Chapter 14 #2
“Oh, of course,” Mrs. Walter answered. “Sarah, come show the Laird and his betrothed to the finest table in the room.”
“Aye, ma’am,” a smallish, pretty girl answered, running up to them. “Right this way, me Laird, miss.”
Violet followed behind them, eagerly looking over the tables.
“And what would ye like to have?” Sarah asked once they were seated.
“I’ll take the mutton stew,” Ruaridh answered.
“And ye, miss?”
“Haggis,” Violet answered.
The girl nodded and then scurried away.
Ruaridh raised an eyebrow, and Violet shrugged. “I haven’t had it before, and Grannie Ava suggested I try it,” she explained.
“Alright.”
Their food came quickly, and she eyed the serving with a side of steaming mashed potatoes. Her first bite made her close her eyes at the flavor and texture.
“This is amazing!” she exclaimed.
Ruaridh grunted and began eating his food.
She realized vaguely that he had been waiting for her to eat so he could start. She smiled and continued eating until her plate was empty, then washed down her food with a glass of sweet mead.
Though full, she looked around, eyeing the delicacies on the tables. It was a good meal, but she craved something sweet, and upon spotting a pie on a distant table, she knew what she wanted to get. With the added bonus of torturing Ruaridh.
“I see a blueberry pie,” she declared. “Can we get some as well?”
Ruaridh eyed the pie in question and turned away with an almost rueful look. “Ye may get some for yerself, but I daenae want any,” he answered, though his tone was not very convincing.
He was nursing a mug of mead and eyeing the ruckus a few tables over, no doubt trying to see if he would need to intervene.
Did he ever just rest?
The only time she had seen him not burdened by his responsibilities was when she had caught him swimming in the loch that morning, and she remembered, unwillingly, the kiss they had shared.
She cleared her throat and eyed him warily, then smiled as an idea came to her mind. Grannie Ava had mentioned he had a sweet tooth, which she had yet to see, but could that only be because he was trying to hide it?
She giggled, clapping a hand over her mouth.
“Alright,” she said once her giggling subsided. “Are you sure you would be able to withstand the temptation of a fresh, sweet blueberry pie?”
“I am positive.”
“Alright,” she said with a naughty smile, before calling over one of the maids.
“What would ye like, miss?” the maid asked.
“I would like a large blueberry pie,” Violet answered. “With a lot of heavy cream.”
She saw Ruaridh swallow hard out of the corner of her eye and smiled. When the maid left, she turned back to him.
“Are you sure you wouldn’t like a slice of pie, my Laird?” she asked. “The girl hasn’t gone very far.”
“I am sure,” he gritted out.
“Hmm,” she said. “Grannie Ava mentioned you had a penchant for sweet things. Are you perhaps afraid I’ll judge you for indulging your appetites?”
He glared at her but said nothing.
She said nothing, not until the maid brought her pie and placed it in front of her.
“That will be all. Thank you.”
The maid left after bobbing a curtsy.
Yes, indeed. She was right to have asked for the pie. Her mouth watered just looking at it, but before digging in, she had to ensure she tortured Ruaridh well enough.
“I assure you, my Laird, you wouldn’t look any less fierce for eating a slice of pie.” Her words were said slowly as she dug her fork in, making sure to keep her movements as ostentatious as possible.
When she had a good bite topped with cream, she brought it to her mouth. The moan that escaped her was more real than for show.
That is a bloody good pie.
She opened her eyes and saw Ruaridh’s knuckles had gone white from how hard he fisted his hands on the table. She didn’t understand how someone could torture himself so much, but it provided her good entertainment, so she couldn’t complain.
She cut another bite, topped with an even larger dollop of cream, and extended it towards him, feeling rather pleased with her evil scheme.
“Are you sure you wouldn’t like a taste of this yummy pie?” she asked. “I assure you it tastes better than—”
“Just give me the bloody pie!” he growled, taking the fork from her.
She watched open-mouthed as he ate the bite and took one look at her before snatching another from her plate.
