Page 11 of Seduced By the Squire (Diamonds in the Rough #1)

“Where…”

Llinos swallowed, knowing she could not ask any of the questions jostling in her mind.

Where is Duncan? Is he alive? Is he well? Can I see him?

“Where are the others?” she managed to say, looking at Lord Masterson. He was unscathed, so she had reason to hope the outlaws had been easily subdued. Perhaps Duncan was not dead. Perhaps she could start breathing again. “Is everyone well?”

“A couple of the men are worst for wear but Alexander was the only one seriously injured. MacQuarrie is taking him to the healer as we speak. Davies’ arm was almost — ”

Although she felt bad for not caring about what had happened to Davies’ arm, as soon as Lord Masterson had confirmed that Duncan hadn’t died, Llinos stopped listening. Thank the Lord, he was alive! Even better, he wasn’t badly injured or he could not have carried young Alexander all the way to the top of the tower. Life returned to her limbs.

And then he was there, right in front of her.

His face was shadowed by stubble, his forehead streaked with mud, and his cheek stained with blood. Her legs wavered. Was it his blood? Had he been hurt? It was hard to see any cuts under all the grime. It struck her then that Lord Masterson looked not only unscathed, but unruffled. Not a single hair was out of place, no mud, no blood came to mar his features. Had he stayed in the background while his men fought the brigands on his behalf? It would not surprise her in the least.

“MacQuarrie? What is it?” he asked with an arched brow.

“Young Alexander is being tended to by old Bessie.”

“Is there anything I should know?”

“No, not at this stage.”

“Well then, there was no need to come and tell me that!” Lord Masterson said irritably. “I knew where he was, since I asked you to take him myself!”

Llinos let out a shaky breath. Indeed there wasn’t any need for Duncan to apprise him of the fact. He hadn’t come for Lord Masterson’s benefit but to let her see that he was all right. Knowing she would be worried about him, he had braved his master’s rebuke to put her mind at ease. She stared at him, hoping to convey her gratitude and relief with a smile. But he was not looking at her, ever the polite, distant squire who had no reason to speak to a lady guest or even look her way when all she wanted was to throw herself in his arms. Tears of frustration started to well in her eyes. Just when she made to wipe them, Duncan’s gaze caught hers.

The depth of emotion in them told her he had understood all she was not allowed to say – and he agreed with her that it was unbearable they had to keep their distance from each other.

After a brief nod, he took his leave.

“Well. That was a success,” Lord Masterson congratulated himself once they were alone. “Now Sir Gilbert will be indebted to me for ridding his lands from these awful outlaws! It will make him think twice about underestimating me in the future.”

Yes, Llinos thought bitterly, he would reap the benefit when others had risked their lives and been injured!

“I do hope you weren’t hurt,” she said with heavy sarcasm.

“Me? Oh no, don’t worry yourself about me, my lady.”

Dinnae fash yerself about me, lass, Duncan had told her.

Well this time she did not worry about the man reassuring her, not in the least, and she found it difficult not to snatch her hand away when he took it to place a kiss on her fingers. “I hope young Alexander recovers quickly,” she said instead.

“Yes.” Lord Masterson didn’t sound remotely concerned. “Although I suppose I should be grateful he was the one injured in the fight. I would have been at pains to replace someone like Davies or MacQuarrie. But the lad…”

He made a dismissive gesture that made his meaning clear. The lad was expendable. Bile rose in Llinos’ throat when she thought of the poor youth lying injured in the tower room. Inexperienced, self-effacing and easily replaced – just like she was. It did not matter if he was damaged, there would always be another warrior to take his place, in the same way that, now she was damaged, there would be another bride to take her place as Sir Benedict’s wife.

Well, she would make sure Alexander knew at least someone cared for him.

“I will go and see if he needs anything,” she declared, making her way towards the door.

“Old Bessie is here. You need not trouble yourself with the lad. ”

“’Tis no trouble.”

If she stayed another moment she might well tell Lord Masterson what she thought of his callous attitude, and she might well do it in a way that would land her in trouble. She wasn’t worried about being punished, but she had no intention of having her movements monitored, making it even more difficult than it already was to snatch moments alone with Duncan.

Later that afternoon, reassured Alexander would not suffer any lasting damage from his injuries she bounded down the steps – and almost collided with Duncan at the foot of the spiral staircase.

“My lady.” He steadied her with an arched brow, as if wondering why she was running.

“Forgive me, I went to see young Alexander,” she said hurriedly. “And I didn’t pay attention to my surroundings.”

“’Tis no trouble.” Duncan leaned in to whisper in her ear. “Ye can run into me whenever ye like, lass. A wee thing like ye isn’t going to cause any damage.”

The hands at her waist tightened a fraction then he released her, regret shadowing his eyes. He had cleaned up and changed, she noted, as well as shaved. Her heart skipped a beat when she saw the cut under his eye. This was not something he could have inflicted on himself with the shaving knife.

