Page 36 of A Scot's Pride
Freya whipped around. “What’s happened?” Every emergency imaginable went through her mind.
Ashbury being thrown from his horse on their way out yesterday afternoon. Ashbury choking on his dinner. And then her mind turned to Lady Daven, and she didn’t want to think such horrid thoughts anymore. Freya lifted her skirts and rushed closer, wishing he would talk faster.
“Nothing’s happened, I assure ye,” Bryson said, his hands held out as if to ward off her fear. “I merely came with an invitation.” He dipped his hand into the inside pocket of his jacket and presented her with an envelope.
“An invitation?” Freya wrinkled her brow, her confusion growing deeper. “There’s nothing wrong? Nothing’s happened? Is Ashbury all right? And Lady Daven.”
“Aye. An invitation to tea. Everyone is fine.” He studied her, complexed at her line of questioning.
“Tea?” Freya wrinkled her nose, still reeling, her heart only now starting to slow from the fear she’d felt a moment ago.
Bryson chuckled. “Tea, the drink? It is made from leaves and hot water. Have ye heard of it?”
Freya rolled her eyes. “I know what tea is.”
His grin broadened, and she was immensely affected by his casual charisma. “I was concerned as ye seemed to have forgotten.”
“You worried me, coming so early.” Freya shook her head and pressed her hand, holding the invitation to her heart.
“I was awake, and ye told me ye were an early riser.” He shrugged. “Figured it was best to deliver it in person before the household roused.”
“I did?” She didn’t remember telling him that. How much of herself had she given away to this man without knowing it? It was only a testament to how much she seemed to find comfort in him when her guard was down.
“Aye.” He continued looking at her funny.
Freya waved away the rest of her fear even though her heart still felt a little off. “Well, I’m certain everyone will be pleased with the invitation. Is it from Lord Ashbury?”
This time it was Bryson who wrinkled his nose and frowned. “Nay. It is…from Lady Daven,” he said. “She has requested ye and your sister come to tea. Though Ashbury, too, will be present.”
“Oh. I’m sure Riley will think it fun. What of my mother?”
Bryson didn’t say anything right away, and Freya smiled. “I see. Just Riley and I.”
“If it’s no’ too much trouble.”
Not too much trouble? Her mother was going to have a fit, and Leila would jump on that storm, whirling it up into something awful. “Oh, I assure you the trouble is not with me, but my mother, well…” She swallowed, unable to finish the sentence as she pictured her mother pacing back and forth.
Bryson grimaced. “I dinna want to cause ye undue distress. She may join you.”
“And my sisters?” She was toying with him but also knew it would do them all some good to get out of the house—and it would relieve their father of having to deal with another tantrum from Leila.
“All right, they can come too.”
Freya grinned. She was certain if anyone else had plans for tea, they would drop them. “Then we accept and shall see you this afternoon.”
“I look forward to it.” Bryson smiled down at her, his eyes lingering on her face and making her feel warm all over.
With that one look, her imagination started doing foolish things and romanticizing his words. Riding all the way here to deliver an invitation wasn’t the most efficient use of his time, and yet he’d done so anyway.
Then he turned his horse and galloped away, leaving her in the middle of the road with the invitation in her hand and her brain thinking silly thoughts.
She wasn’t sure what to think of this interaction because a part of her would believe he was courting her, to have personally delivered this invitation, but the other part of her knew better.
When they met, Lord Lovat had made it obvious that she wasn’t up to snuff. And more apparent when he’d spoken with Lord Ashbury and she’d overheard. He’d also been abundantly clear that he was here for Lord Ashbury—no other reason.
But even knowing all that, she couldn’t help reading into his behavior. He might have been there for his friend, but he had singled her out by specifically inviting her.
Then again, maybe she was wrong.
