Chapter 23
Finlay followed Thalia back to the fabric shop. The old woman behind the counter bobbed a deep curtsy when he entered.
“Welcome, me Laird. I’ll be happy to assist ye and the Lady however ye need,” she offered.
Finlay nodded at her. “Thank ye, that is kind.”
Thalia went straight back to the fabrics along the back wall, and he followed her.
“Since ye are here, I suppose I could use yer opinion,” she said. She pointed out a plaid woven with blue, brown, and green. “I thought I could use this. It’s a similar pattern to yer tartan, is it nae?”
He nodded, surprised she would remember a detail like that. “Aye, I think that would be a good choice.”
“It could be symbolic, too.” She looked up at him from beneath her long, dark lashes. “Showin’ that we are serious about our union.”
The correction jumped to the tip of his tongue, but since he had just declared in front of the entire village his intent to marry her, he decided it might not be the right time to remind her that it was a fake betrothal.
She knew that, and perhaps she was only playing the part in case any other members of Clan MacGibbon were around.
“Aye,” he agreed.
They went to the front counter, and Thalia discussed how much of the fabric she would need for what she intended to make.
As they talked, Finlay watched the villagers peering into the shop as they passed by. It wouldn’t take long for the news of his betrothal to spread in a village this size. Gossip was a commodity almost as valuable as silver in places like this.
When Thalia finished, the older woman folded the fabric with nimble, withered fingers.
Thalia handed the coins and accepted the fabric with a cheerful thanks.
She held it in her hands, then frowned as she eyed the satchel slung over her shoulder.
Even Finlay could see that the fabric would not fit inside it.
It was much too bulky, and she would have to carry it in her hands for the rest of the trip.
“I’ll grab that for ye,” he offered.
Thalia jerked her head up in surprise. “Oh, nay, I couldnae ask ye—”
“Ye didnae ask. I offered.” He took the bundle of cloth before she could argue any further. “Good day to ye,” he told the old woman, who smiled at them.
“Ye make such a lovely young couple,” she remarked.
Thalia blushed scarlet at the compliment, looking up at him with a shy smile that made him wish they were not in public. Did she know what that smile did to him?
No, he knew she was not experienced. This was just how she was with everyone.
He swallowed hard, nodded at the older woman again, and then left the shop.
He walked briskly as he tried to remember which way the chocolate house was. A man on a mission.
“Slow down!” Thalia called after him.
He turned as she jogged up behind him.
“Are ye always in such a hurry? Or are ye just impatient to get rid of me?” she asked, with a smirk that told him she wasn’t serious about the second question.
“Sorry, lass,” he rumbled. “I was only thinkin’ of gettin’ the sweets for Daisy.”
And gettin’ back to the safety of me castle so I daenae have to see ye look at me like that again.
“Well, we arenae in that much of a hurry, are we?” she asked, looping her arm through his. “I havenae had much opportunity to get out of the castle, and now that ye’re with me, I ken I’m nice and protected.”
His chest swelled with pride at her compliment.
Spending a little more time shopping could not be so bad. He could resist her charms enough for one day. Besides, he found he was enjoying being out in this beautiful weather.
“Aye, ye’re right. Ye are safe with me,” he agreed.
She smiled, and they walked at a much slower pace down the street. Thalia pointed out a shop that he was familiar with.
“I saw those dolls, and I thought Daisy might like to have one of them,” she admitted.
“Aye, I’ve purchased all of her dolls from there. I suppose I could spoil her with another one,” he relented.
Thalia’s excitement was intoxicating. She spent several minutes looking at each doll until she was satisfied with her choice.
She had settled on one with fair hair and a pretty painted face.
The doll was dressed in a plaid skirt and a dark blue bodice.
Finlay paid for it and then followed her out of the store to continue their shopping.
Now that there was some distance between her and the attempted kidnapping, Thalia brightened as she wandered past each shop. The villagers were also much more friendly and inclined to talk to her now that they thought she was to be their Lady. Finlay couldn’t take his eyes off her.
As they entered the chocolate house, they were greeted with a warm, sweet aroma. Thalia breathed in deeply, closing her eyes as she savored the scent. Finlay placed his hand on her lower back as he led her to the front of the store.
“Good afternoon, me Laird, me Lady,” a young man greeted them. He had a head full of bright, curly red hair and a face covered with freckles.
Thalia glanced up at Finlay. “How many do ye usually get?”
