Chapter 18
The scream echoed through the entire castle, sharp enough to set Ryan’s instincts on edge. He’d never heard that sound before, yet he knew exactly whom the cry belonged to.
Margaret.
He rushed through the castle doors, ignoring his guards at the gate asking him what was wrong. Nothing mattered to him except getting to his wife. She sounded as though she were in serious distress, and the noise had come from near the forest.
Who kens what she’s run into out there. Bandits maybe. Or perhaps our thief’s friend has come to attempt to strike back.
It unsettled Ryan as he rushed toward the source of the noise that he hadn’t heard anything else. The quiet was worse than any sort of sounds of struggle would have been. Quiet meant that Margaret could be hurt… or worse.
His hand closed on his blade as he hit the tree line. His first instinct was to traverse the woods. But when he glanced down the line, he realized that his concern was unfounded.
Margaret stood with Cali several paces behind her. Nuzzling her hand was a deer, still sporting the spots of its youth. His wife seemed enamored of the creature, grinning as her gray eyes sparkled with mirth.
Slowly, he walked toward the trio. He was careful to keep his footsteps light, and he sheathed his dagger as he walked though he kept his palm resting on the handle. The initial panic at the thought of Margaret being injured still nipped at his sides.
“What happened?” Ryan asked when he was within earshot, keeping his voice low not to spook the creature. “I heard ye scream.”
Margaret looked between him and the fawn, a blush covering her bonnie cheeks. She looked down at the grass, nudging the patch in front of her with her toe. Despite her clear embarrassment, there was still a soft smile on her face.
“My apologies for making a commotion and worrying you,” she said, meeting his gaze sheepishly. “I was just startled when this darling thing came out of the forest.”
“It’s true, Me Laird,” Cali said, tucking a stray strand of her red hair behind her ear. “We were out for a walk, and this precious thing came to greet us.”
“Seems to like ye,” Ryan noted, continuing to approach slowly. The deer glanced at him but seemed unbothered by his presence. Or perhaps, it was more concerned with soaking up as much attention from Margaret as it could. “Creatures like this one are quite common in the area.”
“Really?” Margaret said thoughtfully, scratching behind the animal’s ears and causing it to tilt its head for more. “It’s my first time seeing one. Are they all this friendly?”
“Ye daenae have deer in England?” Ryan asked, waiting for Margaret to shake her head.
Then, the corner of his mouth pulled upward as he said, “Nay. Nae all the deer are friendly like this. Normally, they’d run away when they hear someone yellin’.
This one’s young. They tend to be braver when they’re small. ”
“I see,” she said, pulling her hand away when the deer jerked its head back toward the forest. “Then I feel quite lucky to have met this creature.”
“I’d say it’s lucky to have met ye,” Ryan told her as they watched the animal get swallowed by the foliage.
He could pinpoint the exact second that Margaret processed the meaning of his words. She locked eyes with him for a moment then she looked back into the woods. Beside her, Cali covered her mouth with her hand to stifle a giggle.
“’Tis about time for ye to head back to the castle, is it nae?” Ryan asked the maid.
She glanced up at the sun’s placement in the sky before murmuring something behind her hand. When she dropped it, she said, “Aye, ye’re right, Me Laird. I trust ye’ll get our Lady back to the castle safely?”
“Aye,” Ryan informed her. Then, as she was leaving, he said, “Daenae let Colby sneak anythin’ from the kitchens.”
“Ach, did ye have a tiff?” Cali asked, looking back as she fished for more gossip.
“Nay, but he’s been gettin’ on me nerves. He’s overeager and cannae respect the decisions I make as the Laird,” Ryan replied, causing both of the women to laugh.
“Then I will ensure he doesnae sneak anythin’ before supper.”
“Thank ye,” Ryan said, dismissing her by turning his attention back to Margaret.
She was staring into the tree line, her eyes focused on the spot where the fawn had disappeared. The setting sun cast a golden glow over her skin. Ryan had never denied her beauty, but in this lighting, she looked absolutely ethereal.
I’m nae sure a man like me should be so lucky to have a woman like her.
Before he spoke to her again, he noticed the slight slump of her shoulders. It seemed she was sad that the animal had run off, likely to rejoin its family. Ryan decided at that moment that he’d do whatever it took to keep her from looking that way.
Ach, maybe Colby’s right. Perhaps I am gettin’ soft for the wee Sassenach.
That thought didn’t stop him from saying, “Ye ken, if ye want to see more deer, I ken of a clearin’ they go to frequently.”
The words had their desired effect. Margaret’s demeanor immediately brightened. And when she gave him her attention, she was practically glowing.
“You do?” she asked excitedly, her hands gripping tightly to her skirts as she bounced on the balls of her feet.
“Aye,” he said, unable to stop himself from smiling. Her joy was infectious. “And it’s nae too far from the castle. Perhaps I could take ye there sometime. Ye might run into yer friend again.”
“Perhaps that’s where they’re off to now,” Margaret suggested, glancing back into the woods as though the deer would appear to tell her whether she was correct in her assumption. “We should go there now and try to catch them.”
“Ach, nae tonight, Margaret,” he said, nearly flinching at how quickly her face fell. “The sun’s goin’ down. Soon, it’ll be dark. They’re likely goin’ back to their dens. We willnae find them at the clearin’ this evenin’.”
“Oh,” she said, frowning. Her bottom lip stuck out in a show of displeasure. “I suppose that makes sense. I don’t know much of anything about their habits.”
“Truthfully, I daenae ken much about them either,” Ryan admitted, closing the distance between them and putting an arm around her shoulders. “Me friend Aaron kens quite a bit about them.”
“I don’t remember meeting him,” Margaret said, her words landing like a blow directly to his gut. “Was he at the cèilidh?”
