Page 92 of Once Upon A Haunted Castle
“This is no’ a fertile family,” Edana continued. “Ye know it took my parents over ten years to conceive yer father and me.”
“I know that.” Gavin repeated.
And he did know that. In fact, he was immensely aware of how infertile his family had seemed to be. His grandparents had tried for a child for over a decade before finally having twins, both his father and Edana. No more children followed.
His grandparents had apparently lamented their limited children, especially when one had been simply a girl.
Before them, his grandfather had taken even longer to conceive.
Already, Gavin was eight and twenty. How long would it take him to have an heir once he began the effort?
Edana’s deep sigh hissed through her nostrils. “Ye have no heirs and I’m too old. When ye die, everything goes to the king. He’ll make it all like England, the land he’s so—”
“Enough.” He said the word low and even, a deep unspoken threat lingering in the benign delivery.
He pushed aside her valid points and tried not to think of what truly would happen to Castle of Park if he were to die. The king would get it, of course, and most likely leave it and the people unattended as he did the other castles in his care.
Gavin lowered his gaze to an additional piece of correspondence. It was a rude dismissal of his aunt. One he knew she would get and obey, even if grudgingly.
After a long moment, the rustle of her silk gown whispered her departure.
Finally, he allowed himself to look up.
Beyond the large shelf of colorfully-spined books, the day was slipping away in red-gold light streaked with purple.
The streaks of purple made him think of the way Senara’s delicate hand had skimmed over the heather. Not for the first time, he wondered how the rest of her day had gone.
But he did not have time for such idle thought. Not when he needed to ready himself for the feast everyone had prepared in honor of his return.
He started down the stairs, his mind tangled in thoughts of how necessary an unwanted wedding was, when someone crashed headfirst into him.
Beautiful green eyes met his and widened. “Ach, I’m sorry, laird, I dinna—”
“Senara.” He felt himself smile as he said her name. “Dinna worry yerself.”
Her cheeks reddened to a bonny flush and he had the sudden desire to run his thumb over her cheek, to see if her skin was as soft and warm as it appeared.
“Has Castle of Park treated ye well?” He studied her, wanting to hear her say yes, wanting her to enjoy his home, his world.
A lovely smile lit her face. “Oh, Gavin, it’s all so beautiful. I feel as though I’ve become a princess to live in such a grand castle.”
He knew he ought to remind her to call him laird, but then he had introduced himself to her as only Gavin. And if they were only in private, it did not matter. Perhaps it even had something to do with the way she said his name, her voice sweet and tinged with the light of her happiness.
“I’m glad ye’re enjoying it,” Gavin said truthfully. “If ye need anything, ye come to me, aye?”
Senara smiled up toward him, her face beautiful and open and truly filled with gratitude. “Thank ye.”
“I’ll see ye at dinner.” He inclined his head toward her and she bobbed a curtsey.
He waited on the stairs a moment longer than necessary, prolonging the brief meeting with the fascinating woman. She kept her gaze fixed on his and climbed the stairs with their eyes still locked until she rounded the corner and disappeared from sight.
Only then did the fragile spell curled around his heart loosen and leave him free to descend the stairs toward his chamber to ready himself for the feast.
It was unfortunate Senara did not still hold a title, and a greater one than a knight’s daughter at that. She would be a woman Gavin could see himself not only tolerating in marriage, but even enjoying.
At any rate, it was not uncommon for Gavin to dance with the servants at feasts. While he could not wed Senara, he decided he would at least seek her out for a dance. With the resolve of his decision lightening the burden on his chest, he realized he did not so much dread the upcoming feast– in fact, he was looking forward to it.
