Chapter 9
CHAPTER NINE
“So ye’re just nae goin’ to talk about it?”
Ava nearly dropped the bread she was packing, her hands jerking at the sound of Mrs. Crawford’s voice.
The older woman stood in the doorway of the orphanage kitchen, arms crossed and one eyebrow raised in that knowing way that made Ava feel like a child caught stealing sweets.
“Talk about what?” Ava kept her eyes firmly on the food she was wrapping for the journey.
“About whatever happened last night that’s got ye jumpin’ at shadows and blushin’ like a new bride.”
“I’m nae blushin’!” But Ava could feel the heat creeping up her neck even as she said it.
Mrs. Crawford made a sound that was somewhere between a laugh and a snort. “Aye, of course. Come on, lass. Out with it. Did somethin’ happen between ye and MacGregor?”
“Nay!” The word came out too quickly, too forcefully. Ava cleared her throat. “I mean... nothin’ that matters. Nothin’ important.”
“So somethin’ did happen.”
Ava groaned, pressing her palms to her burning cheeks. “He kissed me. All right? Are ye happy now?”
Mrs. Crawford’s eyes went wide as saucers. “The Laird kissed ye? And ye’re just mentionin’ this now?”
“Keep yer voice down!” Ava hissed, glancing toward the doorway where Esther was playing with the other children in the yard. “It was... it was nothin’. A mistake. He said so himself.”
“A mistake that’s got ye lookin’ like ye havenae slept a wink and turnin’ red every time I mention his name?” Mrs. Crawford shook her head. “Doesnae sound like nothin’ to me.”
“Well, it was.” Ava tied off the bundle of bread with perhaps more force than necessary. “And it willnae happen again. I’m his employee. That’s all.”
“Is that what ye want it to be?”
The question hung in the air between them, weighted with implications Ava didn’t want to examine.
Did she want more? With Noah MacGregor, of all people? A laird so far above her station she might as well be reaching for the stars?
“What I want doesnae matter,” Ava said finally. “Now, are ye goin’ to help me finish packin’, or are ye goin’ to stand there pesterin’ me about things that are none of yer concern?”
Mrs. Crawford smiled gently and said, “Och, lass. Everythin’ about ye is me concern. Ye’re like a daughter to me.”
Ava’s throat went tight. “Daenae... daenae say things like that.”
“Why nae? It’s true.”
“Because...” Ava turned away, blinking rapidly. “Because it makes leavin’ harder.”
“Then maybe ye shouldnae leave.”
“I have to… For Esther. And for the orphanage, ye heard what Noah said about sendin’ funds. This is the right thing to do.”
Even if it felt like her heart was being torn in two, and even if the thought of facing Noah this morning made her want to crawl under the floorboards and hide.
“Ava!” Esther’s voice was as low as a whisper. “Are ye almost ready?”
“Aye, sweetheart! Just a few more minutes!” Ava grabbed the last of her belongings, shoving them into her bag as Esther walked outside. “I need to go.”
Mrs. Crawford caught her hand. “Promise me ye’ll write. Let me ken how ye’re settlin’ in.”
“I promise.” Ava squeezed the older woman’s fingers. “And thank ye. For everythin’. I wouldnae have survived these past years without ye.”
“Nonsense. Ye’re the strongest lass I ken.” Mrs. Crawford pulled her into a fierce hug. “Now go. Before I start cryin’ and embarrass us both.”
Ava held on for one more moment, breathing in the familiar scent of flour and herbs, then forced herself to let go.
She grabbed her bag and headed for the door, where Esther was waiting with barely contained excitement.
“Ready?” Ava asked, taking the girl’s hand.
“Aye! Uncle Noah is waitin’ at yer cottage. We should hurry.”
Ava’s stomach did an uncomfortable flip at the thought of seeing him again. Of having to look him in the eye after last night. After the way she’d kissed him back, clung to him, wanted—
Nay. I willnae think about that.
