Chapter 6
CHAPTER SIX
After the kiss, Ada had stayed in her room for a little while, trying to wrap her brain around it.
It had been everything she wanted a kiss to be, not that she’d had any experience, but she knew deep down that it had been the perfect kiss.
Every sense had been awoken by Blair’s touch, the feel of his mouth and tongue and scrape of the scruff on his jaw as he deepened the kiss.
Just like she’d always wanted, his hands had been on her, grabbing at her and pulling her close like he never wanted to let go.
It had been heavenly, and she’d also pulled at him, wanting more.
But then, it was over. Like jumping into an ice-cold loch, it was over, and a change had come over him in an instant.
After he’d left, she’d waited, wondering what would become of them. Blair had looked afraid as he’d fled, and she feared he would do something rash such as leave or perhaps even tell her father. And then, the pacing had gotten to be too much.
“I must go and speak tae Father now,” she said. “I cannae go through with this betrothal.”
She opened the door and, with steady steps, made her way to her father’s study.
I will tell him that I must go tae Ella’s before the wedding is tae be had. That will surely convince him, and I could find an escape from there if Ella will nae get in me way.
“Och, me lady,” one of the young maids said, rushing towards her, a little breathless. It was Jane, the maid that she saw earlier speaking with Irving. “I have a note for ye. Or rather it’s for Blair, but I could nae find him. I looked everywhere, and he seems nowhere tae be found.”
Ada blushed. That was me doin’.
“Here,” she held it out. “I thought perhaps that ye could give it tae him yerself since ye see him so often.”
“Aye, of course, Jane. Thank ye.” She took the note and looked into the girl’s eyes, searching for something but unsure of what. “Are ye alright? Ye were upset earlier. May I help ye with somethin’, whatever it is?”
“Nay, me lady. I’m alright. It was just a moment, nothin’ tae fear. I thank ye for yer kindness.”
Ada took the note in her hand and pushed it into the pocket of her gown while Jane scurried away quickly.
She would see to it later. Right then, she needed to resolve the matter with her father.
Knocking on the door, she didn’t wait until he allowed her in before she strode in confidently and shut the door behind her.
“Father, I ken what ye are goin’ tae say,” she said, not looking at him but holding a hand up. “But there is somethin’ I wish tae discuss with ye.”
Her father was quick to reply, “Ye ken that Irving has left now. He has taken his carriage and gone. He was tae stay the night, but he decided that he had urgent business and needed tae leave. What have ye done, Ada?”
“What have I done?” she said, getting entangled in her father’s accusations as usual before she could state her own point.
“I did nothin’. I merely needed air, and then when I went outside, I saw Irving speakin’ tae a maid and givin’ her somethin’.
He claimed it was a handkerchief, but there was somethin’ strange about it and about him. ”
Her father rolled his eyes and stood leaning over the desk, his fists holding him up. “We are tae have good relations with Clan MacIntosh. They are powerful in these lands, and yer marriage was meant tae help solidify our relationship with them.”
She crossed her arms. “I thought it was meant tae trap me intae yet another prison and set ye free from watchin’ over me.”
“Ada,” he began, his voice getting low. “I dinnae have time for this. What matters is that ye fled the table when a guest was here, and nae doubt Irving has taken offense, so much so that he has gone and left!”
“Father, ye were nae there. Can ye nae listen tae me? I felt so uneasy with him, so unsure. There was somethin’ about him that frightened me.”
Her father dismissed her words with a wave of his hand, and she steeled herself against the emotional pain it caused.
“Ye are only tryin’ tae lie tae get out of marryin’ him.
I ken ye well, lass. But this marriage will happen, and ye will understand why I have pushed it so in the end.
He’s a handsome man, powerful and strong. He’s perfect. What dinnae ye like?”
He’s too perfect, and nothin’ good can come of it. Ada was about to rush out, but she stayed where she was. There was no use in arguing about Irving, but she could find a way to make her escape.
“Very well,” she said, and her father paused as if he hadn’t heard her properly. “If I am tae marry this man, then perhaps ye can give me one last thing before I wed.”
“Och, and what is that?”
