Dangerous Pride (23 page)

Clad in his kilt and a saffron shirt, Lachlan appeared every inch the gentleman laird. 
Looks can be deceiving
, Catriona thought with an unconscious frown.  “Would you be so kind as to hold my jacket for me?”  Lachlan asked, not waiting for her answer as he tossed the garment to her, so quickly she had to struggle to catch it before it hit the ground.

Fighting to hide his smile, Lachlan walked into the stable again, returning with Laeg’s saddle.  As he threw it up on the animal’s back, Catriona couldn’t help but watch the play of his lean, strong muscles against the tight-fitting shirt.  The day became oppressively warm as she watched him saddle the animal with skill and confidence, his every movement sure and deliberate.  When Lachlan caught her stare, he grinned broadly, his even white teeth standing out in stark contrast to his deeply tanned skin.  With a guilty start, she whipped around to focus her attention on the arched gateway in the distance.

The day was certainly shaping up to be an enjoyable one, Lachlan decided as he tightened the cinch around Laeg’s belly.  The powerful animal paced nervously, and Lachlan whispered gentle, calming words to soothe him.

Catriona’s interest was piqued by the sound of his gentle words.  “Do you speak Gaelic to him, then?” she inquired politely, surprised this powerful warrior would show such affection for his horse.

“
Seadh
,” Lachlan replied.
Yes, it is so
.  He was pleased Catriona was paying attention despite her best efforts to appear indifferent.  Her awkwardness seemed to melt in the face of her overwhelming curiosity.  “I suspect the words do no’ mean much to him, but a gentle tone seems to calm him.”  Lachlan grabbed up the horse’s reins, and turned to face her.  “There now, Laeg is ready to go.  Let’s get you ready.”

Lachlan was at her side in the span of a heartbeat, grasping her firmly around the waist.  Before she could react, he’d lifted her atop the mare, as if her weight was no burden at all.  “You do no’ like the sidesaddle, do you?” he asked her, staring into her flushed face.  It was almost too easy to play with her, he realized guiltily.

“You ken full well I have been riding since I was old enough to walk,” she replied haughtily.  “Those ridiculous English saddles are a waste of leather if you really want to ride.”  Her emerald eyes vibrant with indignation, Catriona reached down to grab hold of the reins, and without another word turned and set off for the gate at a quick pace.

“I think it’s likely to be an interesting afternoon,” Lachlan muttered to the stable lad as he mounted his own horse.  “Aye, though interesting is probably too soft a word for what that lass has in store for me.”

###

It took Lachlan some time before he was able to catch up to Catriona, though whether her frantic pace had been fueled by anger or embarrassment, he wasn’t sure.  He gave the lass her head for most of the ride, only pulling close when they neared the burn.  Motioning to a grove of trees to the side, he slowed Laeg to a trot.  He was pleased and a little surprised to see Catriona followed him with no objection.

In truth, he had been happy to ride behind her.  She was a beautiful sight, sitting her mount with a grace and ease unusual in women of her station.  Not only did she hold her seat well, but her mahogany curls flowed behind her in waves, making her look more like an angel than a horsewoman.  Indeed, she was radiant as she held her face to the sky, seeming to luxuriate in the feel of the warm sun on her face.  Lachlan felt an uncomfortable stirring in response to her uninhibited enjoyment of the sun’s caresses, and had to silently counsel himself to be on his best behavior.

Pulling Laeg to a halt near the forest, Lachlan slide off his horse, then tied the reins loosely to an overhanging branch.  Before he could help Catriona from her horse, she’d managed – with some difficulty –  to dismount on her own.  He smiled briefly as she stumbled, struggling to catch her balance, but he had to admire her independence.  Or was she driven by the fact she could not bear to feel his hands on her waist again?  He would have to find out for himself.

While Catriona went to the burn to wash the dust from her hands and face, he retrieved the basket, choosing a smooth patch of short grass in the shade of the trees.  He took a blanket from a roll at the back of his saddle and spread it on the ground as Catriona returned and readied the food.  The lunch the kitchen staff had prepared was delicious, and for a time, they were content to eat in silence.  In addition to ale, oatcakes and cheese, Mairi had included cold roasted chicken and roast beef from the previous evening’s meal.  The food and the warmth of the day combined to lull them both into a sleepy contentment.

