Page 13 of The Cruel Highlander (From Enemies to Marriage #3)

CHAPTER 12

Valorie sat slumped in her chair petting Willow after Aiden left. The day had already been an emotional one, and it was barely midday. Between the goodbye with her parents and everything she had learned about Aiden; Valorie was ready for a rest.

Leaning her head back against the chair, Valorie let her eyes close. She still had not fully processed the news about Aiden, and she wasn’t sure she could ever come to terms with something so horrible.

When Astrid had first told her, Valorie’s initial feelings were horror and sadness, but thinking about it now, she was angry. How dare someone do that to Aiden? Maybe she should have asked more questions because Valorie could not stand the thought of someone out there, alive, who had hurt Aiden.

She could ride and shoot (better than Aiden, some might say), and when she found out who was responsible, Valorie would certainly be willing to take action.

Who would even think to do something like that? And why? What reason could they have had to hold Aiden for all that time, especially when he was so young? Not really all that tired anymore, Valorie stood and put Willow on the ground.

She needed to release some of this energy somehow, so she began walking the length of the sitting room with Willow following right on her heels.

Aiden’s reaction when Valorie confronted him was to be expected. She wasn’t sure that she wanted Aiden to know every horrible thing that had ever happened to her even though there really wasn’t even much to tell. But whatever reaction he was expecting Valorie to have was apparently absent, and Valorie watched as he quickly accepted her words. She really did just want to support him in whatever way possible.

Despite the jests, Valorie was also closely watching Aiden during his interaction with Willow, and she could tell he was frightened of her. With the added context today from Astrid and Aiden both, his disgust and fear made a lot more sense. There was probably a very understandable reason for his initial hatred. But Valorie also saw the joy in Aiden’s eyes when he felt Willow’s tentative lick.

Aiden deserved to have joy in his life again; so much had been stolen from him, and if Valorie couldn’t punish the perpetrator, maybe she could find a way to bring some joy back into Aiden’s world. Valorie’s time here was temporary, but maybe, Willow’s didn’t have to be.

Pacing her bedchamber with Willow by her side, Valorie planned her best scheme yet. She would train Willow to be the sweetest, most lovable, cuddly little pup ever, and when Valorie left, Aiden would still have Willow here to keep him company.

Valorie would also have to use her time here to warm Aiden up to Willow but if today was any indication, that would not be too difficult. Willow was already worming her way into Aiden’s heart, and she knew there was plenty of room in that heart of his for sweet Willow.

Valorie bent down and whispered her promises to the puppy, “Yer goin’ to be that laird’s new best friend, Willow — if I accomplish one thing in me time here, it’s goin’ to be that. I think yer goin’ to be our laird’s favorite Willow, just ye wait.” Willow wagged her tail and yipped in answer — good, she was in agreement.

Now, what else could Valorie accomplish in this year for Aiden. She’d probably need to give him riding lessons — a laird with his status should surely be a better rider. Plus, it would give Valorie an excuse to ride Bluebell more which was never a bad thing.

Maybe Valorie should fill this castle with activity again or encourage Aiden to attend more gatherings. Aiden had kept himself isolated for good reason, but maybe it was time to open the doors a little bit. At Aiden’s pace, of course, but Valorie couldn’t stand the thought of her laird alone in this castle once their fake betrothal was over.

Valorie would have to talk to Aiden about it though — she didn’t want to push him too far too quickly, and besides, it wasn’t about her. There was no way for Valorie to understand what Aiden had suffered, and maybe a castle full of people was worse for him than the alternative. But Valorie would still do everything in her power to leave Aiden and his home better than she had found it this morning.

Towards that new goal, Valorie spent some time with Willow, practicing some basic training and tricks. Aiden would want a dog he could show off a little, and Valorie would make Willow so perfect for Aiden that he could not refuse.

“Willow,” Valorie said to the little puppy, “what do ye say we go and find our missing laird, eh? Maybe show off a little?” Willow enthusiastically jumped up on Valorie’s legs with her tail wagging. Even on hind legs, she still only reached Valorie’s shins.

“I knew he was yer favorite,” Valorie said. “Well come on then; let’s go look for him.”

Valorie and Willow strolled through the castle until they found the door to Aiden’s study. The pair waited in a side corridor until a servant came and brought lunch to Aiden. With the scent of the food wafting by them, it was easy to encourage Willow to follow the servant right into Aiden’s study.