“You were injured in the fighting!” she cried out. It had been his blood after all! Her legs suddenly felt as weak as blancmange and she wished he was still holding her up. “Where else were you hurt?” Her eyes darted all over his body.

Duncan smiled. “Is this a ploy to see me naked, my lady?”

She flushed. He had refused to get undressed that day in the cottage, even if he had not allowed her to keep a stich on. No doubt it had been his way of proving that they were only ‘fucking’. It had not worked. From her point of view, at least. Clothes or no clothes, it had all felt too personal. What would it take for him to realise that if they were just fucking, he would not bother undressing her at all, caressing her and ensuring she got twice, if not three time as much pleasure as he had every time they met? How long would it take him to see that he was not just fucking her? The fact that he didn’t get undressed or refused to kiss her didn’t mean anything, but the way he touched her did.

He cared about her, in some way.

“I don’t want to see you naked,” she answered in a whisper.

“Do ye not?” He arched a brow, clearly sceptical .

She flushed, because indeed she would welcome the opportunity to see him naked. “Well, I mean… Right now I only want to establish whether you are injured or not. I’m only asking because I am worried about you.”

From the way his green eyes darkened it seemed she had said the wrong thing.

“I told ye not to fash over me,” he growled. “I’m nothing to ye.”

It was as if he had slapped her. After all they had done together, how could he think such a thing, never mind say it out loud? “Surely you don’t believe that?”

“What else can I believe? Ye’re…” He made a gesture of impatience, as if there was no way to explain the difference between them. “And it’s better that way.”

It was not. Before Duncan could move, Llinos reached out to his cheek and traced the cut with a light finger. “It will leave a trace you know.”

He shrugged. “I have dozens of scars already. What’s one more?”

“I don’t mean the cut.” Llinos shook her head. She meant them . This. Whatever it was they were doing. It would not leave her unscathed, she knew. It had already changed her body, it would also leave a trace in her heart.

“Lass.” Duncan took her hand in his. “Dinna touch me so. It’s too dangerous.” He was right. Touching his cheek made her want to touch other parts of him. Did the caress have the same effect on him? Was he finally admitting to feeling something for her? “Someone could see us.”

Oh. Her heart sank. Of course. He was worried about other people, not about the effect she was having on him. She really was a fool. Mortified, she took a step back.

“Forgive me, I should not expose you to — ”

“ Me ?” he cut in sharply. “I’m more worried about ye! Ladies are not supposed to go around touching squires’ cheeks, much less stroke them!”

She blushed. “No, they’re not.”

Duncan sighed. “Ah, lass, stop being so damned — ”

“Foolish?” she finished in his stead. Of course, he didn’t have time for her antics. This was getting worse and worse. She had to leave because in a moment she might start crying.

“So damned adorable,” he said with another sigh.

Llinos blinked. Adorable… She was being ridiculous, flushing like a child, wasting his time, placing them in danger of discovery and instead of berating her, or even mocking her, he was calling her adorable? Coming from anyone else it would have made her melt. Because it was Duncan, a man determined not to show any emotions with her, it made the gift even more special.

“I’m sorry,” she said placing her hand on his cheek again. “I can’t help it.”

“Nay. Likely ye can’t,” he said with a slanted smile. “Ye cannot help being adorable the way a kitten cannae help being cute or yer dog cannae help being scruffy.”

“And you cannot help being — ”

“Lady Llinos!”

Llinos started and realised she had moved so close to Duncan that everyone would think they’d been kissing. No one would know that kissing her was the last thing Duncan would do to her, even if the list of what he would – and had already done – was quite long. She took a step back a moment before a familiar figure appeared in the door frame.

“Lady Mary,” she said with as much composure as she could muster.

“There you are. I’ve been looking everywhere for you. I was wondering if you wanted to join me for a walk.”

“I…” Going for a walk and having to talk to Lady Mary was the last thing Llinos wanted to do but she could not think of a single excuse to in voke or gather the courage to tell her as much.

“Oh, you poor dear, you look quite flushed,” the lady remarked, peering more closely at her. “Are you quite well?”

Duncan bowed and took his leave without a word. Lady Mary had not addressed him a single word or spared him a single glance since she had appeared. Everything within Llinos tightened in anger. Who could ignore another human being like that, just because he happened not to be noble?

“That was quite a tale you told me,” she told Duncan before he could disappear, unable to leave it at that. “It all sounded awfully dangerous. Lady Mary and I are grateful to you and Davies for taking us back to the safety of Pitcairn Castle before the assault began.”

“Yes. Quite.” The older woman sounded crisp, as if she didn’t like to be reminded she should be gracious towards mere squires.

