Page 20 of The Beast of the Highlands
Autumn frowned and took a look for herself but could see nothing but shadow. “Where?”
“Over there, by the gates.” Laurel pressed a fingertip to the glass. “If you wait for the moon to come out from behind the clouds, you will see them. They are on horseback, if I am not mistaken.” She turned to her sister. “Should we be afraid? Do you think the bailiffs have come back again?”
The mention of horses reminded Autumn that there were no longer any ostlers to untack Seashell and rub her down before letting her settle in a stall. But that was the least of her concerns, for she knew precisely who was out there.
“No, I do not think we need to be afraid,” Autumn assured. “But I will go and speak with them, to allay your fears.”
And I shall scold them mightily for following me here…
13
“Someone’s comin’!” Leighton hissed in the darkness.
Flynn sat up, having chosen a spot of grass by the manor gates to serve as his bed for the night. “Do they look like guards? I daenae ken what these Sassenach folk have to protect themselves.”
“It’s… Autumn.” Leighton readjusted the brooch that pinned the loose end of his belted tartan to his shoulder and straightened up.
Flynn had to smile, for his younger brother looked like a suitor meeting with a potential bride for the first time. Indeed, it had never occurred to him that Leighton might have developed a youthful infatuation for Autumn, since he had been so concerned with his own infatuation of her.
Or he’s hopin’ she might become his sister-in-law. He already gave his blessin’.
That possibility made Flynn’s heart hurt. From the moment Autumn had arrived at MacLennan Castle, Flynn had wondered if there was some mystical book in his collection that would allow him to bend time and reverse it to before the day he arranged a marriage with Keira Cranach, the Laird of Dunn’s daughter. Or if there was a tome of law that could reveal a loophole to get him out of such an arrangement.
“What madness is this?” Autumn barked upon her approach. “I realize that I have a talent for subtlety, but I should think my hint at running away from you both was as blunt as a stone to the head!”
Leighton shuffled forward. “We were worried about ye bein’ on the road by yerself. And since ye’ll be comin’ back the same way, in the dark, Flynn thought we ought to stay, so we could escort ye.” He laughed nervously. “That’s a rare horse ye’ve got, eh? We thought we’d be able to catch up to ye, but that beast outpaced us.”
“Youare a Laird, andyouare the current heir apparent!” She ran an exasperated hand through her long, blonde hair, which had been tousled free of its usual braided bun. And it appeared she was wearing nothing but a nightgown beneath her woolen cloak.
Och, I’ve never seen ye so pretty.
Flynn’s throat constricted, his fingertips itching to be the ones to run through her long, lustrous locks… before they trailed down her neck, and across the rise of her bosom. He could picture her pert nipples beneath the flimsy nightgown, hardened by the night’s chill. If only he might warm them in his mouth and wrap himself around her, she would never have to shiver again.
“Do you not have duties to attend to?” Autumn continued. “Your clan will be most concerned when they find you have both disappeared without a word. Truly, you ought to return immediately, and desist with this nonsense.”
Flynn got up from his grass bed. “It isnae nonsense, lass. Ye almost got yerself killed once, and I’ll nae risk it happenin’ again. Ye’re a part of Clan MacLennan now, and we take care of our people.”
Autumn’s eyelids flickered. “I am a servant. A tutor, yes, but I am still only here to serve.”
“Ye’re nae. Ye’re more than that, and ye ought to ken it,” Flynn replied, stepping nearer. “I wouldnae have shown ye me library if ye were nothin’ more than a tutor, and I ken Leighton cannae continue without ye. He’s becomin’ an academic mind because of ye. He’s even been askin’ me if he can take books from me library, to read forpleasure, and that’s all yer doin’.”
Leighton scowled at his older brother. “Oi, I told ye nae to tell her that!”
“You were already reading for pleasure, Leighton.” A small smile crept onto Autumn’s face. “You just did so in secret. This is no great surprise, though I am pleased to hear it.”
Leighton’s glower softened. “Ye talk about all these books I’ve never read, and ye make ‘em sound so interestin’. I couldnae help meself.” He paused. “And it gives me an excuse to steal some time with me brother, so we can talk about literature and poetry and all that.”
“Ye dinnae need to “steal” time with me,” Flynn said, confused by Leighton’s words. “I’m always there for ye to talk to, whenever ye need.”
Leighton shook his head. “Ye’ve always been too distracted with bein’ a Laird. I amnae angry—I understand, but… I missed ye just bein’ me brother. Only when Autumn came to the castle did ye start bein’ around more and seekin’ me out durin’ me lessons and lingerin’ after to just talk to me.” He glanced shyly at his tutor. “That’s one of the reasons I daenae want ye to stay away, Autumn, just ‘cause me brother’s a dobber who dinnae tell ye somethin’ he should’ve done.”
“I dinnae ken ye thought I was so absent.” Flynn had known he was neglecting his brother somewhat, due to the daily rigors of being a Laird, but he had hoped that Leighton had never noticed it.
I was a fool to think he hadnae.
Leighton shrugged. “I dinnae want to make ye feel bad. Ye already had so much pressure on ye, and so many people clamorin’ for yer attention.” He smiled slightly. “If I’d known it would take a tutor to get ye to be around more, I’d have accepted one of ‘em years ago. Though none would’ve been as good as ye, Autumn.”
“Gratitude, Leighton.” Autumn chuckled, though it quickly faded.
