Page 12 of Rescued By the Highland Warrior
Aye, ye have nae idea.
“Thank ye,” Moira responded, breaking out into a genuine smile. “It was really lovely meetin’ ye as well. Ye helped me get through the night.”
“I was actually wonderin’ if ye might join me fer a walk in the gardens tomorrow? They’re braw this time o’ year, an’ it’s especially pleasant in the mornin’s.”
“Well, that sounds like a fine idea tae me,” Moira said, conscious of her case and all the weapons and tools it held behind her. “But now, I was must get some sleep. ‘Twas a lively party, an' it certainly took a lot out o' me.”
“Aye,” Miss Barclay nodded. “I can imagine. And I am so thrilled fer ye and the laird. I was nae the only one who noticed the manner in which ye an’ Roderick danced. If ye dinnae mind me sayin’, it was right romantic indeed...”
Moira’s stomach involuntarily tied into a knot, but she nodded, smiling warmly. She reminded herself that Miss Barclay had not heard the contents of their conversation, and if she had, perhaps she would have seen their dancing a little differently.
“Laird Fraser an’ I dae love tae dance,” she said, her tone light but her eyes sharp. “I look forward tae seein’ ye tomorrow morn, Miss Barclay. Rest well.”
Miss Barclay nodded, and Moira watchedas she moved gracefully down the hallway, slowly disappearing into the shadows. She stayed watching at the door until she was finally gone, as was her habit.
She’d learned to never turn her back on someone when they left, no matter how kind that person might seem, especially not at night. Once the hallway fell completely silent again, Moira sighed to herself looking back at her case, concentrating on her next steps, and slowly closing the door.
But something stopped it. A thick black boot wedged between the door and the frame, stopping her from closing it completely; hadn’t she just reminded herself not to turn her back on an open door?
She instinctively admonished herself for being so careless, unarmed, with all her weapons in the case, but then she looked up.
Roderick.He wore a determined expression and held a small lantern in his right hand.
“Come,” he commanded, “we’re going tae me faither’s chambers.”
“Roderick!” she responded, steadying herself. “What if Miss Barclay had seen ye, she only just left.”
Moira looked cautiously out into the hallway, her mind racing.
“Time is o’ the essence, Moira,” Roderick responded coolly. “Are ye comin’ or nae?”
She sighed. There was no use her pressing on the point further, this had been her idea after all.
“Just wait there,” she responded quickly, “I need tae get somethin’ first.
CHAPTER FIVE
“Are ye ready?” Roderick asked Moira. His tone was calm and Moira detected no signs of impatience; however, a certain tension clung to the air.
She didn’t feel the need to prove herself to him, or divulge her methods of investigation, and yet part of her felt compelled to show him that she was taking the investigation seriously.
Moira was not one to waste her time, nor anyone else’s.
“Yes,” she replied, keeping her voice as quiet as his.
Roderick nodded. “Follow me.”
Moira also didn’t feel inclined to share with Roderick what she had taken from her case and he didn’t ask. Instead, she followed closely behind him as he led the way forward, their shadows dancing across the stone walls of the castle, Moira’s dwarfed by his.
She’d never considered herself small, she was average height for a woman, but Roderick was so large and muscular that it was difficult to ignore how tiny he made her feel.
The higher they climbed up the castle, the darker it got. The former laird’s bedroom was tucked away on the very top floor, nestled in one of the highest towers. The air grew even cooler up there, and Moira shivered slightly as she felt a draft slipping through the narrow windows.
Moira’s eyes stayed sharp–her senses heightened, receptive to any creak or sound.
“Here we are,” Roderick said, as they finally reached the top. He turned the iron handle to the late laird’s bed chamber and the door groaned open.
As they entered the room, illuminated only by Roderick’s lantern, Moira noticed that the place hadn’t been touched since the old laird’s death. She scanned the room and detected misplaced books, an unkempt large four-poster bed, and a few haphazardly placed oak chairs.
