Page 34 of Kilty By Association
Despite spilling against her arse, last night had been the most pleasure he’d ever experienced with a woman, and it had naught to do with how experienced she was or how long it had been since he’d been with another…it had beenher.
His heart was light, his body at ease, because ‘twasElspeth.
But that wasn’t what Robbie needed to hear, of course not. So, Craig cleared his throat. “Yer father…he sounds like a hard man. Likely a good earl, though.”
“Aye.” The lad sounded bitter. “I dinnae want to be like him, though.”
Robbie needed someone to teach him to rule with compassion and grace, and Elspeth would do that for him.
“Ye dinnae have to,” Craig assured him. “Although I ken returning to yer home will be difficult.”
“I dinnae remember it.” There was that bite of bitterness in the lad’s tone again. “My father died almost two years ago, and that night I almost died from poison in my supper, and the next day Mother began making plans to move us to Scone.”
Shite. The lad had been only seven years auld!
“That fast?” Craig shook his head, knowing he couldn’t fault her reasoning. But he hadn’t realized the first attack had come so quickly. “How did yer father die, laddie?”
Robbie glanced up at him, then away. “He was out riding with his men, and the horse saw a snake and threw him. ‘Twas an accident, they said.”
Aye. His menwouldsay that, wouldn’t they?
Shite shite shite.
Men died from being thrown by horses all the time; ‘twas a perfectly un-suspicious death. What made it suspicious was the fact that there was an attempt on the man’s heir that night.
Why had Drummond not told him this? Mayhap he didn’t know.
Cursing quietly, Craig pinched the bridge of his nose and settled one hand on Robbie’s shoulder. Hearing this, there was more than a small chance that the lad’s father was murdered, which made this mission even more interesting.
And a lot more dangerous.
Robbie shifted under his hold, and when he opened his eyes, he realized the lad was looking up at him, trust in those dark eyes so like Elspeth’s. He trusted Craig, the same as his mother did, and Craigwasn’tgoing to let them down.
“Ye ken what I miss the most?” the lad whispered.
Craig didn’t ask, but squeezed the small shoulder.
Robbie’s gaze was focused on Craig’s chin. “I miss having—having someone like ye. Someone who will talk to me like my opinion matters.”
That tightening in his chest? Craig swallowed.Nowit felt as if he’d been stabbed, right in the heart. Was it possible to bleed out fromfeelings?Because if so, he was in danger.
“Yer mother—”
“My mother is a good mother.” Robbie lifted his gaze. “But she’s no’ a man.”
Craig squeezed the lad’s shoulder again. “Nay,” he managed hoarsely. “She’s no’.”
“Ye are. Ye listen to me like I matter.”
Oh fook.
With a noise thatabsolutely wasn’t him trying to hold in tears, no’ at all, Craig pulled the lad closer, wrapping both arms around him. Robbie buried his face in Craig’s chest and wrapped his arms around his middle, and also wasn’t crying, if anyone asked,thank ye verra much.
“Ye matter, Robbie,” Craig muttered against the lad’s hair. “Ye matter verra much.”
“To my mother?” The words were muffled.
“Aye, to her. And to yer sisters. And to the people of Dungotit, eventually.” Craig swallowed hard and whispered his next words.
