Page 12 of The Mad Highlander
12
I ris felt her heart sinking when she entered the dining hall to see that Cayden was again nowhere to be seen. He had promised her the day before that he’d make a bigger effort to spend time with her, yet he hadn’t been at breakfast or even lunch.
Perhaps he’s busy coming up with a plan for Ashton.
She reassured herself that there was more than likely an explanation for his absence.
“There ye are, dear.” Margot looked up and greeted Iris with the same kindness that she was beginning to grow accustomed to.
“I’m sorry if I’m late; I ventured into the gardens this afternoon and didn’t realize how far I had gone until the sun began to set,” Iris explained, pulling back her chair and taking a seat.
Robyn made a cooing sound before focusing on Iris over the rim of her goblet. “I thought that maybe ye an’ Cayden had gone for another walk in the forest,” she teased Iris, giving a not-so-subtle wink that had Margot rolling her eyes.
“Dinnae fuss with the lass; she’s had a long day. Have some of the stew, dear. It’s rabbit tonight, me favorite.” Margot placed her knife and fork beside her plate before passing the bowl to Iris.
Iris accepted it gratefully before ladling a few scoops of rich stew onto her plate. “Actually, I haven’t seen Cayden all day,” she admitted sheepishly, trying to hide the note of bitterness in her voice.
Margot gave her a sympathetic glance before handing her the tray of bannocks. “I wouldnae fuss about that, lass. I saw Laird McLaren here earlier; they must be busy with the council.”
A faint smile spread over her lips as Iris felt a small wave of reassurance. It was selfish of her to want more of Cayden’s attention if he was truly spending all of his time trying to get her brother back. Astrid popped into her mind as she dug into the stew. They had laughed and joked with each other as if they had been intimate or at least shared a deep bond.
The nasty feelings of yesterday came back as she sat in silence, eating her food. She didn’t like not knowing things, and Robyn and Margot had reacted so strangely when they had set eyes on her. She knew Astrid was the healer, but there was more to her than that. It didn’t seem appropriate to ask them who Astrid truly was.
“I hope ye dinnae mind me barging in like this? Cayden wanted to send me on me way, but I said I wouldnae dream of it until I at least set eyes on me other maither,” an unfamiliar voice broke the silence, bouncing off the walls in the great hall.
Iris looked up in surprise to see a large blonde man striding toward the table with Cayden following behind. His kind brown eyes fell on Iris as his lips spread into a knowing smile that puzzled her.
“Hunter!” Robyn jumped from her seat and practically launched herself into the man’s arms. He looked a little older than Cayden, and Iris instantly felt herself being drawn to his personality which reminded her of her own father.
The man laughed joyfully and spun her around in a great big hug before placing her back on her feet. “Ye look bonnier by the day, lass. Why are yer cheeks so red? Have ye a fever?” The man cocked his head to the side and examined her.
Rubbing her cheeks sheepishly again, Robyn let go of him and took a step back.
“She’s only gone an’ painted her cheeks again after we told her not to.” Margot stood and allowed the man to hug her, scolding him when he let go. “Dinnae hold me so tight, Hunter; ye ken I am nae as young as Robyn.” Her eyes twinkled lovingly as she took a step back.
Hunter.
Iris felt more and more curious about the jolly man when Margot offered him a seat beside her. Her breath caught in her throat when she looked up to see Cayden staring at her with a veiled expression on his face. He didn’t seem angry with the man, nor did he seem comfortable when Hunter approached her.
“An’ this must be the lovely Miss Iris; it’s a pleasure to finally be making yer acquaintance, Me Lady.” Hunter bowed, reaching for her hand and pressing a kiss on top that made her blush.
“Never mind yer flirting; will ye be joining us?” Robyn interrupted when Iris blushed.
“Of course, he will be joining us.” Margot placed her hand on Hunter’s shoulder and guided him to the chair beside her.
Cayden came forward and took the chair across from Iris, making her heart skitter when he held her gaze.
What is he thinking?
She wondered what he was thinking and if he disliked the attention that his friend was giving her. His gaze certainly never seemed to stray from her face, especially when Hunter addressed her directly.
“So, Iris, how are ye settling in here at Castle O’Brien? Has Cayden been making ye feel at home?” He winked at her before pouring himself a mug of ale and drinking deeply.
He was large, loud, and quite obnoxious yet charming in such a way that she instantly felt safe in his presence. None of his actions seemed guarded or even calculated as he made himself at home at the table.
“I cannae complain about any of the hospitality I have received since arriving.” She smiled warmly yet left out the fact that it had been Robyn and Margot who had been the ones to welcome her.
Robyn seemed to pout a little when Hunter wasn’t paying her enough attention. “Ye haven’t been coming around lately, Hunter; I feel as if ye dinnae care anymore.” Robyn glared at him, unable to keep herself from smiling.
“It isnae I that hasn’t been coming; Cayden has been hiding his bride-to-be from me,” Hunter teased, shooting a challenging glance at Cayden.
To Iris’ great surprise, Cayden didn’t shy away or even get angry. “Aye, I feared Iris would run for the hills an’ nae want to marry me anymore if she met our neighbors. Any woman would run once they’ve met yer ugly mug,” Cayden shot back before reaching for the mug of ale and helping himself to stew.
A joke?
Iris couldn’t help but be surprised at the sudden display of humor; in all the time she had been at the castle, she hadn’t seen him so much as laugh at anything anyone had said.
Hunter threw back his head and laughed, banging on the table until all the silverware rattled. “I must admit, lassie, yer presence here has brought out the best in Cayden. I can see that he’s chosen well with ye.” He winked at her again before turning his full attention to Robyn and Margot. “So, tell me, what have I missed?”
