Page 38 of Taken By the Highland Villain

The arch of Craig’s eyebrow and the expression on his face said that he didn’t believe her as they guided their horses through the gate and down the road. Once they’d left the walls of the castle behind, he spoke again.

“Lass, ye and I both ken there’s somethin’ between ye and Laird MacFinn. A blind man could tell it—by the way, he speaks of naught else.”

Valerie frowned. “What do ye mean?”

Craig sighed. “Ever since the… incident that led to his injury, the Laird has been moody and withdrawn. For a while, his mood was so dark that none of the servants were willing to go near him, save myself and Moira. But after ye came…”

He shook his head. “He’s still gruff as a winter-awakened bear, I’ll give ye that, but he’s begun taking proper care of himself again, and he’s nae so short-tempered as he was before. There’s nae a man nor a woman within the castle walls who cannae tell that it’s yer influence that’s soothed him and lightened his mood… brought him back to life. And in my experience, a lass cannae affect a man that way unless there’s somethin’ between them.”

His words were well-meant, Valerie knew. They were meant to give her hope. Even so, hearing them stung, like salt in an open cut.

“Ye say that, but whatever is between us, it will come to nothing.”

“Because ye’re promised to another?”

Valerie shook her head. “Because he doesnae want it to come to aught. Even if I were of a mind to marry—and I’m nae, nay matter what sort of arrangement Laird MacOlley has forced upon me—Laird MacFinn isnae. He doesnae want me, nae enough to wish to keep me beside him. I’m simply a new presence in his life, and it intrigues him. Nay more.”

“Ye dinnae truly believe that.” Craig’s statement was simple but heartfelt. “Lass, ye ken full well there’s more to his feelings than that. And more to yers as well.”

“Mayhap.” Valerie shrugged her shoulders. “But sometimes, feelings alone arenae enough.”

Craig steered his horse closer. “And sometimes they are. The question, Miss Blackwood, is whether ye and the Laird wish them to be or nae.”

Valerie bit the inside of her cheek. Craig was right. Thatwasa good question, even though she wished otherwise.

I only wish I kenned the answer—for my heart or Jude’s.

She couldn’t afford to think of that, however. It hurt too much, especially when the last time she’d seen him had been in the wake of their shared pleasure.

She cast her mind about for something else to say, and spoke the first words that came to mind. “What about ye?”

Craig blinked. “What about me?”

“Do ye have a lass ye favor?”

Valerie caught the slight shift in the man’s expression and grinned in delight, her troubles momentarily forgotten in light of her new discovery.

“Ye do! Would ye like me to make her a pretty dress while I’m stayin’ with ye? I have plenty of fabric, including some lovely silk Laird MacFinn purchased for me…”

“Nay. That’s yers to make somethin’ for yerself, if I understand the Laird’s meaning in purchasing it aright. And in any case, I didnae say I had a special lass…” Craig tried to sound nonchalant, but the flush in his cheeks gave him away.

“Ye didnae have to say it. There are some things a woman can tell.” Valerie smirked at him.

“And there are some things a man can tell as well as a woman,” Craig retorted. “Like the fact that something distresses ye, and nae just whatever is between ye and the Laird.”

Valerie bit her lip. “’Tis nothing.”

“Is it nae? I’ve heard rumors about a man who was troublin’ ye at the market.” Craig raised an eyebrow in inquiry, making her flush in turn.

She didn’t want to talk about Laird MacOlley. In fact, she had no desire to even think about the man. So she decided to address something else.

She breathed deeply and allowed herself to speak of another concern, a source of heartache she felt whenever she traveled. “’Tis nae that. ‘Tis that I havenae spoken to my sisters since I left home, and I miss them.”

“Tell me about yer sisters. How many do ye have?”

Valerie smiled. “I have three, all different in temperament. I’m the second eldest.”

“Och, that’s a large family. I am an only child. What is it like? What are they like?”