Page 79 of The Icy Highlander's Virgin

Lachlan paused in his preparations, turning to face her. "Yer clan business is now me business. Ye can sleep and enjoy yer castle—I'll handle these tasks."

Erica knew Lachlan would never deliberately be condescending, but it did not stop the way her blood simmered. "Sleep and enjoy me castle?"

"Aye. Rest, spend time with yer people, do... whatever it is ye need to do here." He moved toward the door. "We may return late, so daenae wait supper for us."

That did it. Erica threw back the covers and swung her legs out of bed, her movements sharp with anger. "The only way anyone on McLaren land will handle McLaren business is if their lady is there."

She stalked to the wardrobe and began pulling out riding clothes with jerky, furious movements. "These are me lands, me people, me problems?—"

"Erica." His hand settled on her shoulder, gentle but firm. "I'm nae tryin' to control ye or how ye run yer lands, nor am I implyin’ ye're incompetent. But this is somethin' I can handle. Let me help."

She spun to face him, her eyes flashing. "If I were a male laird, would ye ask him to sleep while there was clan business to attend?"

The question hung in the air between them, and she watched his face as the implications sank in. After a long moment, he gestured toward her riding clothes with a rueful smile.

"Get ready."

"What?"

"Ye have three minutes to get dressed, or we ride out without ye. That is what I would tell a male."

Despite her anger, she felt a flutter of satisfaction at his capitulation. "Three minutes? That's barely enough time to?—"

"Three minutes," he repeated firmly, moving toward the door. "And that's countin' from now."

She grabbed for her chemise, muttering under her breath, "Insufferable man."

He paused in the doorway, looking back with amusement dancing in his blue eyes. "Two and a half minutes."

The handkerchief she hurled at him hit the closed door with a soft thud, and she could swear she heard him chuckling in the corridor outside.

"Arrogant brute," she grumbled, but she was already pulling on her riding dress with renewed speed. If he thought she'd lethim ride around her lands without her, making decisions about her clan's future, he was about to learn exactly how stubborn a McLaren woman could be.

Two minutes and fifty-three seconds later, she flung open the door and hurried down to the yard to find Lachlan and some guards fully armed and ready to ride.

"Told ye I could do it," she said breathlessly, still adjusting her cloak.

"Aye," he agreed, his eyes warm with something that looked suspiciously like pride. "That ye did, lass. That ye did. Now, ride up front with me. Remember ye must handle yerself with grace and strength before the men. Never show any weakness."

"Aye, me laird."

"And daennae ever call me yer laird when ye are in yer office as lady."

Erica nodded, piercing her lips. She had weathered it alone for almost one year, with only James, Ewan, and Ada at her side. There was a lot to learn, and she was glad her new husband was willing to teach her.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

The morning air was crisp as their small party rode out from the castle, Lachlan taking point while ensuring Erica remained clearly visible as the leader. At the first border outpost, he gestured for her to approach the guards first.

"What's the current patrol schedule?" Erica asked the officer, her voice carrying more confidence. Before now, she had left these matters entirely to Ewan.

"Every four hours, m'lady. With the additional men Laird Kinnaird brought yesterday, we're finally able to maintain proper coverage. Before that, we only had six men to cover this entire stretch—now we've got ten."

"Good. How are the new men settlin' in?"

"Very well, m'lady. They're experienced fighters, and they've already helped us identify some weak points in our defense." Theguard's relief was evident. "For the first time in months, I feel like we can actually hold this border if attacked."

Lachlan moved his horse closer to hers. "What do ye think about doublin' the watch during dawn and dusk hours?"