Page 99 of The Highlander's Auctioned Virgin
Ciaran heard her but said nothing in response.
He had been plagued with even more thoughts of protecting her since they had left the village. Even now, as they crossed the field towards the castle, a thousand scenarios bounced around in his head.
Who was to tell that more of Logan’s men were not in the castle now, just lying in wait?
“Ye make a terrible travel companion. Have ye ever been told that?” Elinor asked, prompting him to turn to her.
“Once or twice,” he responded, trying to smile.
She only nodded and returned her gaze to the road.
He studied her. The way her hair shimmered in the sun. The way her face was slowly regaining its color. The way her hands gripped the reins, like she was not planning to let go any time soon.
They entered the courtyard and were immediately welcomed by the maids and the stable boys, who took the reins of their horses.
Ciaran dismounted first and helped Elinor down. They walked into the castle, but Elinor was immediately accosted by Katherine and Anna, who seemed like they had been waiting in the Great Hall forever. She turned to him, a question in her eyes. He nodded, and she walked into the hall with them.
He made his way up the stairs; he had more things to do anyway.
He stopped a maid walking past. “Where can I find Thomas?” he asked.
She looked up at him, and he could see the red hue spreading across her cheeks. Nothing about his question warranted that reaction.
She pointed to the nearest door, curtsied, and scurried away. Ciaran followed her directions and found himself standing in front of a mahogany wooden door.
It was closed. He pushed it open anyway and was relieved when it gave way. However, his relief quickly turned into shock.
Thomas was in the room, on the bed,nakedas the day he was born. His eyes landed on Ciaran, and he shot up, scrabbling for the covers.
“M’Laird,” he sputtered, yanking the covers around himself. “I didnae ken ye were here already.”
It clicked like a set of metal gears in Ciaran’s head. The maid’s flushed face when he asked about Thomas.
Because she just left his room.
“I need yer help,” he muttered, shoving away all other thoughts out of his mind.
“Uh, can ye just let me put on some…”
Ciaran looked around and spotted a pair of dark trousers on the floor. He grabbed it and threw it at him.
“I need to put some extra measures in place to protect Elinor,” he continued.
His eyes flicked to the window as Thomas rose from the bed to put on his trousers.
“What kind of measures?”
“I need ye to station a few guards outside her door at night.”
“Nay,” Thomas uttered. He fastened his trousers and finally turned to Ciaran. “I cannae do that.”
“I ken ye care greatly about her– ”
“I do. That is why I cannae station guards outside her door.”
“I am giving ye an order, Thomas.”
“And I am refusing it.”
“Why?” Ciaran asked, his voice rising.
Thomas took a few steps towards him. “Because that was whathedid. Stationed guards outside her door all day and all night so she couldnae escape.”
Ciaran felt his heart sink into his stomach.
Oh.
Oh.