They walked through the village in the early morning light, with Esther chattering about all the things she wanted to show Ava at the castle. Ava made appropriate responses, but her mind was already racing ahead, trying to prepare herself for the awkwardness that was surely coming.
She’d be professional. Polite. Would pretend the kiss had never happened, just like Noah clearly wanted to. Easy.
Except when they rounded the corner to her cottage, the sight that greeted her drove every coherent thought straight out of her head.
There was a carriage parked in front of her tiny, ramshackle cottage.
“What in the...” Ava stopped walking, staring. “What is that?”
Noah emerged from behind his horse, his face deliberately calm. But Ava caught the way his eyes darted away from hers, and she sensed the tension in his shoulders.
He’s been thinkin’ about it too. About the kiss. About us.
“Good mornin’, Miss Harris.” His voice was formal, distant. “I trust ye slept well?”
“What is that?” Ava repeated, pointing at the carriage.
“A carriage.” Noah began checking the horse’s saddle, his hands moving with careful precision. “For the journey.”
“I can see that! But why... I thought we’d ride back on horseback!”
“Three people on one horse would be uncomfortable. Shadow may be strong, but that will be too much for him.” He still wasn’t looking at her. “And I couldnae find a spare mount on short notice. This seemed more practical.”
“Practical?” Ava’s voice climbed. “Do ye ken how much it costs to rent a carriage? For a whole day’s journey?”
“I’m aware of the expense.”
“Then why?”
“Because Esther will be more comfortable.” Finally, Noah looked at her, and the intensity in his dark eyes took her breath away.
“Because y’all both deserve better than bein’ cramped on a horse for hours.
Because I wanted—” He cut himself off, jaw clenched.
“It’s done, Ava. Just get in the carriage. Please.”
There was something raw in that ‘please,’ something that reminded her of last night, of the desperate way he’d kissed her, as if he was drowning and she was air.
“I can ride a horse just fine,” Ava said, but her protest sounded weak even to her own ears.
“I ken ye can. But ye daenae have to when there’s something better.” Noah moved to help Esther up into the carriage. “Now stop arguin’ and get in before we lose the whole mornin’ to yer stubbornness.”
“Me stubbornness? That’s rich, comin’ from ye!”
“Ava, please!” Esther called from inside the carriage. “Come see! There are cushions! Real cushions!”
Ava threw her hands up. “Fine! But I’m nae happy about this.”
“Ye’re never happy about anythin’ I do,” Noah muttered, but there was almost a smile tugging at his mouth.
He extended his hand to help her into the carriage. Ava stared at it, recalling the touch of those hands on her waist, in her hair, pulling her close...
“Ava.” Noah’s voice dropped lower. “I willnae bite.”
“Ye might,” she shot back, but placed her hand in his anyway.
The contact sent sparks racing up her arm.
Noah’s fingers wrapped around hers, warm and calloused, and for a moment they both froze. His thumb brushed across her knuckles—once, twice—and Ava’s breath caught.
“Last night—” Noah started.
“Was a mistake,” Ava finished quickly. “Ye said so yerself.”
Something flashed in his eyes. “Aye. A mistake.”
But his hand tightened on hers before he let go, and Ava wondered if maybe they were both lying.
She hurried into the carriage, her heart pounding, and sat down next to Esther. Through the window, she watched Noah smoothly mount Shadow’s back and saw him signal to the driver.
“He likes ye,” Esther whispered, grinning.
“What? Nay, he doesnae.”
“He does! He bought ye a ribbon. And he keeps lookin’ at ye.”
“Esther—”
“And ye like him too. Yer face goes all pink when he talks to ye!”
Ava groaned and covered her burning cheeks with her hands. “Can we please talk about somethin’ else?”
“Like what?”
“Like...” Ava looked around desperately. “Like that tree! See it? Tree starts with T. Can ye think of other words that start with T?”
Esther giggled but played along. “T-tavern?”
“Aye! And?”
“T-toad?”
“Excellent!” Ava smiled, grateful for the distraction. “Now, can ye try sayin’ the whole sentence? ‘Tree starts with T.’”
