Page 48 of Taken By the Highland Villain
Valerie took a deep breath and wiped her eyes. She could do nothing to change Jude’s mind if he had already chosen this course of action, but she could finish her work, and do it well. She would use the time to come to terms with her feelings for Jude.
If all she could do was end her reprieve gracefully and with honor, then that was what she would do, no matter how much it made her heart ache.
CHAPTER 21
Three days.For three days, Jude had seen almost nothing of Valerie, and it was beginning to drive him mad.
She ate her meals in her rooms or in the gallery, where she worked on making clothes and curtains. On the rare occasions that he did see her, she barely spoke to him, nothing more than a quick “fair morn” or “good evening.” Their encounters were so brief that he might have thought them dreams, had it not been for the other signs of her presence in the castle.
New clothes were delivered to his room every evening, left on his bed for him to inspect and try on. New kilts, trews, and shirts appeared, neatly folded and laid side-by-side. Some of it was made in a casual design, clearly meant for days when all he intended to do was pore over reports and listen to Craig and Moira.
Other kilts were made with more elegant fabrics, cut in more formal designs, or stitched with the more formal tartan patternsand colors. They were clearly designed for council meetings or special events.
There were even some shirts and kilts, as well as trews, made with sturdier fabrics to withstand hard riding, or training, or even pitched battle. Soft leathers and heavy linens that fit well enough to give him maximum room to move, and some protection from both attacks and the weather, while still being comfortable.
It was more than the clothes, however, that drew his attention to Valerie’s presence in his home, even as he felt her absence in more personal aspects of his life. There were also the curtains.
It started in the Great Hall. Jude entered the morning after his discussion with Valerie to find the whole hall looking brighter than it had in seasons.
He stood there, blinking for several moments before he realized the difference. Instead of the heavy, dark velvet and linen drapes that had covered every window, there were medium-weight linens, partially pulled back to let in a little bit of light.
The colors of the drapes were still somewhat dark, but not the near-black of the previous ones. It was like witnessing the first morning of spring after a long, bleak winter. Jude actually found himself taking a deeper breath.
I’d never realized how stifling the other curtains were. How did I never realize that?
Craig joined him a moment later. “Interesting. Did ye ken the lass was plannin’ this?”
“I thought it was ye who coaxed her into it,” Jude growled as he went to sit at the table.
Craig followed and sat beside him. “’Tis a lovely betrothal gift, I suppose, since she didnae come here with anything else.” He met Jude’s glower with a grin and a shrug.
“Ye ken the betrothal isnae real,” Jude snarled, trying to ignore the clenching in his heart and his gut. “’Twas just a spur of the moment statement she made—nothing will come of it.”
“And why nae?” Craig raised an eyebrow. “Ye ken the lass has feelings for ye, and ‘tis plain ye have feelings for her too. If she’s willing to have ye, and ye want her…”
“Shut yer mouth, afore I give ye a clout on the jaw so ye cannae speak.” Jude’s hand clenched around the edge of the table so hard that the wood cracked. “Ye ken well enough why it cannae happen. Why nothing will come of this. So stop tryin’ to meddle. Ye and Moira… leave well enough alone.”
Craig grimaced, but he had the good sense not to press the matter further, and Jude tried to put the conversation out of his mind. Unfortunately, that was easier thought than done, especially with the curtains.
From the Great Hall, a profusion of new curtains appeared in parlors, meeting rooms, and even the council chamber. New curtains appeared in strategic places in the halls, and the whole castle began to take on a brighter appearance and a lighter feel.
The mood visibly lifted around the halls, and even Jude found himself affected by the change.
On the third morning, he entered his study to find Craig examining soft blue curtains hemmed with MacFinn tartan. The curtains were made of a lightweight linen that was soft as silk, the colors and the weight both a vibrant change from the heavy black curtains he’d had in there before.
He stopped and stared. “I thought I told her I didnae need new curtains in here.”
Craig grinned. “Well, the lass said she’d be replacin’ them, whether ye agreed or nae. I’m sure Moira can find the old ones if ye’re that attached to them, after our little seamstress leaves.”
Jude opened his mouth to say that he’d changed his mind, then stopped, the words frozen as he registered the words Craig had spoken. “What do ye mean, when she leaves?”
Craig raised an eyebrow. “Ye said she’d stay for seven to ten days, as a trial period. Since ye’ve given her nay other reason to stay, and ye refuse to accept her declaration, she’s decided to honor yer command—she’s scheduled to leave tomorrow.”
Jude swallowed hard at the reminder of his previous words, then went to his cabinet and took out a glass and a bottle of whiskey. He poured himself a generous measure and downed a third of it, letting the burn sear away the ache in his throat.
Craig watched him. “Are ye really plannin’ to let her go, My Laird? Ye dinnae seem so inclined, if ye dinnae mind my sayin’ so.”
Jude grunted and downed another third of his drink. “Ye ken I cannae keep her here. I have nay say in whether she stays or goes.”