When Lachlan had eaten as much as his stomach would allow, he rubbed his belly contentedly, then stretched out on the blanket, his hands behind his head as he stared into the bright sky.  “Thank you for inviting me on yer ride, lass,” he said quietly, his eyes focused on the sky.  “It’s a great improvement on the day I would have spent locked away with Quinton.”

Catriona shyly accepted the compliment with a smile as she reached into the basket to retrieve a small skin of wine.  She rummaged around for a moment, her brow furrowed in frustration.  “I’m sorry, but it seems we have only one goblet,” she said apologetically as she filled it.  “It matters no’ – the ale was more than enough to quench my thirst.”

“Ne’er mind that, lass.  I’m sure we can share this one time.”  Lachlan reached for the glass, taking a long sip of the liquid before he handed it back to her.  “Surely you can do better than that,” he teased as she took a dainty sip.  Suddenly, the mischievous lass he knew was back, and she shot him a menacing look above the rim of the goblet as she drained its contents.  Lachlan’s dark brows were raised as he took in her watering eyes, but he made no comment as she demurely set about refilling the glass.

“Would you care for any more?” she asked playfully.  Nodding, Lachlan accepted the glass, rising up to sit beside her.  There were close enough that he could smell a trace of the heather scent she favored.  He could see how the hair at the base of her neck was tightly curled, the skin moist from the exertion of their ride.  How he would love to run his fingers through her hair, to cover her wine-stained lips with his own…

Catriona’s question pulled him from his thoughts with a guilty start.  “I’m sorry.  I was woolgathering for a minute.  What did you say?”

Exasperated, she repeated herself. “I asked if you were finished eating, because if you are, I will put the food away.”

Lachlan nodded, and she leaned forward, gathering the items to return to the basket.  Gently, he reached out and grasped her hand, pulling her closer to him.  “It’ll keep, lass,” he said softly.  “Let’s not let this beautiful afternoon go to waste.”  He could see a brief flicker of panic cross her features, but she soon managed to mask her feelings.  When he was certain she wouldn’t bolt, he slowly reclined on the blanket, drawing her down beside him.  Stretching his legs, he pillowed his head on one arm as he stretched the other to the sky.  “Remember how we used to watch the clouds when we were bairns?” he asked, not waiting for her reply.  “I wonder if we’ll be as good at it now as we were then.”

Catriona’s heart was beating a frantic rhythm as she lay on the blanket beside him.  Though she hadn’t known what he’d intended when he pulled her down beside him, she certainly hadn’t expected he would want to study the skies.  Whether he was deliberately trying to make her uneasy, or simply reminding her of their youth, she wasn’t sure.

There was a prolonged period of silence as Catriona straightened her skirt, making herself comfortable on the blanket.  “You remember, do you no’, Catriona?” he asked softly, and his words were like a caress as she felt them brush against her ear.  She nodded, and he chuckled under his breath.  She could feel heat where their bodies touched on the blanket, at her hips and her feet; a heat that seemed to spread throughout her body at a frightening pace.

Though Catriona felt awkward and self-conscious, she also felt strangely vibrant and alive.  He was so close now she could smell his scent, a clean, masculine scent that was both comforting and enticing. 
How much of that wine did I have?
she wondered idly as she reached her hand up to push a strand of hair out of her eyes.  The drink she’d consumed was the only excuse she could think of for her unsettling feelings.

Reaching out, Lachlan grasped her hand in his own, chuckling again at her startled expression.  Smiling, he held it up with his own, pointing out shapes in the cloud-covered sky.  “Look at that one there – no, just to the left a little.  It looks like a dog, don’t you think?”  Catriona politely muttered her agreement, though in truth she could think of little other than the pressure of his hand on hers, and the storm of butterflies fluttering in her stomach.  Still, he continued to point out  shapes in the clouds, seemingly oblivious to her discomfort.

Catriona did not trust her ability to decipher either his motivations or his feelings.  Indeed, she had been down this particular path with this particular man too many times in the past, and too often it had ended in humiliation, disappointment and misunderstanding.  She would not let that happen again.