“Would you mind not finishing my pie?” she complained, though she didn’t mean it.
The sight of him eating with the same fork she had used had her face flushing, and she wondered if anyone had seen them.
He handed the fork back to her, and she continued eating in silence.
When she was done, he paid and took the satchel of things she had bought despite her protest. She watched him leave with a smile, but made no move to catch up, not with how full she was.
It had been a good decision to stop for a meal at the tavern. She wasn’t sure she could eat the evening meal with them.
Leaving the tavern made her realize just how much happiness she had felt all day.
It wasn’t how she had thought she would be spending her day, but she couldn’t complain about how it had gone.
She almost wished they could stay longer, but the sun was beginning to set, and she wasn’t dressed warmly enough for the chill that came once evening fell.
Her steps were light as they walked, her body thrumming with a subtle happiness and contentment. The worn road they took cut through a verdant field tipped with golden hues that reflected the orange rays of the setting sun. It was one of those perfect days she didn’t wish would come to an end.
“I have somethin’ for ye, Violet,” Ruaridh told her suddenly, and she paused in her tracks, turning to him with a curious look.
She hadn’t seen him stop to buy anything, and aside from the satchel containing the items she had bought, she didn’t see anything on him.
“Oh,” she murmured. “What is it?”
He dropped her satchel and reached into his pocket to produce a small linen satchel, no larger than her hand.
She watched with interest as he pulled out a beautiful ring made of sterling silver, with a blue sapphire set in the middle, glinting in the fading light.
She gasped when he approached, took her hand in his own, and slid it onto her finger.
Up close, it was even more beautiful than she had imagined, with a stunning filigree design etched into the delicate band of the ring.
Around the sapphire, there were little diamonds that made it seem like a flower.
It was a most beautiful piece of jewelry, and it looked expensive enough to be a family heirloom.
Why was he giving it to her?
“My Laird, I don’t think you should be giving me this,” she protested, meeting his gaze. “It’s too precious a gift.”
His eyes left hers and went to the ring, still holding her hand, and a small smile crossed his lips. “I daenae think it too precious to give to ye,” he said. “Nae when ye’re about to become me wife.”
“Still,” she breathed, not having the words in her to argue. “It is very beautiful.”
“Aye, indeed,” he agreed. “It was me maither’s ring. A gift from me faither to her on their wedding day. She was a lovely woman and a kind lady. I give this to ye because I believe ye’ll be just as kind to me people.”
Her eyes widened in surprise.
“Do you truly mean that, my Laird?” she asked with a teasing smile, hoping to keep her words light even if his faith in her had her heart skipping a beat.
“Aye, I do,” he answered. “I have seen the way ye treat Keira and me people. I have faith that ye would be a good addition to the clan and the family.”
Her throat tightened with emotion, and her heart began to pound furiously in her chest.
Why did he have to be so good with his words?
“How can I be sure you’re not jesting?” she asked with a raised eyebrow, refusing to let him see just how much his words affected her.
“I never lie, Violet,” he said with an affronted look that made her smile.
He looked so offended by the prospect of being accused that she couldn’t help but laugh, feeling elated.
Swallowing past the lump in her throat, she stepped forward with a teasing smile. “You never lie, my Laird?”
He quirked an eyebrow and shook his head. “I see nay need to.”
“Even if the truth may embarrass you?” she added, taking another step forward.
His eyes darkened as he watched her, but he nodded. “Especially then,” he answered, his voice gruff.
She risked placing her hands on his shoulders to pull herself up to his height. “And if I were to ask what you were thinking now?” she murmured. “Would you tell me?”
Violet didn’t know what possessed her to act so wantonly, but she felt a pressing need to kiss him, and she couldn’t for the life of her begin to think of any reason to stop herself from doing so.
“I wouldnae be able to say anythin’,” he answered, then wrapped his hands around her waist and pulled her to him. “I would rather show ye.”
His lips met hers in a kiss that made her sigh and melt into him, and all the while, she found herself unable to stop smiling. Distantly, she felt his lips quirk up in a small smile as well.