Well, too bad, she should not need to be reminded something like this, she should be gracious and grateful to people who risked their lives for her. Just like that, Llinos found the courage to voice her opinion out loud. Lady Mary’s own rudeness would make hers pale in comparison.

“Forgive me but I don’t think I will come for a walk,” she announced. “As you said, I’m feeling quite flushed already. I’m afraid the fault lies with Mr MacQuarrie.” She boldly planted her gaze straight into Duncan’s. Not a muscle on his face moved but the light in his eyes changed.

“How so?”

“His retelling of the battle was really rather gruesome. I confess I feel rather faint.”

*

The minx!

Duncan watched as Llinos wavered on her feet and placed a hand to her temple, the very image of the weak damsel he knew she was not. Everything within him surged. Oh, she would pay for this! He was even looking forward to it.

“Well, what are you waiting for?” Lady Mary called out to him. “You heard the lady! She’s about to swoon, thanks to your indelicate comments. Escort her back to her room before she injures herself.”

“Do you need to be carried, my lady?” he asked solicitously, skewering Llinos with a dark stare. Would she dare go that far? He hoped so, for in this moment he desperately wanted to hold her. She didn’t answer but turned an alarming shade of red. His cock twitched.

“Of course she does, can’t you see she’s about to fall!” Lady Mary huffed. “Look at her!”

Not bothering to point out that people about to faint usually went to colour of milk rather than wine, Duncan scooped Llinos into his arms. He’d been ordered to, and that way her skirts would hide the erecting growing in his breeches.

“Thank you,” she murmured. This time he knew her breathlessness to be real.

As soon as they disappeared from view she softened against him and buried her face into the crook of his neck. Her whole body started to shake. He frowned. Was she… crying? Had he been mistaken, was she genuinely distressed by the idea of the battle he'd fought? His chest constricted at the thought.

Then she let out a giggle and he realised she was laughing.

“Oh, Duncan!” she said in a whisper. “Forgive me, I just could not stomach the idea of a moment alone with the woman.”

He snorted. “Aye, I can well imagine. But could ye not simply tell her ye did not fancy a walk instead of pretending to faint?”

“She was the one who commented on how unwell I looked when I felt perfectly fine! Besides, I… I’m not good at voicing my wishes out loud when I know they are not what people expect to hear.”

“I think ye’re better than ye give yerself credit for, lass.” Hadn’t she come to him and all but begged to be fucked?

Duncan smiled to himself, for she had just presented him with an interesting challenge. She had difficulty admitting to her wishes and desires? Well, he would be sure to make her do so the next time he had her naked and under him. She would not get anything until she asked for it very clearly. It should prove a stimulating exercise for both of them.

He kicked the door of her bedchamber open, feeling absurdly like a groom taking his newly wed bride to bed for the first time. The ludicrousness of the proposition caused his guts to twist into knots. When – if – he ever took a bride home, it would not be one dressed in velvet or smelling like soap scented with expensive rose oil.

Annoyed at himself for even thinking such things, he deposited Llinos onto the floor.

“So. I’m gruesome, am I? Indelicate?” He crossed his arms over his chest, determined to appear stern.

“I said your retelling of what had happened was gruesome, it’s not quite the same,” she had the audacity to answer. “And Lady Mary was the one who called you indelicate.”

“Och, aye, it’s all right then, there’s no need to punish ye for it, I guess. ”

Llinos opened wide eyes. “P-punish me?”

“Ye made me appear like a boor who goes around frightening ladies out of their wits, ye forced me to take ye into my arms and cross the bailey in front of everyone when ye ken having ye against me sends me hard as a poker!”

“I do? It does?” Her eyes were now big as cartwheels. He let out a groan. She truly had no idea of what she was doing to him.

“Lass. How could it not? Ye’re…”

He shook his head. He had not planned to tell her just how irresistible she was. He had planned to teach her a lesson. But now… Damnation. He knew that if he touched her now, he would not end up punish her but doing everything he could to make her cry out in pleasure. He could not, not here in her bedchamber when, unlike the other day, the lewd noises she'd make would only be attributed to her.

“Ye should get some rest. Ye look as if ye didn’t have much sleep last night.”

“I didn’t,” she admitted. “I was too worried knowing you were fighting.”

There it was again, this concern for him. He had to get out of here before he drew her into his arms and admitted he had thought only about her while he was fighting. “Sleep then,” he told her gruffly, walking towards the door .

“So you… you are not going to punish me?”

The Lord have mercy on him. Just like that Duncan went stiff as a pike. Damn, it seemed that he didn’t have to touch her to get hard, or even look at her. One evocative question was all it took. He took in a deep breath.

“Nay. It would not be a proper punishment if ye were waiting for it, now would it?” Begging for it, he amended with a sigh. He had not missed the hope in Llinos’ voice when she’d asked about it. She wanted him to submit her to his will. “I will do that when and how I deem it fit.”

With those words he walked out of the door.