Page 54 of Sinful Scottish Laird
Ellis beamed up at him, his grin as broad as a horizon.Oh my son, my dearest son.She could see the adoration in his face, and it broke her heart that he likely would not see Cailean again once they left Scotland.
“Arrandale!” she said, forcing cheer into her voice, her attempt to pretend that there was nothing between them.
She picked up her skirts and hurried forward, with the pretense of pulling Ellis from his grip of Cailean, but truthfully so that she might stand closer to him. “I’m afraid you’ve come too late to bowl. We were just finishing our match.”
“I didna come to bowl,” he drawled. Daisy slid her gaze to the two men on horseback behind him. They were stoic, but she realized both of them wore swords, and both of them had their hands on the hilts of those swords, as if they expected to draw them. She glanced over her shoulder at Robert; his gaze was also on the two men, wary and watchful.
“Are we to stalk?” Ellis asked eagerly.
Daisy realized Ellis had not yet released his grip of Cailean. She put her hands on his shoulders and pulled him back, forcing him to drop his embrace.
“No’ today, lad. The bucks are no’ out yet, aye? It’s a wee bit early yet.”
“But...but we are going back to London soon,” Ellis said, sounding slightly panicked.
Cailean’s gaze instantly met Daisy’s.
Before she could say a word, Robert answered for her. “In a fortnight, we will depart Auchenard.”
If Cailean heard Robert, he gave no indication. He kept his focus steady on Daisy. She could feel it, could feel how deeply it penetrated her.
“What business have you here, sir?” Robert asked, stepping up beside Daisy and putting his hand on Ellis’s shoulder.
Cailean slowly shifted his gaze from Daisy to Robert. “WhatbusinessI have is business with the Lady Chatwick, aye? No’ you, Spivey.”
“Whatever you will say to her, you may say before me,” Robert said, and drew Ellis back, forcing him behind Daisy’s skirts. He braced his legs apart, as if preparing to fight.
“What is the matter?” Daisy whispered sharply. “He has not threatened—”
“A lady does not receive gentlemen on her own,” Robert said and stepped in front of Daisy, ignoring her displeasure, standing almost toe-to-toe with Cailean.
Indignation flared in Daisy—how could he possibly know what a lady did or did not do? “Captain Spivey, I must—”
“You’ve naugh’ to fear, then...for I am no gentleman,” Cailean said casually and smiled.
Daisy felt short of breath, her fear that this could result in another confrontation ratcheting. “Ellis, darling, go and fetch your uncle,” she said, pushing Ellis toward the lodge. “Quickly!”
“But I want to stay here!” Ellis complained.
“Do as your mother tells you!” Rob snapped.
Cailean’s gaze narrowed darkly, and Daisy frantically, impetuously, stepped in between the two men. “That is enough!” she said frantically. “I will speak with Arrandale, Captain Spivey, and I will ask you to please see Ellis into the lodge.”
Robert turned his heated gaze to her.
“If it is business for Auchenard, it is business for me,” she said, trying to breathe.
Robert’s gaze bore through her, and Daisy flinched at the coldness of it. “It is notsafe, madam,” he said through clenched teeth.
“It is perfectly safe.”
He considered her, flicked his gaze at Cailean, then reached for Daisy’s hand, bowing over it, kissing the back of it. And then he squeezed it so tightly that she winced. “Do not be long,” he said quietly. “I’ll be just inside.”
Daisy pulled her hand free.
He turned about, gestured for Ellis to go ahead of him and strode to the lodge.
The moment he disappeared through the door, Daisy grabbed Cailean’s hand.
