”

Brigid made a small sound, and Lily watched as her gaze swept the chamber, taking in the tapestries, the warm bed with its thick blankets, and the tall carved wardrobe in the corner.

“I will say it again, Lily. This place is remarkable. And ye seem to belong here. It’s as if ye’ve been running this home forever. The servants already treat ye as their lady.”

“They are likely only polite because I am new,” Lily said.

Brigid’s laugh was sharp. “Daenae give me that. I saw it meself. They like ye because ye look at them as though they matter. That maid…” she trailed off, snapping her fingers in a bid to remember her name

“Daisy,” Lily supplied.

“Aye, Daisy. I saw how ye spoke to her. I saw how she brightened when ye thanked her. That isnae fear. That is affection. They follow because ye are kind. Plus, Alasdair seems changed. So why are ye still in doubt?”

Lily gave a faint sigh but did not answer.

Brigid, perhaps understanding her silence, did not press further. She stood up, went to one of the boxes by the wall, and bent over it. “Enough of this. I have a surprise for ye.”

She rummaged for a moment, then pulled out a long parcel wrapped in cloth. She turned with a grin and laid it on the bed before Lily.

“I was sure ye wouldnae have packed a dress fit for a cèilidh, so Valerie sent one.”

Lily unfolded the cloth, and the nearby candlelight fell on the green silk dress.

A breath escaped her lips. “Ye didnae?—”

“I did,” Brigid responded.

Lily pulled it out completely, held it up, and her mouth fell open. The fabric shone, soft and daring, the neckline deep enough that she gasped.

“Good God,” she muttered.

“Beautiful, is it nae?” Brigid asked, her eyes gleaming.

“Beautiful?” Lily stared at it, then at her sister. “This is the most revealing thing I have ever seen. Ye can see down to the third rib!”

Brigid burst into laughter. “That is the point. Wear it and drive Alasdair mad.”

Lily lowered the dress quickly, her face flushing. “Drive him mad at the cost of me dignity?”

“Perhaps nae dignity,” Brigid teased. “But think of the reward. Still, it is yers if ye change yer mind.”

Lily sighed, folded the dress carefully, and placed it on the chest at the foot of the bed. “Alasdair already had dresses made for me before I even came here.”

Brigid froze. “Did he? And how, pray, did he manage that?”

“He claims he guessed me measurements.”

Her sister’s eyes narrowed. “He didnae guess.”

“That is what he says. I found a trunk of dresses and another trunk of what he planned to return because he didnae like them. I have been picking dresses from the pile he meant to return.”

Brigid shook her head. “Yer stubbornness is a fearsome thing.”

Lily gave a small smile but then grew serious. “I am certain there are things he is hiding from me.”

Brigid sat back on the bed. “Like what?”

Lily’s voice lowered. “Ye were young, too young to notice, but I always wondered how he came aboard Faither’s ship in the first place, and what happened to him all those years away. He hasnae told me anything.”

For a while, Brigid said nothing. She only reached across and clasped Lily’s hand. “Do ye remember what Maither told ye? Never try to heal a wound that willnae stop bleeding?”

Lily clenched her jaw. “How could I forget?”

“Well, in this case, Lily, it is ye who willnae stop bleeding, nae him.”

The words struck her as her eyes fell on the folded green dress, which shone rather faintly. She wanted to argue and defend herself, but the words would not come.

Because deep down, she knew Brigid was right.

Brigid gave her hand a small squeeze. “He loves ye. I saw it the moment he walked into the hall. Times have changed, and he has changed. Ye need only let go of the fear that holds ye back.”

Lily nodded, as it was the only thing she could do at that moment.

Brigid then turned to the tray before them, her eyes lighting up. “I need to eat this before it grows cold.”

Lily shook her head, laughter soft on her lips. But when Brigid turned away to pour them both water, Lily’s gaze fell once more on the dress. She traced the silk with her eyes and felt the truth settling inside her.

Her sister was right; she was the one who would not stop bleeding.

And she was not sure how much longer she could keep it up.

Later that evening, Lily stepped out of the bath, feeling fresher and more relaxed. She stepped into her chamber and tried to help Daisy, who was making her bed.

The maid, however, refused to let her do anything more than fluff a pillow. Lily laughed at the gesture but decided to do as much as she could anyway.

“What will ye wear for tomorrow night?” Daisy asked as she tugged the last sheet tight.

Lily glanced toward the small wooden box near the chest. “Me dress is in there.”

Daisy followed her gaze and let out a soft laugh.

“Ye daenae approve?” Lily asked, arching an eyebrow.

Daisy gave a smile. “Me opinion isnae worth much, me Lady. I am only glad ye willnae wear another of those ugly gowns. If ye attended the cèilidh wearing one of them, I think half the hall would weep.”