“I should like tae visit Ella and Cameron for a little. Spend some time on me own with my sister before I must go away tae a new castle.” She tried to keep her face placid so that her father could not see the plan in her eyes. “I miss her, Father. Seein’ her will settle me nerves.”
Ada even released a tear and felt bad for lying to her father. But what choice did she have? He frowned and sat back down. His fingers drummed on the table as he thought.
“Aye, I can understand that, lass. Very well, I will allow ye tae go. So, ye should go and prepare yerself.”
“Thank ye, Father. I am glad ye understand.”
“Ella has been writin’ tae me about it as well, and I ken ye would like tae be near yer sister while she is expectin’.”
Ada smiled genuinely at the thought of becoming an aunt. “May I go tomorrow?”
Graeme nodded with a small smile. “Aye, and send her me love. I would rather ye go sooner rather than later so that I can keep the marriage date set with Irving.”
“Ye already kenned the date?” she asked, her anger returning, but she quickly tamped it down. It would no longer do for her to spew her anger at him for she needed him to agree to let her go.
“Aye.” There was nothing like guilt in his eyes, and she nearly sighed with frustration.
“Well, when is it?”
“In a month’s time. They wanted tae prepare a few things first.”
“Then I will go tae Ella as long as I can, perhaps three weeks.”
“Very well,” he said resignedly. “Aye, ye may go tomorrow morn, so be prepared. I will make the arrangements.”
“Thank ye, Father!” She was amazed at how easily he’d agreed. Maybe the heavens were smiling on her.
She rushed around the side of the desk and kissed him on the cheek. But then she backed away, surprised at her own actions. It had been some time since she’d done that—not since she was a child. He looked surprised too.
“I will go get ready,” she said quickly, opening the door.
In her excitement, she didn’t see that someone was already standing in front of the door, and as soon as she hit him and they tumbled to the ground, she knew exactly who it was.
Ada had always desired to be like her sister Ella, so beautiful and elegant. Ella was the daughter who did everything right and would never break a glass, fall from a tree, or topple into her guard until they were twisted together in a heap on the ground.
But nae, it seems that fate is continually against me.
How was it possible to become entangled with the same woman over and over, and why did it have to be the woman whose touch enflamed his desire in every way?
Blair thought the world unfair. The one person he could not touch and should not touch was the one person he wanted to touch literally all the time.
Her silky hair was kissing his face, her leg was between his two, and her left hand was dangerously close to his manhood that didn’t need much to get excited once again. For heaven’s sake, even the lavender smell she carried was enough to keep him hard for hours.
“Shite,” he said, groaning as he sat up, his arm wrapped around Ada. “Are ye tryin’ tae kill me, woman?” he asked, surprised at his familiar tone. “Forgive me, Lady Ada,” he said hurriedly, catching her eye as he helped her to her feet.
When she was steadied, he could finally take his hands away from her sides. His fingertips tingled as he pulled away. It was as if his skin came alive only when he touched her.
“I was just—” She pointed with her thumb to the door and then turned back to him. She looked confused, as if she didn't know why she'd started a sentence. It was an unusual look for Ada, who always seemed to have a ready word.
“Seein’ yer father?” he completed for her.
“Aye, aye,” she replied, nodding.
Blair wasn't sure if he'd seen Ada that embarrassed before, for that was what it appeared like. Her cheeks were growing red, and she wasn’t able to come up with a witty retort.
“Well, I'm here as well tae see him,” Blair said. “I've sent Angus up tae yer room.”
“Fine, then,” she said, turning to go.
As she turned away, Blair realized that he wasn't sure he liked this docile version of her. What had her father said that had muted her normal enthusiasm and energy? Or perhaps it was the kiss. Perhaps she also kens that it was a mistake. She paused, and he turned away so that she didn’t realize he’d been staring at the back of her.
“Och, I almost forgot. Here.”
Blair looked down to see that Ada was passing him a square bit of paper.
He took it between his fingers, being careful not to touch her again.
But when he looked up, he paused. Both their hands were on the paper, and they didn’t move.
She had come close enough to him that he could see the pulse fluttering rapidly at her throat.
“Thank ye, me lady.” He finally tore himself away and pulled the note into his hands, shattering the magical moment into pieces. It was either that or kiss her into unconsciousness.