Chapter 8
Out of the corner of his eye, Ruaridh noticed Violet’s raised eyebrow, but he would be damned if he let Logan see her in a state of undress.
The man might be his closest friend and most trusted confidant, but the sight of her barely clad figure was something he would keep from his eyes.
The lass was unlike anything he had expected, and her bonny figure had had him mad with need when she surfaced from the water with her undergarments clinging to her.
He had prided himself on his strong sense of will, but one look at her had had him aching to touch her and pull her against him.
The little touches they had shared and that one moment where she had brushed against him were still imprinted on his flesh like a hot brand that even the cool water had been unable to rid him of.
“Why are ye here, Logan?” he asked with more bite than he had intended.
In truth, he was thankful for the man’s timely appearance. If he hadn’t appeared when he had…? Ruaridh knew he had been one more argument away from kissing the infuriating lass.
“I bring news from our man in London,” Logan answered with a wide grin and a knowing look in his eyes.
Ruaridh sighed, knowing he would get an earful of naughty comments later, but Logan at least had the common sense to wait until they were alone.
Still, his announcement set him on alert and would no doubt have attracted the lass’s attention. He tilted his head to the side, indicating that they should move farther away before Logan shared any more information.
Ruaridh hadn’t expected to hear back so quickly from his acquaintance in London, and when he had written to the man to keep him abreast of any developments, it had only been a precaution he deemed overzealous.
Lord Westall seemed to be naught but a coward of such low standing that their incident shouldn’t have drawn enough attention to put his clan in danger of retaliation from the English. But if he had put his clan in danger…
No. He wouldn’t think so grimly.
“What did ye hear?” he asked when he was sure they were a safe distance away.
He didn’t glance back to see if he had hurt the lass by excluding her from the discussion, but he needed to hear the news first. It no doubt affected her as well, and he wanted to spare her some degree of hurt, considering she was as much a victim in this as Keira had been.
“Lord Westall’s been makin’ trouble,” Logan started, his face twisting in a dark frown.
It wasn’t often that something happened to put a frown on Logan’s face, and when it did happen, it was usually a matter of grave importance. The look caused Ruaridh’s hackles to rise, but he didn’t interrupt, wanting to hear the entire news first.
“Reginald reported that the man’s been slanderin’ yer name among the ton, claimin’ ye stole his bride and defiled her,” Logan continued. “Conveniently leaving out how he kidnapped yer daughter.”
Ruaridh frowned. “I hardly kidnapped the lass. He abandoned her.”
“I daenae think a bastard like him plans to tell anyone the truth,” Logan answered. “Reginald said the man had more callers than he had had in previous months since he began spreading these falsehoods.”
“Has there been any talk of retaliation?” Ruaridh asked.
Logan shook his head. “Nay. Apparently, his complaints are still circulatin’ among the lower rungs of society, but it has begun to climb into the halls of the middle rungs. He had already received a few invitations. ‘Tis only a matter of time before it draws the Court’s attention.”
Ruaridh nodded, even as his heart began to pound uncomfortably.
He had done everything he could to avoid any unnecessary trouble with the English, but this bastard was doing all he could to draw attention to his clan again.
He gritted his teeth and clenched his hand into fists as rage began to heat his blood.
“If it does, I have a good case to make,” he said firmly. “He took me daughter.”
“I doubt the English would come ready to hear our words,” Logan argued.
Ruaridh frowned. “If they willnae listen to us, then I will be ready for war,” he stated. “But before then, I need to ensure the lass’s honor isnae hurt amid our struggle.”
“How do ye intend to do that?” Logan asked.
Ruaridh frowned, gritting his teeth. He had promised the lass he would help her complete her damned list before they wed, but with the speed with which things were moving, he didn’t think he could keep his word. Every second she wasn’t his wife put her reputation in greater danger.
Since when have ye ever kept yer promise to protect anyone? a dark voice whispered in the back of his mind, causing him to clench his fists even harder.
He had promised the lass that he would protect her from the consequences of the fight between him and the bastard Westall, and he intended to keep his word, no matter what.
Tossing and turning, Violet found herself watching the darkness of the night begin to fade into the softer hues of dawn and sighed, knowing her eyes would be ringed with dark circles.
