Chapter 15
“I… assume that’s nae always the case?”
Aiden’s frown deepened. Against his will, his mind snapped back to thirteen years ago. The smell of his own flesh burning. The way his brother’s nasty grin had widened with each touch of the iron. The glee on his face when he had finally screamed in pain.
After a breath, he realized Hannah was watching his face with wide eyes. “Aye. I assure ye, it isnae.” He didn’t like to see the look on her face, the way it fell. “It sounds nice, yer love for yer sister.”
Hannah leaned forward, placing her hand on his arm. Then her eyes widened, and she withdrew immediately, looking surprised by her own boldness.
Aiden couldn’t hide his smile. He was finding that more and more difficult in her presence, something he’d not experienced before.
“I-I should see meself to bed,” she stammered, pushing herself to her feet. “I have an early morning.”
She fled from the room before he could stop her, and he chose not to chase despite the urge. Instead, he leaned back in his seat and took another sip of his whiskey.
Minutes later, soon enough that he’d have been angry over his dinner being interrupted had the lass not taken herself to bed, he looked up to see Lucas tromping through the door.
“Evening, Aiden,” he greeted. He glanced around the room and raised his eyebrows, having clearly noticed the second plate.
Aiden rolled his eyes. “Aye, it’s unfinished. Help yerself.”
Lucas made enough noise that Aiden assumed that was how he’d been caught following the lass two weeks ago, as he walked his way over to the other chair and flopped down onto it to make himself comfortable.
“Best nae to let it go to waste,” he said brightly, snagging a sausage with his bare hand and snapping off a bite.
“I assume ye didnae come here to pilfer me table scraps, Lucas,” Aiden pointed out impatiently.
“Aye, but it is a delightful benefit.”
“Lucas,” Aiden warned.
Lucas shook his head and leaned back. “More bandit attacks have been reported,” he began, his playful expression fading into seriousness.
“Aye?” Aiden felt his heart sink. “Despite the increased patrols on the roads?”
“Indeed, there have been several. It’s uncanny, almost as if the bandits ken when the patrols will occur and wait until they’re in between.” Lucas shrugged a shoulder. “Perhaps some of them are paying more attention than we give them credit for.”
“That’s an interesting theory,” Aiden said, certainly not liking it at all. “I’d hate to think the bandits are organizing in some way.”
“Aye,” Lucas agreed, snapping off another bite of the sausage.
A quiet knock sounded at the door.
“Enter,” Aidan called, half-hoping it was Hannah having decided not to avail herself of her mattress and to return for dessert.
Unfortunately, he had no such luck.
The door opened to reveal the face of a blonde maid. “Me Laird, the lady has been seen to bed. May I do anything else for ye?”
“Nay, lassie.” Aiden nodded at her. “Off to bed with ye.”
“Aye, me Laird.” The maid curtsied and closed the door with a quiet click, leaving them alone.
Aiden could feel Lucas grinning at him and closed his eyes tightly for a moment, taking another sip of his whiskey. Reluctantly, he turned his head back to his friend.
“A lady?” Lucas’s grin widened.
Aiden wondered if he had any chance of distracting him with more talk of bandits. From the gleam in the man’s eyes, he didn’t think that was likely.
“Oh, do tell the tale, Aiden.”
“Mind yer business.”
“Nae likely. Is it that bonnie lass ye had me follow the other day? Ye seemed very interested in her. Are ye finally considering finding yerself a wee bit of happiness? Perhaps a wife?”
Aiden scoffed and shook his head. “Ye ken good and well I have nay intention of taking a wife, Lucas. Ever.”
“Come now, Aiden.” Lucas leaned forward and gestured with what remained of his sausage. “The lass may well care for ye right back.”
“Oh, aye?”
Aiden wanted to believe such a thing. What would it be like, really?
To wake up next to somebody who cared for him?
Not to hustle them out of the door in the morning, or engage in a quick last-minute roll in the sheets before one or both of them left for good, but simply to wrap his arms around them and doze again.
I never thought I had a flair for domestic life. Breakfast in bed and sleepy kisses and all that. But ye never ken. It might be nice.
He allowed himself a faint smile, a scene spreading out in his mind.
I bet she spreads her limbs all over the bed when she sleeps. I bet she hogs the sheets.
Clearing his throat, he gave his head a small shake and glanced up to find Lucas eyeing him curiously.
“Nay, I daenae think so, lad,” he answered briskly. “Believing that people love ye is a slippery slope. It always leads to harm. I thought me braither cared for me. I thought me people cared for me.” He swallowed past the lump in his throat. “I’ll save us the trouble of fanciful thinking.”
“Aiden—” Lucas began with a sigh.
“The ill in the villages,” Aiden said firmly, giving him a meaningful look. His friend grimaced and finished his sausage. “Tell me how the healers have done.”
“There is a marked improvement,” Lucas replied, understanding that he was not to keep up his inquisition. “The villagers seem quite grateful to ye.”
“Aye?” Aiden laughed. It was a joyless thing. “They’re grateful until they’re nae.”
Hearing noises outside the room, both men shared a suspicious look and stood, striding to the door. Aiden reached it first and yanked the heavy wood open.
A maid in the hallway jumped, nearly dropping the vase of flowers she was holding. “Oh!” she yelped, face blanching.
Aiden felt his stomach drop for the second time. He’d been secretly hoping Hannah had come back to him, again. He hid his disappointment.
“Apologies, lass. Didnae mean to frighten ye.”
“I-I’m sorry, me Laird. I was simply freshening the—” The maid lifted the vase with shaking hands.
“Of course, daenae fash yerself. Go about yer business.” Aiden waved a hand. “Ye’ve done nothing wrong.”
The maid curtseyed, set down the vase, and practically ran down the corridor.
Lucas chuckled. “We’re getting paranoid.”
“Aye,” Aiden said, then paused. “But we may nae be wrong in doing so.”