Page 34 of The Icy Highlander's Bride
"Then I thank ye for bringing Skye a kitten and nae a rabbit."
He was pleased when Lana smiled at him.
"Nay more rabbit." He smiled back. "I'll tell the cook."
Lana squeezed his hand, clearly grateful he was willing to do this for her. After Daniel’s explosion at the dinner table, he couldn't blame her for being nervous to tell him. But now that he knew, he was warm with the knowledge. He was surprised to realize how much he wanted to make her happy.
"Come on," he said. He tugged at her hand and began guiding her out of the room.
"Where are we going?" Lana asked.
"Ye'll see."
Daniel led her out of the dining room, still holding her hand. He suddenly felt like a boy exploring the hallways and staircases of the castle. He remembered playing hide and seek with Cameron and the way they would squeal in delight when they found one another.
Daniel made a sharp turn and took Lana down a narrow staircase. He could have chosen a more direct route, but sometimes he liked taking the servants' stairs or exploring the more unique architecture of the castle. He knew the place so well that he could probably navigate the halls in his sleep.
"Where are ye takin' me?" Lana asked again.
The stairs were so narrow that Lana had to walk behind him, holding her skirts up so as not to trip on her feet. Daniel enjoyed her presence behind him, and he turned around to smirk at her. When Lana smiled back at him, clearly catching his enthusiasm, he couldn't help taking a step up to her.
Here, with Daniel a step below her, they were nearly the same height. He wrapped an arm around her back and brought his lips to hers, kissing her gently. Neither of them moved to deepen the kiss, though Daniel certainly could have enjoyed pressing her against the narrow wall of the stairway. But it wasn't a kiss of passion. Instead, Daniel was trying to apologize for all the mistakes he had made since inviting her into his castle.
"Let's go," he said, pulling away with a mischievous smile.
Lana returned his smile, and they were suddenly rushing down the steps, laughing as they tried to hold hands and navigate the stairs at the same time.
They emerged into the hot air of the kitchen. Lana was hit by the smell of fresh bread and the sweet smell of onion and garlic that permeated the room. A short, round woman looked up at them with shock as they emerged from the narrow stairway, still laughing.
"Me Laird," the woman gasped, scrambling to rearrange the kerchief on her head. Then she straightened and smootheddown her apron, as if she didn't know if she should take the dirty thing off, with Daniel present.
"It's alright, Mary," Daniel said, holding up his hand. "Forgive the intrusion."
The woman blinked at his kind words, and then dipped into a curtsy, as if suddenly remembering she should have done this earlier. Lana saw the resemblance between the woman and Genevieve, her daughter.
"Was somethin' wrong with the meal, Me Laird?" Mary asked. She started grabbing potatoes from baskets and squeezing peas from their pods. "I can make ye somethin' else."
"The meal was wonderful," Daniel reassured her. He held Lana's shoulders and nudged her forward. "Mary, this is Lana, me betrothed."
Mary dipped into an even deeper curtsy.
Lana smiled at her. "I met yer daughter earlier today," she said. "She showed me around me chambers. She's lovely."
"Thank ye." Mary beamed.
Lana could tell Mary was proud of Genevieve and the woman she had become. She stepped back and looked at Daniel, unsure why he had brought her down to the kitchen. Surely he didn't drag her down here just to introduce her to the cook.
"What can I help ye with, Me Laird?" Mary asked.
"I wonder if ye could make me betrothed somethin' else to eat?" Daniel asked.
"That's nae necessary," Lana interjected, suddenly blushing with embarrassment.
Mary spoke at the same time, "Then therewasa problem. Of course, Me Lady. Sit down."
"There was nothin' wrong," Lana protested, but Daniel guided her to a stool and made her sit. She watched Mary pull more ingredients to the counter in front of her.
"Perhaps some venison?" Mary suggested. "I have a lovely venison stew recipe, but I fear it is quite time-consumin'. Or some fish, Me Lady?"
