Page 28 of The Laird’s Unwanted Wife (Legacy of Highland Lairds #5)

N athan arrived the next day at MacLiddel keep. Though unlike the Laird of MacDonnell, the man-at-arms was not greeted by the head of an arrow.

Gerald’s guard knew full well to ask for an approaching figure’s identity first, so Nathan managed to get through the gate without major incident.

And it wasn’t long before Mollie was completely bewitched by their newest guest, tailing him throughout the castle with a dozen questions about the life of a hound master.

By mid-afternoon, everyone but Gerald had followed Aileen out toward the back garden—though, he admitted, it was less a garden and more a snow-covered field. Nathan had spent what felt like hours teaching Mollie basic commands for Bannock, using his own deerhounds as an example.

Gerald watched as a massive pack of dogs darted past his window for the umpteenth time, careful not to nick his thumb with his carving knife as he vaguely worked on his study’s bookshelf.

Every so often, he could lean back further and catch a glimpse of Aileen, bundled in a fur cloak but with her hood pulled down to allow her long mess of hair to spill out freely.

“Like a deer amidst the wintry woods,” Gerald mused, his knife continuing to pull alongside the grain of his bookshelf. He felt a note of pride for how he handled their most recent encounter; certainly afterwards, Aileen seemed far more confident in herself, especially around him.

She’d immediately taken to her set task as Lady of MacLiddel, spending the entirety of her morning organizing the servants and giving the castle a good scrubbing.

It certainly lifted morale, as the various guards about the keep seemed more at ease amidst the tidied interior.

And with the MacDonnells’ unexpected visit, Gerald was certain they viewed him as a laird who had a strong handle on his territory.

He found himself staring longer than usual at Aileen, his knife continuing to glide across the bookshelf.

The cold had added a beautiful flush to her cheeks, with plumes of thick breath slipping between her scarlet lips that held a perpetually sweet smile.

He’d have been thrilled to taste those lips again last night, but unlike their other interaction within his study, Gerald ensured he held fast to his vow.

It was a touch easier, what with his wife giving him the command to stay his hand, but even so, he couldn’t help but tease her as they spoke.

She seemed so eager to please him, to take on responsibilities and prove herself as a capable lady.

He wondered how far that eagerness extended; how far they could have gone, had Gerald not put a stop to their intimate moment.

“Oh, damn it all!” The Laird of MacLiddel continued to swear as his carving knife clattered to the ground, droplets of blood following after as he jerked his hand toward his chest. A clean slice of flesh ran red across his palm, and he quickly moved to his desk to find a roll of spare linen.

Distracted—he had been so easily distracted, and by a woman he’d openly insisted on wanting no further relationship with.

Or, perhaps a deepening relationship was a more apt description; it was far too late to go back to being simple strangers.

But at least this way, Gerald could try to keep things professional between them.

A pair of companions, working side-by-side to ensure the Highlands’ future was no longer soaked in blood.

Nothing more, nothing less.

Tightening and tying off his bandage, Gerald once more found himself staring out the window.

Aileen had a stick in hand, Mollie insisting on something excitedly with a wave of her arms as the other adults followed suit.

Her face reddened further, that beautiful smile somehow brighter than the sun against the freshly fallen snow.

Before she could throw it, Bannock managed to snatch it out of her hand and bounded off into the snowy banks, the remainder of the pack tearing after her in a chorus of yips and howls.

He watched as the MacDonnells offered laughter and reassurance, as Mollie covered her mouth to hide her own giggles.

It was only when Nathan approached with an unheard word and boldly took Aileen’s hands that Gerald felt a sudden twang of irritation.

With a rumbling snarl, the Laird of MacLiddel pulled his own cloak off the back of his chair and started toward the door, his freshly cut hand beginning to throb alongside his beating heart.

“Ye’re hands all right, me Lady?” Nathan asked, raising her hands to inspect her palms carefully. “That was quite the rip of the stick.”

