Page 31 of Taken By the Highland Villain
“Aye. ‘Tis custom for lairds and ladies to have an artist paint a portrait of them when they wed or reach their twentieth year. It used to be tapestries and the like, but this is easier to make and keep clean.”
“I see…”
Jude… he is more than twenty years of age, I am certain. That must mean…
It took her a moment to spot the image she sought.
Valerie blinked and took an involuntary step forward, startled by the appearance of the man in the portrait.
There was no doubt it wasJude, but he was clean-shaven, and there were fewer lines on his face. Even more startling was the genuine smile on his face, bright and warm. It transformed his face, making him look confident and content—happy even. The expression suited him, and seeing the man he was before his injury and whatever other tragedy had befallen him made her heart ache.
“He is a handsome one, is he nae? With a smile like that, he could break any lass’s heart.” Moira’s sly declaration made Valerie jump.
With a guilty start, she realized she’d been staring at the portrait, rather than assessing her workspace.
She tore her gaze away from the portrait and turned to look at the room once more. “This is perfect. Thank ye, Moira.”
“Ye’re welcome, Miss Blackwood. I’m only sorry I didnae think of it afore.” Moira smiled and patted her hand, then turned and left the room.
Valerie took a deep breath and set her work on the low table in the center of the room. She spent a moment savoring the warmth of the light and the dimensions of the room—so perfect it might have been made for her to work in—then sat down and resumed the work she’d been doing on a new kilt for Jude.
She’d scarcely been working for half an hour when the door slammed open and Jude charged inside, blade drawn and eyes wild. Valerie shrieked and bolted from her chair, bounding behind it before she could stop to think about her movements.
“What are ye doin’?”
“Are ye all right?” Jude’s scowl was a ferocious thing, his eyes darting around the room as if he expected enemy warriors to jump out of the stone at any moment.
“Of course I am. Why would I nae be?” Valerie stared at him, wondering what on earth had possessed him.
“Moira said—” His words were interrupted by the sound of the door slamming shut.
In the silence that followed, both of them heard the snick of the key turning in the lock.
“Och… she didnae…”
Jude went over and shoved at the door to no avail. The handle rattled but didn’t turn. He snarled in frustration.
“It seems Moira has locked us in.”
CHAPTER 14
I cannae believe her!I cannae believe Moira would lie to me, then lock both of us in this room!
Jude huffed in exasperation. He knew Moira had become something of a mother hen since his mother had passed, but he’d never expected her to become so meddlesome.
He was considering whether or not he should break down the door when he was startled by a giggle from Valerie. He turned to find her staring at the door, mirth and exasperation flickering in her eyes. Then, her gaze met his, and she collapsed into her chair, laughing.
Jude scowled. “What’s so funny?”
“I think yer maid doesnae like it when we dinnae talk to each other for more than a day.” Valerie snickered. “If I’d kenned she’d take such measures, I’d have said good mornin’ to ye at least!”
“Aye.” Jude turned to look at the door. “How long afore she lets us out, do ye think?”
Valerie arched an eyebrow at him, still struggling to control her laughter. “Why are ye askin’ me? She’s yer maid.”
“Och, dinnae remind me. I’m fairly tempted to retire her after this stunt.” Jude shook his head. “Of all the mischief I expected Moira to get up to, this wasnae on the list. I thought she might conspire with ye to replace all my curtains, to make more colorful kilts… but nae this!”
“Well, there’s nay helping it now.” With visible effort, Valerie stopped laughing and rose from her seat. “She’ll let us out when she decides we’ve had time to talk about… whatever she thinks we need to talk about. Until then, there’s nay sense in wasting the said time.”