Page 76 of Captured By the Cruel Highlander
“I was mainly lookin’ for the kitchen, but I found the laundry,” Emily said, feeling absurdly proud of herself at his proud smile. “Yer great-grandmaither sounds sensible. It seems ye come from a line of sensible women.”
Adam’s eyes clouded over, but he shrugged. “I suppose I do.” He looked up at her. “Where is yer maither?”
“She died when I was eight,” Emily said, and his brow furrowed.
“I am sorry.”
“So was I, but it was a long time ago. She would have loved this castle. She adored explorin’. Used to ride out with me faither every day to find new places across the Wilkinson lands.”
“Aye. Me maither used to go with me faither when she was younger, until the clan needed her help.”
Emily hesitated, watching the shadows dance over his face. “Why did he never return with her?”
Adam sighed. “He did. A few times. I think me faither preferred wars and conflict to business and family, and me maither always encouraged him. He didnae have a natural talent with children. I dinnae think he kenned what to do with Laura and Freya. Fiery, wee things.”
His mouth quirked up in an affectionate smile, and Emily wished that she could capture that look forever. He seemed relaxed in a way she had rarely seen.
“We are to be married tomorrow,” she said finally, speaking the words that had bounced about her head ever since she had seen him.
“Aye.” He turned back to her, and his gaze wasn’t angry this time. There was heat in it again, and Emily’s skin prickled as a flush rose up her neck.
I wish he would make up his mind about what he wants from me.
“Do ye think Stewart will come?”
“Aye,” he said again. “I dinnae believe he’ll be able to help himself.”
“And yer men will be waitin’ for him?” She tried to keep the worry out of her voice but didn’t quite manage it.
Adam’s expression was calm and reassuring. “Aye, lass, ye’ll be safe.”
“But how can ye be sure? What if he brings more men than yers?”
“MacGordon’s men are here too, remember. Doughall kens the man’s strategy—he’ll be waitin’, and there’ll be double what Stewart would think to bring.”
“And what if he has heard of yer plans and brings his whole army?”
“Then I’ll fight his whole army, and I’ll win,” Adam said gravely. He stood up and came around to the other side of the table, holding out his hand. After a moment, she took it, rising to her feet. “I’ve never lost a battle. Nothin’ will happen to ye, lass.”
“If he kills me, I shall come back and haunt ye.”
She said it in jest, but Adam pulled her closer to him, looking down at her quizzically. “I thought ye couldnae wait to be free of me, lass.”
“I’d haunt ye to vex ye,” she said plainly, feeling a flutter in her chest as he chuckled.
But then his smile faded. “It’s late. We should get ye back to yer room.”
She pulled her hand gently from his and nodded. “Come on then.”
She headed back toward the trapdoor.
“I am nae goin’ down there,” he said impatiently. “It isnae far to yer room from here.”
“Well then, I shall see ye tomorrow.”
Adam flexed his hands by his sides as he watched her go back into the pantry and pull at the trapdoor with all her strength.
It was much heavier on the way down than up; he knew that from when he was a child and had snuck into the pantry one night. In exasperation, he went to help her. He lifted it for her, and she gifted him with one of those happy smiles that made his heart swell.