Esther’s expression immediately froze. She shook her head, pressing her lips together tightly.
“It’s all right,” Ava said gently. “But I want ye to ken that when ye do choose to speak, I love hearin’ yer voice. Every single word, stutter and all.”
“Ye... ye do?” Esther’s voice was barely a whisper.
“Of course I do. Why wouldnae I?”
“M-me da said...” Esther’s voice cracked. “He said I sounded stupid. That I sh-should just keep quiet if I couldnae speak proper.”
Fury burned through Ava’s chest. “Well, yer da was wrong. There’s nothin’ stupid about ye, Esther. Nothin’ at all.”
“Really?”
“Really.” Ava pulled her close. “And anyone who says otherwise will have to answer to me.”
They settled into a comfortable silence, watching the countryside roll by. Ava tried to focus on the scenery, on planning what she’d need to do when they reached the castle, on anything except the man riding just outside the window.
But her eyes kept drifting to Noah. To the straight line of his back, the confident way he sat his horse, and the occasional glimpses of his profile when he turned to check on them.
This was going to be impossible.
They’d been traveling for hours when Ava noticed Noah’s posture shift. He’d been relaxed, almost lazy in the saddle, but now he sat straighter, his hand moving toward his sword hilt.
“Esther?” Ava kept her voice light. “Why daenae ye count the birds ye can see? I bet ye can find ten.”
“Ten? That’s easy!” Esther pressed her nose to the window, scanning the trees.
But Ava’s attention was locked on Noah. Something was off. The forest had become thicker, the shadows darker, and the driver had fallen silent.
The carriage slowed. Then stopped.
“Why have we stopped?” Ava called out.
No answer.
Through the window, she saw Noah’s jaw clench. His eyes swept the tree line, sharp and assessing.
“Show yerselves!” he called out, his voice cold as winter steel.
Ava’s stomach dropped. Nay. Please, nay.
Three men stepped out of the forest—rugged, dirty, with weapons that gleamed in the filtered sunlight. Bandits.
“Well, well,” the largest one said, his grin showing gaps where teeth should be. “What have we here? A fancy carriage, a fine horse...” His eyes landed on Ava through the window, and his grin widened. “And even finer company.”
Ava pulled Esther close, her heart hammering against her ribs.
“Turn around,” Noah said quietly. “While ye still can.”
“Or what?” Another bandit laughed. “There’s three of us and one of ye. Seems like we’ve got the advantage.”
“Ye think so?”
“We’ll be takin’ the carriage,” the leader continued, taking a step closer. “The horse. All yer belongings.” His leer made Ava’s skin crawl. “And the bonnie lass. Ye can keep the brat, we’ve nae use for children.”
Fear still clawed at her throat.
She’d seen fights before—drunken brawls at the tavern, and angry men throwing fists in the street. She knew what violence looked like, knew the sickening sound of flesh hitting flesh, knew how quickly things could turn deadly.
And there were three of them. Three armed men against one.
Esther whimpered, and Ava’s fear crystallized into cold fury. How dare they? But it was nothing compared to what she saw on Noah’s face.
The transformation was terrifying. One moment, he was a stern laird. The next, he was something ancient and deadly, all barely leashed violence and promised retribution.
“Wrong answer,” Noah growled.
His sword cleared its sheath with a ring of steel that seemed to echo through the silent forest.
The bandits’ confident expressions wavered, but they didn’t retreat. The leader lifted his weapon—a rough blade that seemed more used for slaughtering animals than combat.
“Last chance,” Noah said, and his voice carried the weight of absolute certainty. “Leave now, or die here. Choose quickly.”
“Big words from one man against three!”
“Aye,” Noah agreed. “But I’m nae just any man.”
Inside the carriage, Ava held Esther tight, her breath coming in short gasps.
“Daenae look,” she whispered to Esther. “Keep yer eyes closed, sweetheart.”
But Ava couldn’t look away. Couldn’t do anything but watch as Noah shifted in his saddle, every line of his body promising violence.
This was going to get bloody.