Page 65 of Beloved Enemy
Charlotte laughed softly, unable to help herself. “You’re doing fine. So, you hit the ball, and then... what?”
“Ye’ve got to run, but ye’ve got to mind the others chasin’ ye,” he said, slightly out of breath at this point for talking while carrying the heavy load. “If they catch ye, ye’ve to drink.”
“Ah, so it’s a drinking game?”
Donald hesitated, then gave her a sheepish grin. “Aye... sometimes. Depends on how much ale we’ve got on hand. And nae a game either the laird or the captain would approve of, mind ye.”
“Your secret is safe with me, Donald,” she assured him, laughing as they stopped in the lane directly in front of Una’s house.
Donald set the buckets down. “Here ye are, mistress.”
Charlotte thanked him again, but Donald did not immediately take his leave. Instead, he literally shuffled his feet back and forth on the hard ground in front of Una’s cottage, his gaze on her, his head and expression shifting nervously.
“Donald?” She prompted with a genuine smile, supposing he had something more to say.
At that moment, the door to Una’s cottage opened, and to Charlotte’s surprise, Reid Nicholson exited the house, his dark eyes fixed on Charlotte and Donald with a hard, unreadable expression.
The door was closed almost roughly behind him.
Charlotte’s heart leapt immediately, filled with an instant hope that Reid had come seeking her.
His displeased expression advised this was likely not the case, or if he had, it was to reprimand her about something.
Whatever it was, whatever had happened, Reid’s formidable presence seemed to suck the air from the space around them, and Charlotte’s smile faltered same as Donald’s did.
“Och, I... best be getting on to my duties,” the soldier mumbled, eyes wide as Reid’s brooding gaze seemed to scorch him where he stood. Giving Charlotte a quick nod, Donaldpractically bolted away, his footsteps retreating much faster than they’d arrived.
Charlotte blinked, startled by the sudden change in mood, and then turned to Reid. Annoyed, she slapped her hand over her heart and feigned being impressed. “I see you’ve perfected your one-man room-clearing tactics, so to speak.” Quickly, she dropped the façade. “Jeez, Reid, what was that about?”
Reid’s jaw tightened, his dark gaze flickering between her and where the soldier had been. “Ye tell me,” he said, his voice low, a touch of irritation lingering beneath the surface as he closed in on her, stepping away from the cottage.
“Seriously?” Charlotte challenged. “I’m not the one who just made that kid blanch and skedaddle. What the hell?”
“The lad should be at the training,” Reid said, stopping within two feet of her where the lane met the path to Una’s front door.
“He might have been,” Charlotte defended, though she wasn’t really sure. “Are you really going to take issue with him helping to carry the buckets for me?” When he did not respond, she asked, “What’s going on? What is this really about?”
She didn’t expect an answer here and was just about to ask him what he was doing at Una’s house, if he’d been looking for her specifically, when he surprised her by responding, “I dinna ken if you can be trusted.”
Stunned and confused, Charlotte could only muster a baffled, “With what?” Charlotte’s eyes widened, realization dawning. Her heart sank, but it was quickly replaced with a flare of indignation. “Are you serious right now? You think I’m sneaking around with Donald?Donald?” She let out a disbelieving laugh, incredulous. “He offered to carry the water pails. That’s all.”
Reid’s expression hardened, a muscle in his jaw twitching. “I’m nae—” he began but stopped himself abruptly.
And that’s when it clicked for Charlotte. Her stomach twisted as she glanced at the piece of fabric tied to his belt—the remnant of his last relationship. His cold, distrustful eyes were colored not just with suspicion but hurt.
He’s not seeing me... he’s seeing Elspeth.
Love is a fool’s hope,he’d been taught, she recalled Fiona saying.
Her voice softened as she gently pointed to the strip of cloth. “I’m not her,” she said quietly, the weight of it settling between them. “I haven’t betrayed you.”
Reid’s gaze flickered, but his expression remained stony. “Have ye nae?” he bit out, his voice a low growl, the words thick with skepticism.
Now she was furious. He kissed her; he pushed her away; and then he accused her of...what? Cheating on him? When he, himself, made sure there was nothem?
“You’re messed up, Reid,” Charlotte decided, her voice shaking with emotion. “Make up your mind. And while you're at it, let me know what I’m supposed to do with mine.”
He stood there, tense, his fists clenched at his sides.