Aileen quickly shook her head, even with her hands slightly aching from the bark tearing against her bare skin. “Aye! I’m quite all right. I shouldnae have held the stick so low for Bannock to grab.”

“She’s nae supposed to grab it at all!” Mollie insisted, a huff of frustration tumbling out as a thick fog of cold breath. “I thought she got the hang of it, but she still willnae stay at me side.”

“Bannock is nae a pup anymore, love,” Olivia reassured. “She willnae take to commands as quickly as our hounds do.”

“Aye, but a great hound master willnae let that stop them,” Arthur laughed. “Just keep workin’ on yer ‘wait’ command, Mollie. If ye daenae give up on Bannock, she willnae either.”

Nathan nodded his agreement, quickly letting Aileen’s hands go before taking a few steps back. Before she could ask, another pair of shoes began to crunch across the courtyard, and she glanced over her shoulder to find Gerald approaching.

“Laird MacLiddel. It’s an honor to see ye in person.” Nathan offered a bow, his hands kept respectfully at his side. “Thank ye again for the invitation. I’m humbled to be called upon ye for me meager talents.”

Aileen noted the brief glint of malice behind her husband’s gaze, but it quickly melded into nonchalance. “Ye belittle yerself, for yer talent as hound master is well-known across the Highlands. I trust ye’ve been teaching Miss Mollie all ye ken?”

“And more, me Laird.” Nathan straightened upright, his face remaining carefully neutral. It was a strange sight to Aileen. The man had been far more at ease mere moments ago, even smiling as he worked alongside Mollie. Truly, her husband’s title held far more weight than she first realized.

“Gerald, Gerald!” Mollie immediately bounded across the snow, tackling Gerald to force an embrace out of him. “Nathan’s been teaching me how to make Bannock sit and stay!”

“Has he, now?” the difference in tone was so immediate that it took Aileen by surprise.

Gerald spoke now with such warmth and reverence as if he were conversing with his own daughter.

The thought caused a pleasant wave to ripple throughout Aileen, and it took all she had to remain upright.

Gracious, he’d only spoken three words, and already, she wanted him entirely.

“The lass is goin’ to be a fierce hounds woman when she grows older,” Arthur praised. “I’ve never seen our dogs take so fast to a stranger. She had them following her all around the court just an hour or so ago!”

“But I cannae get Bannock to come when she’s called,” Mollie grumbled sourly.

“Let me see if I can help, lamb.” Setting Mollie back onto the ground, Gerald straightened himself and cupped a hand over his mouth, barking out the order, “Bannock! Come!”

Aileen watched as the deerhound cocked her head upright, the stick still in her mouth, as the other hounds froze in place. She soon came bounding back toward the group, her tail wagging low as she meekly approached the Laird of MacLiddel.

“Leave it,” Gerald commanded, gesturing to the stick. Bannock did so and, as her husband picked the stick up off the ground, he gestured once more, indicating his side. And, again, Bannock hastily obeyed.

“I daenae ken why ye called upon me services, me Laird,” Nathan mused. “Ye seem a natural yerself.”

“Aye, but I fear I can only get ye so far,” Gerald replied. Arching his arm back, he let the stick fly an incredible distance, pulling a startled gasp from Aileen and a squeal of excitement from Mollie. Truly, she forgot at times how strong her husband truly was.

“That was magic!” Mollie exclaimed, bouncing around the Laird with an excited spring to her step. “I want to throw that hard one day, too!”

“Ye keep cleanin’ yer plate as ye have, and I’m certain ye will, lamb,” Gerald replied gently.

Mollie offered a furious nod. “Aye, aye! I will, Da! Promise!”

Aileen’s expression froze, realizing she had registered her sister’s slip before Mollie had. Before she could say anything, Mollie’s eyes widened, and she covered her mouth, her face flushed with embarrassment.

“Mollie,” Gerald began reassuringly.

“I … I have to go do something inside! Excuse me!” Quick as a whip, Mollie spun on her heel and sprinted toward the castle door, Bannock hot on her heel as the other dogs followed suit.

