Daisy dipped her head quickly. “Me Laird.” She took the basket from Lily. “I will take these roots to Sorcha.”
“Wait—” Lily began, but Daisy slipped away in an instant, leaving her alone.
The silence pressed in.
Alasdair stepped forward, his eyes fixed on her hand. “What are ye holding there?”
Lily smirked to mask the thrum of her heart. “Wouldnae ye like to ken?”
“I would,” he said, his voice low. “I would like to ken many things.”
Her throat tightened. She forced the words out as if nothing fazed her. “‘Tis from me sister. She will come, after all.”
“Ah.” His lips curved. “Good tidings, indeed.”
“She’s bringing her husband, so I must go to the market and fetch her favorite fish.”
His brow creased, and his smile faded. “The maid can do that.”
“Of course nae.” Lily’s voice hardened. “She ismeguest.Mesister. Only I ken the fish she loves.”
His jaw flexed. “Ye must listen to me on this.”
She lifted her chin. “Nay. I plan to go later this week. If ye wish to stop me, ye had better come up with something stronger thannay.”
He exhaled through his nose, his eyes narrowing on her. “Ye willnae budge, will ye?”
Her lips curled into a sharp smile. “Ye should ken me well enough by now.”
“Fine,” he said at last. “But ye must go with at least two guards.”
She opened her mouth to argue, but he raised his hand, cutting her off.
“That isnae up for debate. Ye are a lady now. Unless…” He tilted his head. “Unless ye would preferIgo with ye?”
The thought sent heat through her chest, though she masked it with a smirk. “Ye would like that, would ye nae? Perhaps ye would find some dark corner in the market.”
His eyes glinted, and he opened his mouth to speak, but she beat him to it.
“Daenae answer. I already ken.”
She turned, her skirts brushing the flowers, and his voice called behind her, “Lily.”
She stopped and half turned back.
“Thank ye,” he said simply.
Her heart stuttered, and she forced a smirk. “Daenae thank me. I had nay choice, remember?”
“Ye remind me often enough.”
She turned again and walked away, her back stiff, though she felt his gaze burning into her skin until the stables swallowed her whole.
Alasdair watched her go, her figure disappearing beyond the garden paths. She was not aware of the effect she had on him. Perhaps she did and was playing into it.
He exhaled gently, then turned to the man he was training with earlier. “So… where were we?”
The guard shuffled his feet and wiped sweat from his brow, breathing hard. “Perhaps it would be best if we take a break, me Laird?”