“I typically get the small box,” he replied.
She pursed her lips in thought. “What if we get two of those, since they seem to go so fast?”
“I suspect they will go just as fast nay matter how many I buy,” he drawled.
She smirked. “Really, Laird MacAinsley. Ye should learn to practice more self-restraint.”
If only ye ken how much self-restraint I have…
He pressed his hand harder into her lower back, and she must have seen something on his face because she flushed and hastily turned her attention back to the young man. He suppressed a laugh.
Today truly was turning out better than he had expected. He was enjoying spending time with her, and it was almost enough to make him wonder why he needed to stay away from her in the first place.
They exited the shop with two boxes of chocolates safely tucked into Thalia’s satchel, along with the doll for Daisy.
“Was there anythin’ else ye need or wanted to buy?” Finlay asked.
“I daenae think so,” she said, but she seemed distracted.
Her attention was drawn to something behind him, and she looked like she was working something out when he heard a voice he had not heard in quite some time.
“Me Laird,” the sultry voice greeted.
Finlay steeled himself, turning to see a woman with a wild mane of fair blonde hair and deep brown eyes. Her chest had been squeezed too tightly into her dress, making her spill out over the top.
It was a look that would have made the younger him go wild with desire, and it had, in fact. Now, as he looked at her, he found there was not one spark of attraction he could summon for her.
“Daphne.” His voice was devoid of emotion.
He hoped it was enough for her to get the hint and leave.
She leaned toward him, making sure to push out her chest as she did. “It’s been some time since ye’ve paid me a visit. Was wonderin’ if ye forgot about me?” Her eyes flitted to Thalia with barely masked envy.
“This is me betrothed, Lady Thalia,” Finlay said firmly. He did not want to be too cruel to her, yet he would if she pushed him any further. “Daphne is an old friend.”
“I’d say we were more than friends,” she replied with a wink at Thalia.
Thalia stiffened. “Well, I’d hate to be in the way of old friends catchin’ up. Excuse me.”
She turned on her heel, heading up for the old priory on the hill. Finlay made to go after her when Daphne drew closer.
“I didnae think the rumors were true. It’s hard to believe the Highland Wolf would settle down with anyone,” she purred, placing her hands on his chest.
Finlay grabbed both hands, removing them quickly. “Even if they werenae, I have nay interest in yer company anymore,” he replied through gritted teeth.
Daphne blinked at him, and he left her standing in the middle of the street as he followed after Thalia.
Despite her earlier protestations that he moved too quickly, she now trudged up the hill at a pace that far exceeded his own. His walk turned into a jog as he went after her, and he finally called out her name in an effort to slow her movements.
“Thalia! Wait, I can explain!”
“I daenae need any explanations!” she called back over her shoulder. “Shouldnae ye be spendin’ time with Daphne?” She spat the name as if it were poison.
Finlay finally reached her, grabbing her arm and turning her around to face him again. She was panting, her face flushed as she crossed her arms over her chest.
“Why are ye runnin’ away from me?” he asked. “That woman, she was just someone from me past. I havenae spoken to her in a long time.”
“Well, she certainly remembered ye well enough,” Thalia scoffed.
Finlay tilted his head, watching her brow furrow in annoyance. A sense of satisfaction rose in his chest as he realized the reason.
“Why are ye so angry?”
“I’m nae!” she insisted. “I can just see now why ye daenae want me. Ye could have anyone at yer feet. Ye cannae even walk down the street without some lass throwin’ herself at ye.”
He laughed. He could not help it. A thrill rushed through him as he listened to her words.
He gave her a smug smile. “Thalia, are ye jealous?”
Her eyes narrowed to slits, and she huffed as if that were the most ridiculous thing she’d ever heard. “Jealous? Of her? Why would I be? I daenae care what ye do, or with whom.”
“Ah, so ye daenae care at all about me thoughts? Me feelings?” he asked, taking a step closer to her.
“Nay, I daenae.” She stuck out her chin, giving him that same stubborn look he knew as sure as he knew the back of his hand.
“Then ye daenae want to hear about how I havenae wanted anyone like I want ye?” His voice was low, and the change in his demeanor was enough to make her lips part in surprise.
“How I have spent so much time fantasizing about ye, and ye came right into me arms. Can ye imagine how hard it is for me to keep control?”
He looked over his shoulder back at the village. No one seemed to be paying attention to them, but they were still in view of anyone who might be interested.
“Finlay? What are ye—”