Something akin to a groan escaped Nathan as he followed after the beasts, trying to get them to listen to his commands.

Only the lairds and ladies were left outside in the snow, with Aileen looking as startled as her husband did.

“That was the first time she called ye, ‘Da’, then?” Arthur teased.

Aileen was amazed to watch Gerald’s usually ruddy face turn a shade darker. “It’s nae such a big problem,” he grumbled, causing Aileen’s heart to skip a beat. Then, he truly didn’t mind her sister?

“I think Mollie has the right idea, anyway,” Olivia piped up, abandoning her husband’s side to loop an arm around Aileen’s.

“Why daenae we go and make some hot drinks while the pair of ye help Nathan? I daenae think the Lady of the house will appreciate her floors becoming all muddied from hounds she doesnae own.”

“Aye, ye’re probably right, selkie.” Arthur quickly moved ahead of the ladies, with Gerald lingering a touch behind.

He managed a glance Aileen’s way and, feeling embarrassed, Aileen found herself looking away just as quickly.

She watched as the lairds entered the castle next, her heart still racing at her husband’s implications.

“They’re something special, aye?” Olivia giggled lightly.

Aileen nodded, uncertain where her gaze should be.

“I promise I willnae bite!” Olivia insisted. “I would love us to be friends, Aileen, instead of ye seeing me as this untouchable force of nature.”

Again, Aileen nodded, doing her best to meet Olivia’s eyes.

Gods, but she positively radiated with confidence; it was no wonder the Laird of MacDonnell had taken to her so quickly.

“Ye … just seem so certain of yerself, is all. Laird MacDonnell treats ye with such respect, and ye daenae seem to alter yerself around him.”

Olivia’s giggling bubbled into laughter. “Oh, nay. Ye should have seen us when we first met. I was plum terrified of him—forbade him from layin’ a single hand on me!”

Aileen’s own laughter came from a far more awkward place.

“It took a few disasters to bring us closer together,” Olivia admitted. “And I had to force meself to tear down walls I’d built up over the years. Then, he did the same, and now …” Her sentence trailed off, a dreamy look passing by her eyes.

“Did …” Aileen hesitated briefly before asking. “Did ye ever think he wouldnae see ye as his wife? Or did ye ever fear he’d grow to resent ye? Or what if ye always saw him as a stranger ye were stuck with?”

Olivia offered a sympathetic smile. “It’s nae an easy life we walk.

I cannae say for certain what will and willnae come to pass between ye two.

” She tightened her grasp around Aileen’s arm, her smile widening considerably.

“But I ken I got through it with the help of the other ladies. And ken that ye, too, have a place among us as friends. I mean, who else can exactly understand what we’re going through? ” She added with a laugh.

Aileen’s own smile felt more genuine this time around.

“I can say he certainly cares for ye, as an outside observer. And he obviously adores yer sister, which honestly, would have been an absolute deal breaker for any of us.” Olivia put a skip in her step, filling Aileen’s chest with a child-like giddiness.

“Ye just have to remain open to him, Aileen. He’s certain to do the same.

And, if he ever gets under yer skin …” She added with a wink.

“Ye can always rely on yer fellow ladies to sympathize with ye.”

Aileen had no idea how much she truly needed to hear that. “Thank ye, Lady MacDonnell. I truly appreciate yer friendship.”

“It’s Olivia to ye,” Olivia teased, only to let out a laugh once more. “Oh, nay. Is this how the others felt when they first saw me? I’ll have to write and thank them once more for their own companionship.” She snapped her fingers, her expression brightening.

“Oh! Ye ken, when this business with Carswell is over, ye should come visit me keep! Arthur will have his hands full dealing with some unruly smaller clans, and I’d love to show me new lady friend the seaside. Ye ever been to the ocean, Aileen?”

She couldn’t say she had, but Aileen was suddenly looking forward to such a prospect. She knew Mollie would certainly enjoy such a trip, and Gerald … it was a seemingly unreachable wish, but Aileen still hoped that her husband would willingly be by her side as well.