“Ach, nay,” Ryan replied, forcing his body to relax. “I didnae think that he would be able to get away from his duties. He’s the Laird of a neighborin’ clan. Though I wish that he could have been in attendance. The man does liven up any cèilidh he attends.”
“I’m sorry,” Margaret said after a tense moment. “I didn’t—”
“Ye daenae have to apologize,” Ryan said quickly. “It was me who mentioned him. I figured ye’d hear his name sooner or later since ye’re me wife now. Eventually, ye’ll meet him. I’m sure that we’ll do business with him soon enough.”
“Right,” she murmured a bit awkwardly.
She moved a bit, as if to extract herself from Ryan’s hold. He tightened his grip on her arm, not letting her go. Though he was expecting more of a struggle, she seemed to accept his rare show of affection.
“I can take ye to the clearin’ soon,” he promised, leaning down slightly, so he could meet her gaze. “If ye’d like to come with me.”
“Yes!” she said, the earlier transgression easily forgotten. “I’d like that very much. Perhaps we could go tomorrow?”
“Perhaps,” Ryan said, offering her his arm. “Dependin’ on me responsibilities, it might have to be in a few days. There’s somethin’ urgent I’ve been dealin’ with. But I promise ye, I’ll take ye to the clearin’, so ye can see more of those creatures ye seem to like so much.”
“I’ll be holding you to that, Laird McGhee,” she replied as she placed her lithe hand in the crook of his elbow. “Would it be a nice spot for a picnic?”
Ryan hummed, feeling an undeniable surge of affection for the woman beside him. He didn’t think he’d ever gone on a picnic. Perhaps once when he was just a lad, but that memory was so far away that he wasn’t sure if he was imagining it or not.
“I’m sure we could arrange a picnic,” he said as he started walking back toward the castle, careful to take smaller steps so Margaret could keep up. “I cannae say I ken much about what makes a good picnic though.”
Margaret giggled, her eyes still scanning the trees. It seemed that she was enamored of them, and Ryan wondered how barren England must be if it took so little to get her attention. He’d only ever crossed the border once before, and that trip hadn’t been for sightseeing.
“I’m fairly certain that the only things you need for a good picnic are food and a nice view. And perhaps a blanket to dine on,” she murmured. Then, her gaze fell on him as she said, “I think you can manage setting all of that up.”
“Are ye makin’ demands of me?” he asked, nearly failing to keep a smile from his face.
“No, I’m not making demands,” she replied, rolling her eyes. “I’m making a suggestion. There’s a difference, you know?”
“Sounded a lot like a demand comin’ from that bonnie mouth of yers.”
“Well… that’s…”
This time, Ryan did smirk. It was far too easy to make Margaret tongue-tied. He was certain that one day he’d be able to take her apart completely. He imagined that in the throes of pleasure, she’d be completely unable to speak.
Though I’ll make damn sure she remembers how to say me name.
“Where are we going?” she asked finally, giving up on responding to his compliment.
“I’m takin’ ye back to the castle,” he said, using his free hand to gesture at the sky above them.
The sun was dipping slowly over the horizon, painting the landscape in brilliant shades of red and gold.
“It’ll be dark soon. I cannae have ye wanderin’ around in the dark.
It’s dangerous for a wee bonnie thing like ye to be out here. ”
“Even when I’m with you?” she asked, clearly flustered but somehow managing to keep it under control.
“Nay, I’d keep ye safe,” Ryan said, something dangerous flashing in his eyes when he met her gaze. “But ye daenae seem to like it when I act as a beast, and I can assure ye that if anyone were to put ye in danger, that’s precisely how I’d act.”
Margaret went silent for a moment as if weighing his words. Then, she murmured, “Well, I don’t think I’d complain if you were behaving that way to keep me safe. I simply don’t like it when you behave that way to rile me up.”
“Ach, ye’re nay fun, Sassenach,” he complained. “Ye ken I like teasin’ ye. Ye’re cute when ye’re angry with me.”
“Ryan!” she hissed, pointedly looking in the opposite direction but failing to hide the way color rose to her cheeks. “Is that any way to treat your wife?”
“Aye,” he said, only to be rewarded by a barrage of stuttering from the woman. “I think it’s me job to get under yer skin.”
She huffed, remaining silent as they passed through the castle gates. Ryan lifted a hand to one of the guards in greeting. As they continued toward the doors, Margaret’s back straightened out, and she held herself with confidence befitting of the lady of this castle.
“Why were ye and Cali out there?” he asked. “She said ye were on a walk, but couldnae ye have explored inside the gates?”
“We could have,” Margaret admitted. “It was my idea to go to the trees. They were so beautiful from my window, and I want to paint them. Since I didn’t have paints, I thought that going to see them up close would be a productive use of time.”
“Ye paint?”
“I do,” she said, sniffing slightly. “I wouldn’t say I’m particularly skilled, but I enjoy it.”
“Then I’ll make sure to get ye some art supplies,” he declared. “Perhaps that’ll keep ye from wanderin’ off and screamin’ because ye saw a harmless animal.”
“I didn’t know what it was at first!” Margaret exclaimed, immediately lowering her voice when she realized that they’d entered the castle. “But… I would appreciate some paints and an easel. It would be nice to have something to pass the time while you’re busy.”
“Are ye sayin’ ye miss me when I’m workin’?” Ryan asked, grinning down at her.
“No,” she said immediately, removing herself from his grasp. “I just don’t have much to do when you’re not antagonizing me.”
Before Ryan could reply, she turned on her heel and scurried down the corridor. He shook his head, unable to temper the youthful affection that swelled in his chest.
That woman kens how to keep me on me toes.