She had been unable to sleep since she had heard Logan’s report, and Ruaridh’s withdrawal after the man had left had filled her with even more trepidation for her future.
To think she had almost allowed herself to be distracted by her newfound freedom and friendships.
Her attempts to sleep were plagued by nightmares of her return to England and the judgmental stares from the ton and a subsequent marriage to an even more odious lord than Lord Westall.
She shuddered and sat up, wrapping the covers around herself. She looked out the window slits again. She could choose to hide in her chambers until Ruaridh finally made a decision about her, or she could enjoy the last days of her freedom.
The latter thought appealed to her more, so she threw the covers off and rose to dress in a thick robe. By now, most of the castle residents would be asleep, so she would be free to roam and explore the grounds.
The air outside was a cool caress against her cheek, and she hastened her steps, following the flower-lined path she had taken with Ruaridh and eyeing the beach in the distance.
The clean and crisp air of the shore called to her, and she craved the feel of the icy water around her feet. Perhaps a dip was what she needed to shock some strength into her weary, sleep-deprived body.
The water was still when she reached it, and in the dim light, it looked a metallic gray that called to her to go for a dip. She took off her robe and her slippers when a loud splash sounded. She jumped, yelping.
She turned to see Ruaridh emerge from the depths of the waters, bare from the waist up. Her eyes widened, and her cheeks reddened to see him in such a state, but she couldn’t turn away.
He was sinful to look upon, and as he shook his head and ran a hand through his hair, his muscles rippled. Her mouth went dry at the sight of the dusting of his hair on his chest that trailed and narrowed as it neared the waistband of his breeches, only to be hidden under the surface.
His dark eyes found hers, and for a moment, they widened in surprise. But then he gave her the blank look he always seemed to give her.
She swallowed and pressed a cool hand to her cheek to calm herself. She couldn’t allow him to think her wanton, or else she wouldn’t be able to face him again.
“Good morning, my Laird,” she greeted coolly, stepping closer to the water.
“Good mornin’, Miss Violet,” he returned, lowering his hands. “I must admit I am surprised to see ye this early, but ‘tis good ye’re here. Ye’ve saved me time fetchin’ ye for yer lessons.”
She quirked an eyebrow at the change in his demeanor. He had barely spoken to her and ended their lesson promptly after Logan’s appearance the previous day, and now he suddenly wanted to resume them?
“Why the sudden change of heart?” she asked, folding her arms.
He cocked his head. “I promised to help ye complete the items on yer list, did I nae? I believe we began yer swimmin’ lessons yesterday. ‘Tis a good time as any to finish them. We willnae be interrupted as we were yesterday.”
Violet wanted to argue, as they hadn’t spoken about what Logan had reported to him.
Ruaridh had obviously moved away so that she didn’t hear them talk, but he wasn’t aware she had trained herself to listen in on conversations she was not supposed to be privy to.
Still, wasn’t he supposed to inform her of the changes that had occurred?
She sighed and nodded, not in the mood to argue. He would tell her in time.
She stepped closer to him, keeping her eyes on him as she did until the water was nearly at her chest level. She was conscious of the iciness of the water around her, but his gaze on her filled her with warmth that helped her bear it.
“Shall we begin, then?” she asked in a voice she didn’t recognize.
Why was it so breathy?
He nodded and took a step back. “Remember what I told ye yesterday?” he asked, extending his hand towards her.
“I do,” she answered, placing her hand in it as she let herself float.
His arms then came under her, supporting her till she stopped feeling afraid of sinking. She closed her eyes, but didn’t begin to squirm as she had the first day, and soon she felt all the tension leaving her body.
“That’s it,” he praised. “Ye’re doing well.”
She opened her eyes, wanting to give him a smug look, but found herself sinking to the bottom. His hands reached out to pull her out, and she emerged coughing and struggling for breath.
“Why did ye leave me?” she asked eventually, shooting him a hot glare through her wet hair.
Ruaridh had a small smile on his face, which he immediately masked when he caught her eye.
“Did you just laugh?” she asked, hands on her hips.
“Nay?” he answered.
She scoffed and moved away from him. “I do not think I will ever grasp this if you insist on laughing at my every mistake. Perhaps I should find another teacher.”
“There is nay need,” he said quickly, putting a hand on her shoulder.