“Valorie!” She heard Aiden bellow a few seconds later. Giggling to herself, Valorie hurried off towards the study door as well. As soon as she entered the room, she turned her face to the best frantic look she could pull off.

“Oh, there ye are Willow!” Valorie exclaimed, reaching down to pick up the puppy as she attempted to climb up Aiden’s legs and into his lap. Standing back with Willow in her arms, Valorie faced Aiden.

“I’m sorry, me laird, we were just walkin’ by, and she must have caught a whiff of your food. She ran right in here!”

“Aye, I’m sure,” Aiden said, looking at them both with suspicion. “I do believe I told ye she needed to be trained,” he added.

“Ye did, and we’ve been workin’ on it all mornin’!” Valorie exclaimed brightly. “Would ye like to see?”

Without waiting for a response from Aiden since she had a good feeling she knew what his answer would be, Valorie grabbed a piece of chicken off his plate.

“Come on, don’t let me down now Willow,” Valorie whispered to the puppy as she placed her back on the ground. Valorie held the chicken up enticingly to the little dog.

“Willow, sit,” Valorie commanded, sneaking a glance at Aiden. He was glaring at the piece of chicken in her hand. Maybe she shouldn’t have snatched it off his plate like that…

Thankfully, their little bit of practice paid off, and Willow sat beautifully. “Good girl, Willow!” Valorie cooed, giving the dog about half of the chicken she’d stolen. She turned to Aiden with a huge smile. “See, we are training!”

“I wanted it leave me alone or at the very least learn how to hunt; I daenae care if the thing can sit, lass,” Aiden said looking exasperated already; Valorie was undeterred.

“We are just startin’ out, me laird; daenae worry. She’ll be the best puppy ever. Plus, we’ve got another one.”

“Willow, lay down,” Valorie’s fingers on her free hand were crossed tightly behind her back with this one; Willow was not very successful at lay down.

Amazingly, the little pup made her way to the laying down position, “Oh that’s a very good girl, Willow,” Valorie said, bending down to give her some pets and feed her the last of the chicken.

As Valorie was about to lift Willow back up, she swore she saw the hint of a smile on Aiden’s face. But as soon as she rose with Willow in her arms, it was gone.

“Aye, she’s very accomplished; can I get back to work now?” Aiden asked.

“Of course, we’ll just be on our way. Enjoy your afternoon, me laird.” Valorie replied, strolling back out of Aiden’s office. She was considering the whole thing a success.

These early stages would be all about exposure — she just needed to put Willow in front of Aiden enough times until he was comfortable, and then surely it would be easy from there.

Valorie took a winding way back to her bedchambers because now seemed as good a time as any to start exploring her new home. The whole while, Valorie tried desperately not to think about leaving Willow… or Aiden behind. Already, she was struggling to picture her life without the two of them. How would she feel after a year?

* * *

Back alone in his study once more, Aiden poured himself a tall glass of whiskey. He was not usually one to imbibe midday, but already, he needed a reprieve. The morning was a whirlwind to say the least.

Day one of Valorie in his castle and Aiden was feeling more emotions than ever: fear, lust, joy, anger, wonder, lust again, nervousness, amusement, and lust again.

He’d been prepared for a fight when Valorie brought up his capture, but he was not expecting her kindness or the wonder he found with Willow. Nor was he expecting his reaction just now to their little interlude. The whole thing with the beast smelled of a scheme, but that was the best part.

Lust, however, was becoming unavoidable around the lass. No matter what they were doing or discussing, it was simmering beneath the surface.

In between comments about his kidnapping, Aiden was still noticing the way the plush red chairs in Valorie’s new sitting room were offsetting her green eyes wonderfully. While she was focused on the mutt, Aiden was watching her push a stray lock of her wavy hair out of her face.

There seemed to be no helping the way he focused on Valorie. Aiden already knew that in a crowd full of dancers, his gaze would find Valorie, so was it any wonder that when it was just the two of them, his eyes never left her.

Even here, sitting in his office, he was seeing images of Valorie in his mind’s eye. Valorie speeding through the woods on her horse, Valorie pulling the string on her bow tight. Valorie spinning joyously on the dance floor. It was all Valorie, Valorie, Valorie.

