Page 61 of Wedded to the Twisted Highlander

The fact that she wasn’t completely sure whether Melody was in the room bothered her. What if Rubin was merely a distraction so Laird Chalium could take Melody away? Panic shot through her, stealing her breath and her wits.

“Nay.”

“Astrid? What is it? Who is that?” Olivia asked.

Astrid tried not to let the panic override her duty to protect.

“Oh God, Melody. He’s come to take Melody,” she forced out as she kept her eyes on Rubin.

The sight was surreal, as was the panic on his face. In all the time she’d spent with Laird Chalium and his minions, she’d never seen fear like that before.

She made to step in Rubin’s path and demand that he leave, but he whizzed by her without a second glance and made a beeline right for the door. She blinked as silence fell over them once again.

“See there? Nay one is comin’ for the wee lass. She’s safe,” Olivia reassured her, grabbing her by the shoulders.

“This isnae over,” Astrid said as confusion pummeled her.

She tried to make sense of what she had just witnessed, but no matter how many times she replayed the scene in her head, none of it made any sense.

Was it not Rubin she had just witnessed racing out of McFair Castle? And what could have possibly made the man so fearful?

As Astrid tried to steady her breathing and calm her shot nerves, she heard the ominous sound of heavy boots coming toward her. Her heart stopped. She didn’t need to turn around to know that her husband was standing behind her. It was as if he called to her without uttering a single word.

“He willnae come back,” he said, his hot breath caressing her neck. “I made a promise to ye, Lady McFair, and I intend to keep it.”

“See there,” Eileen said, coming up behind her brother as Melody continued skipping down the hallway without a care in the world. “Me braither, ever the good Laird, has taken care of the problem.”

“That was Rubin,” Astrid whispered, still uncertain as to what just happened. “Why was he here? When did he?—”

“There’s nothing for ye to worry about. Chalium’s messenger is gone, and he’ll die if he ever shows his face around here again.Thatye can count on.”

“Would ye look at the hour,” Eileen said as Astrid stared at the Laird. “It’s late, and I do believe we have a ridin’ lesson wit’ Melody in the morning, do we nae? So, what do ye say we go to bed?”

“Aye, ye should get some rest. I’m sure me faither will need ye soon,” the Laird said.

Astrid didn’t want him to go. He was the epitome of safety, she understood that now. Everything he had promised to her, he delivered, and yet she hadn’t even let him touch her.

Guilt niggled at her as she reached out a hand to him. “Thank ye, Thomas.”

The Laird’s eyes widened to the size of saucers. He took her hand as a smile tugged at the corners of his lips.

“Did ye ever doubt me?” he asked.

His question, while innocent, only added to the guilt wracking her.

“Aye,” she confessed. “There was a time when I did. But I promise to ye I’ll nae doubt ye again.”

“Get some rest,” he said as he brushed the back of his hand over her cheek.

Images of their time on the balcony flashed through her mind. She found herself wishing he would pick her up and carry her to his room.

But before she could even articulate what she wanted, he had stepped back. “See that she gets back to her room.”

“Aye,” the guard said.

Astrid glanced back to find Eileen giving her an apologetic look as the guard jerked his head toward the stairwell.

“Sleep well,” she thought she heard Thomas whisper as she walked away.