Lily laughed, shaking her head. “Daenae worry. I daenae hate Alasdair so much that I would do that to him.”

Her laughter died down, and she looked out the window.

The night sky was clear, and the way the stars spread above like shiny pearls made her breath hitch.

She was used to seeing this almost every night, but for some reason, she felt even more drawn to it.

Like she wanted to see more than her windows would let her.

“Would ye like something to eat before ye sleep?” Daisy asked behind her.

“Nay. I am nae hungry. The stars are quite bright tonight, would ye nae say?”

Daisy tilted her head. “Do ye wish to go up to the tower? The view there is the best in the whole castle.”

“Aye, I will. I want to see them properly.”

“Shall I come with ye?”

Lily shook her head. “Nay, it is fine. I willnae be long.”

Daisy nodded once and grabbed the rest of her dresses that needed washing before leaving the room.

Lily put on one of her gowns and gave herself a last look in the mirror. When she stepped out, the passageway was completely dark. There was nothing to be seen except the occasional sconce on the wall.

She exhaled and made her way up the stairs anyway, her heart pounding in her chest for some reason. She was only going to look at the stars. So why did she feel like a thief in the night?

When she reached the top, she pushed open the heavy door. The cold air hit her at once. The stars seemed close enough to touch.

Then, she froze.

Alasdair was already there, leaning against the wall, his shoulders broad in the dim light. For a moment, she thought of turning back, but his voice reached her.

“Come on. I willnae bite.”

Her lips parted, but she said nothing.

Slowly, she stepped forward. “I saw the stars from me window and thought I would come see them here.”

He gestured to the empty spot beside him. She hesitated, then moved to it, keeping her eyes on the sky.

“Do ye remember the first time we met?” she asked after a long pause.

Alasdair’s gaze flicked to her. “Aye. Ye were at the rail, staring up at the sky.”

Lily laughed under her breath. “And ye made the foolish decision of sneaking up on me.”

His mouth curved. “And ye turned and slapped me so fast that me cheek burned for hours.”

Lily laughed again as the memory flooded back in a euphoric rush.

“Anyone else might have been afraid of me that night, but nae ye. Ye were only annoyed. As if I were nothing more than an inconvenience ye had to deal with,” Alasdair recounted. “That was when I kent there was something special about ye. Something I never stopped seeing.”

She shook her head. “Even the day ye took me from the village?”

“Aye,” he said without hesitation. “Even then.”

“So ye admit ye took me?”

He shrugged, nothing but mischief in his eyes, and she laughed, unable to stop herself.

Silence stretched as she turned back to the night sky one more time, and he did the same.

It was no longer awkward now. If anything, it felt convenient.

“Brigid was right. It truly is beautiful here,” Lily murmured.

“This was where Jeremiah came often,” Alasdair revealed, nodding toward the expanse below. “It gave him a full view of the gates and the road beyond. But more than that, it was his sanctuary.”

She glanced at him, heard the small hitch in his breath. His brother was clearly still a sore spot. One she wasn’t sure she wanted to press. So she decided to change the subject.

“I still cannae believe I stabbed ye in the thigh.”

“I can,” he said easily. “That is why I’m here with ye.”

Her chest tightened. “Ye have risked yer life twice with me now.”

“That is nothing. I would risk it a hundred more.”

The words rang with such simple truth that Lily could not look away. The moon caught his profile and silvered his hair. At that moment, realization struck her.

He truly meant it. He would go through hell for her if he must.

He turned, and his eyes narrowed as he caught her staring.

“What? Do I have something on me face?” he asked, running his palm over his cheek.

“Nay.”

“Be serious.”

“I am. Ye look fine.”

His lips twitched. “Then do ye have something on yer face?”

She almost smiled. “Nay.”

They both nodded to each other and snickered.

Lily’s heart beat faster as her mind betrayed her with a vision. What would it feel like to lean in and kiss him under this sky?

She pulled back sharply. “I should sleep,” she said quickly, stepping away.

“Goodnight then,” he murmured.

She turned, but she felt his gaze follow her as she descended the stairs.

The next morning, as the sun streamed in through her window, Daisy fastened the laces at the back of Lily’s green dress and took a step back.

Her hands tightened on the fabric. “I cannae wear this.”

“Why nae?” Daisy asked.

“Because it is too much. I thought it would look different once I wore it, but it doesnae. It shows too much.”

Daisy tilted her head. “I am sure the Laird would disagree. It brings out yer best features.”

Lily spun to face her. “Ye sound like Brigid.”

The maid only smiled.

Turning back to the mirror, Lily smoothed her hand over the gown. “I daenae think I am ready to show meself to him in this dress. Nae yet.”

“Well, ye must wear something . The cèilidh is tonight.”

“Aye,” Lily sighed. “I must wear something, must I nae?”