Margot pursed her lips and stopped cutting a piece of meat in her stew. “Nae much, just Robyn meddling again. We’ve had to replace several maids in the past month, an’ another one has just handed in her notice a few days ago.” She narrowed her eyes at Robyn who feigned innocence and looked away.
Cayden spoke up again. “That reminds me, dinnae think that I’ve forgotten about that. I dinnae want to hear of this again; ye personally will be responsible for finding a replacement for Eilis, an’ every maid ye see fit to find love for after that.”
“That isnae fair! It is the lady of the castle’s job to find new maids!” Robyn protested fiercely, looking to her mother for help.
Margot shook her head and raised her hands. “Dinnae look at me, I told ye nae to meddle anymore, an’ ye didnae listen, so ye must face yer brother’s wrath now. An’ dinnae look at Iris, she will handle the running of the castle once they are married, but I agree with Cayden, ye will be responsible for it from now on until ye’ve learned nae to meddle.”
Robyn pouted with a heavy sigh, leaning back in her chair before crossing her arms over her chest.
It was Hunter who leaned forward and whispered to Iris. “Dinnae fuss, lass; everyone in this family loves each other a great deal, despite what ye may have heard about them.”
“Aye,” was all she whispered back before focusing on her plate.
Everything she had seen and heard up to now in the castle had left her with a great deal of confusion. She had pictured Cayden as a cold monster who had murdered his father and brother in cold blood. Yet his mother and sister loved him a great deal and even looked up to him as the head of the family.
The floor was not stained with blood, and nobody had forced her into a dungeon. Just how much of what she had heard was true? Her heart yearned for answers as she glanced up at Cayden, who had turned his attention to his plate.
The rest of the dinner proceeded with light banter between the family. Cayden only seemed to interact whenever anyone addressed him directly. Hunter seemed to be close with the family. She learned from their conversations that he had grown up with Cayden and had stood by his side through thick and thin. It turned out that he was only three years older.
She had expected Cayden to leave with Hunter when dinner was over, yet he had caught her off guard when everyone else stood to leave.
“Iris, would ye wait just a moment? I have news of Ashton.” Cayden had spoken softly to her, keeping his gaze fixed on hers as the others exchanged glances and left.
“Aye?” Iris waited until the coast was clear again before turning to him with a spark of hope in her chest.
Cayden cleared his throat. “We have come up with a plan an’ informed the council. Yer cousin Tristan will nae longer be joining us; it seems as if yer clan has been plagued by a fever. Hunter has offered to step in an’ help where Tristan was supposed to.”
Iris felt her heart sinking amidst the relief at hearing that the plan to rescue Ashton was going ahead. She hadn’t heard a single word from Tristan asking her how she was or even urging her to go ahead with the plan to rescue Ashton. She knew that he would more than likely have been in contact with Cayden, but still, she couldn’t help but feel abandoned.
“Iris, I’m sure yer cousin will be fine. I will send one of me men to check on Tristan, but I havenae heard any reports of anyone dying or that the fever is spreading to the other clans.” He spoke softly as if he could tell what she was thinking.
Looking up, she tried her hardest to smile despite the disappointment she felt. “Thank ye for yer efforts, an’ please, thank Hunter as well. He seems like a kind man.”
Cayden nodded. “Aye, he’s a kind man. An’ I ken that I said I would spend more time with ye, but I was just busy with the arrangements this morning.”
Iris could see that he was trying to put in an effort; whether it was because he could see that Ashton’s situation was weighing heavy on her or for some other reason entirely, she wasn’t sure.
“Are ye still leaving in a week?” Iris did the calculations in her mind, counting the days that had passed. It had more or less been three days, meaning that there were only eleven left until they proceeded.
“Aye, just over a week, I still need to make the final arrangements, but it will be more or less around that time.” He searched her face in the same intense way he had done before they kissed.
“I was wondering if ye would allow me to go with ye when ye rescue Ashton. I ken that I wouldnae be of any use, but I would like to see him as soon as possible,” she asked him hopefully, unable to bear the thought of staying behind and waiting.
Cayden shook his head. “I can understand how anxious ye are, but I’m afraid that that would be out of the question. The men going with are highly skilled, an’ ye would only get in the way.”
Her anger and irritation grew as she glared at him.
Get in the way?
Was he worried for her safety, or did he see her as some kind of weak woman who was only good to run his house and sire his heirs? “I ken that I wouldnae be able to fight or even help infiltrate the castle, but I could wait somewhere close to the castle an’ see Ashton as soon as yer out.”
Cayden simply shook his head again. “I’m afraid that I cannae allow that to happen.”
“Cannae or willnae? Because it seems to me that you have every ability as laird of this castle to make a decision like that. You promised me that you would give me everything I need; well, I am telling you that I need you to allow me this one request.” Iris stood her ground, feeling incensed at his refusal.
“I cannae place yer life in danger!” Cayden seemed to snap at her, raising his voice.
Iris felt her blood boiling as she glared up at him. “There is nae need to shout, Me Laird. I heard ye loud an’ clear.” She took a deep breath and glowered at him before turning on her heels and leaving the room.
“Iris, wait…” Cayden called after her, but she had already rounded the corner.
She had just finished thinking of him as someone who loved and cared for the well-being of his family, yet there he had gone and yelled at her. She hadn’t expected him to jump at the idea of her joining the party, yet she hadn’t thought that he would dismiss her outright either.
Perhaps I shouldn’t come to any conclusions regarding him just yet.
Her pulse raced as she climbed the steps to her chambers. All of the glimpses of kindness she had seen in him over the past few days had seemed to disappear in a matter of moments.
Who are you, Cayden Hart?
She felt more confused about him than she ever had before. Couldn’t he just allow her to wait somewhere nearby when he rescued her brother?