Page 22 of The Highlander's Twisted Deal
“Of course. Why nae ask him yerself?”
Duncan gave a mirthless huff of laughter. “I willnae risk it, thank ye. Just take care that ye dinnae hurt him, do ye hear?”
Ava blinked. She’d expected blackmail or perhaps some veiled threats. She hadn’t expected the look of concern on his face. It was genuine concern, too. One thing was clear: Duncan was worried about his cousin. She reminded herself that they had been brought up like brothers and began to feel a little more charitable towards him.
“I would never hurt him,” she answered, because that was the only thing she could really say.
He shot her a sharp, insightful look, and she felt compelled to avert her eyes.
She didn’t, of course. She never did.
“See that ye dinnae,” Duncan said, his voice thoughtful. “I bear ye no ill will, Ava, believe me. I mean ye no harm, and I am nae yer enemy. But if ye hurt me cousin, ye and I willnae be friends. Do ye understand?”
She smiled thinly. “Of course, I understand.”
He eyed her for a long moment and then gave a small nod as if assuring himself of something. “I believe ye.”
Ye shouldnae.Yer cousin and I will never marry.
“There, sorted,” Moira said, dusting off her hands with a sigh of satisfaction, tramping back across the room towards them. “The poor maids are overstretched—there’s so much to keep clean in this place. I dinnae begrudge them for missing a cobweb or two. Now, Ava, where shall we go next?”
Ava turned her back to Duncan and flashed Moira her brightest smile. “Actually, I was wondering if the Keep has a garden. A herb garden, to be precise. There are a few things I need—sorrel, garlic, lavender, Jane Rose, and so on.”
Moira blinked, taken aback. “Aye, of course, although it’s a wee bit damp out there today. We normally send the scullery maids out to collect whatever we need.”
“Oh, I dinnae mind the damp,” Ava responded cheerfully. “And I’ve always preferred to collect me own herbs. Could ye direct me to it? I’d love to take a look. I willnae bother ye to escort me there, of course. I ken ye must have a great many things to get done—both of ye.”
“Of course, of course,” Moira said breezily. She added off-handedly, for Duncan’s benefit, “Ava thinks she can make up a tea to help with me knees. That would be a fine thing, dinnae you think?”
Duncan cast a quick, surprised look at Ava, hastily covered over. “That would be a fine thing. I ken how much pain ye are in, Maither. That’s kind of ye, Ava. Very kind.”
Ava looked away. “It’s me job,” she said firmly. “I heal the sick if I can, and I solve problems.”
“Well,” he said finally, after a moment of uncomfortable silence, “let’s hope ye can solve this one.”
7
Callum stared down at the ledgers, the columns of numbers and neat, tight-packed writing all blurring into one smudgy row.
He had work to do, lots of it. And yet, here he was, staring into space, doing nothing. It was close to noon, and he’d gotten nothing done.
The kiss kept running round and round his head, just as it had the night before, torturing him.
He never should have kissed her. Of course, he shouldn’t have. It was foolish, risky beyond reason, and it could have ruined everything. How would he explain his betrothed rushing out of the door because he kissed her?
More than ever, Callum realized that if this business with Ava did not fool anyone, he wouldn’t be able to fob off his family and his councilors much longer. They wouldn’t fall for the same trick twice, so he’d better make this one count.
At least she hadn’t been too angry at the kiss. He could have sworn that she enjoyed it, even.
But then, if she liked the kiss, why push me away?She was taken by surprise and probably worried about offending me.
And so, he came full circle again. It was his fault. He needed more self-control if this was going to work.
It’s nae even as if I can just avoid the lassie.We need to be together. We need to act as if we’re in love.
He was glad she’d had the courage to give him the advice he needed, rather than just sitting quietly, watching the family dinner and their carefully planned ruse crumble around them. Healers reallywereproblem-solvers, it seemed.
I’m lucky to have her.