Leaning his elbows on the desk, Aiden let his head fall into his hands. What was happening to him? He was never this distracted.

Aiden looked up from his hands as the door to his study swung open for the second time today. Flynn, Astrid’s husband, now waltzed into the room.

Was everyone in his family planning to stop by today? Should he prepare to have his mother for dinner? Aiden raised his eyebrows at Flynn, who casually took the seat across from him. At least this was already better than Keira’s combative stance.

“Can I get one of those?” Flynn asked, gesturing to the whiskey in Aiden’s hand. Maybe this wouldn’t be bad after all.

Aiden nodded and poured Flynn an equally large cup of whiskey. Flynn took a long drink, nearly downing the liquid in one go. So, this was going to be that kind of conversation, then.

“Me wife sent me over as soon as she returned home to our castle,” Flynn said with a heavy sigh. “Mind tellin’ me why she was so insistent I needed to come over?” he asked.

Aiden too took a hearty sip of the whiskey. This family was going to be the death of him.

“Presumably, it has to do with the lass around here somewhere,” Aiden suggested vaguely.

Thoughtfully, Flynn nodded. People often saw only his grumpy persona, but there was a lot of care behind the brooding. “Aye, I would say that is a fair assumption. Why don’t ye tell me about her?”

“Valorie?”

“If that’s the woman yer now betrothed to, aye, that’s a good start,” Flynn quipped. Aiden paused; how could he explain Valorie to someone who didn’t know her?

She was a study in contrasts — mischievous and strong but kind and caring, funny and playful but equally serious and intelligent; she was the most dynamic person Aiden had ever met.

“Valorie is… fierce,” Aiden started; it seemed the truest descriptor of the lass. “She’s got a mind more cunnin’ than most of the men leading me troops. Shoots straighter than em’ too,” he laughed, thinking again of their archery competition.

“Everyone talks about her independence and confidence like it’s a bad thing, but I tend to like that about her. She’s all things light and good — funny, kind, absolutely bonnie, obviously…” Aiden trailed off; he needed more whiskey. Pouring both of them another hearty glass, Aiden relaxed back in his desk chair.

“She sounds great, Aiden,” Flynn replied with an amused smile; none of this was amusing to Aiden.

“So why were ye apparently hidin’ from her this mornin’? Astrid came home talkin’ about how ye brought the poor woman here and then abandoned her on her first day. Ye didn’t even greet her parents? The laird that yer supposedly in an alliance with now? And why are ye in here hidin’ from her now?” Flynn asked looking pointedly at Aiden and around at the study.

“Has everyone forgotten that I run this clan?” Aiden asked, exasperated with this assumption again. How did they think anything got done around here?

“Are ye in here workin’, then?” Flynn asked, looking at the whiskey and the lack of anything else in front of Aiden.

“Nay,” Aiden admitted with a weary sigh. “It’s not like I don’t have things to do though.”

Flynn prodded, “So?”

Releasing the heaviest sigh yet, Aiden confessed to the one person who knew the most about his past.

“Ye ken me, Flynn; ye ken what happened. What could I possibly have to offer a woman like that? A woman so soaked in light when I’m so steeped in darkness. I would just be draggin’ her down with me. Valorie deserves far more than me.”

Flynn stared back at him with his eyebrows harshly pinched together and his lips pursed, looking at Aiden like he was the biggest dobber he’d ever met in his life. Aiden had never seen Flynn look at anyone like that before.

“That’s a load of shite, Aiden,” Flynn growled furiously.

“It’s nae!” Aiden protested. “Besides I’d never be able to properly protect the lass; I couldnae even protect meself! Ye had to rescue me in case ye had forgotten!” Aiden exclaimed.

“That’s not somethin’ I’ll ever forget,” Flynn said, looking imploringly at Aiden. “But ye were a boy, Aiden!” Flynn roared at him. “Myles took ye when ye were a boy,” he restated more calmly. “There was nothin’ ye could have done differently. He was an evil man who outsmarted everyone for years — Ye were not to blame, Aiden,” Flynn concluded fiercely.

“And another thing,” Flynn continued before Aiden could argue all of those points. “I have never met anyone with more to offer someone. Ye cannae see yerself clearly, Aiden. Ye have a lot of room in yer heart; ye should let someone in.”

Was it really that simple?