When she pulled her eyes from the clouds, and tilted her head to the side, to face him, she almost lost her resolve.  Separated by mere inches, she could see the strength in his profile, the powerful lines of his chiseled features, the dimple in his cheek.  As if sensing her gaze, he turned to face her.  She had never noticed the tiny hazel flecks in his eyes before, and for a moment, she was too distracted to think or act.  She could only feel – desire, she supposed wryly, though that emotion had only gotten her into trouble before.  Catriona saw a flicker of amusement in his eyes, and then suddenly he let go of her hand as he shifted his weight to his side, rolling over closer to her.

His abrupt movement snapped Catriona out of her thoughts, and quickly she sat upright, scampering backwards in her attempts to put some distance between the two of them.  His expression was amused – perhaps a little disappointed – as he gazed up at her. “I had hoped we might discuss something, my lord, if you do no’ object,” she said brusquely, anxious to distract him from whatever actions he might have been contemplating.  Curling her legs under her, she straightened her skirts with what she hoped was an air of casualness.  “I think I have adjusted quite nicely to life at Tolquhon, and I owe you and yer mother a debt of gratitude for yer support.”

Lachlan was surprised by her carefully rehearsed speech, but he bit back the temptation to interrupt.  Instead, he motioned for her to continue.  “Yes, well, with yer mother’s help – and Mrs. Bannerman’s, of course – I believe I have learned what I need to ken about my responsibilities at Tolquhon.  I think things have been going verra smoothly. Don’t you agree?” she asked, pausing to catch her breath.

“Verra smoothly,” Lachlan agreed, waiting for her to continue.  He was loathe to interrupt her and cause her to lose what little momentum she had managed to gain.

“It is my thought then, that since Tolquhon is fairing quite well, my time might be well spent organizing some lessons for the children.  Nothing too complicated, of course,” she burst out suddenly, alarmed by his look of surprise, “just some lessons in reading and writing for those youngsters whose parents are interested in having them educated.  I could hold the classes in a corner of the great hall, and I promise you it would no’ inconvenience you or the men in the least.  It would only be an hour or two a day.  I think it would be useful to the clan to have these children educated.  When they are older, they can help as clerks and the like – maybe one of the lad’s will even be suited to take over as seneschal when Quinton is past the age for working.”

Catriona’s frantic flow of words came to a breathless stop, unnerved as she was by the intense gaze Lachlan had leveled upon her.  Disconcerted, she brushed her hand across her mouth, terrified for a moment that she’d left remnants of the afternoon’s meal clinging to the corners of her mouth.

Guiltily, Lachlan drew his eyes from her wine-stained lips, and instead met her gaze.  Despite her innocence, Catriona possessed a fiery enthusiasm that warmed his heart.  She had none of her sister’s vanity and laziness, he reflected thoughtfully.  Indeed, it was hard to believe they were kin.

Pushing those notions aside, Lachlan forced himself to weigh the matter at hand. Her plan was a sound one, he thought, one that would benefit his people.  There were few downsides – none, more than likely, if she agreed that her duties as lady of the keep came first.  And if it made her happy, perhaps even grateful, so much the better.

But even as he made his decision he knew he could not agree too quickly, or she might become suspicious.

“It’s an interesting idea, to be sure, but I’m no’ convinced you realize the amount of work it would take.  I would no’ want to see you run yerself ragged with such a project…” he trailed on, his brows raised almost imperceptibly.

“But you see, Lachlan, I am uniquely suited to such a task!”  Catriona quickly interrupted.  His heart warmed at her use of his name, but he kept his features stoic.  It was a refreshing change from the “milording” she had been doing too often of late.  “At the abbey, I established a proper school of my own, specially for the orphans, and I am well versed in all that it would entail.”

Her eyes flashing excitingly, Catriona seemed to lose herself in the thought of developing a new school, her shyness a distant memory.  He could almost see the wheels turning in her quick-witted brain as she sought new reasons why he should agree to the establishment of the school.  “I’ll make you a deal, my lord,” she said, her gaze confident. “You give me three months to establish the school.  If yer people do no’ warm to the idea – or if you think I am shirking my other duties – I promise I will cease my efforts.  What say you?”

Catriona graciously give up the fight?  He certainly doubted it.  But he could see no logical argument against her plan, and in truth, it would be cruel to toy with her further.  “Aye, lass, you have convinced me,” he said, delighted by the genuine grin which spread across her face.  “But I will require a favor of you, to help seal the bargain, if you will,” he added, watching as her gaze turned thoughtful.