Chapter 21
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
The sun had already begun to set when they finished sorting grains in the store.
Lachlan walked a few paces ahead of Marian as they left, his steps slower than they had been that morning. He could hear her footsteps behind him, slow and possibly tired from all the challenges he’d been throwing at her for the past two days.
It will be over if she just complains.
Any other English lady would have left, demanded rest, or found some way to prove to him that she didn’t belong in the Highlands. But not Marian.
Lachlan tried to keep himself from looking at her, but he failed. His gaze flickered briefly over his shoulder, and she smiled at him, though it did not quite reach her eyes.
He looked away, keeping his eyes on the path ahead. There was much left to be done today, and time was no longer on their side. Marian quickened her pace, catching up with him just as they reached the path that bent toward the glen.
He stiffened as the wind blew her hair in his direction, his nose catching a whiff of the same flowery scent from last time.
How could she possibly…?
His thoughts were interrupted once she turned away at the bend, heading toward the main castle.
“Where are ye goin’?” he asked.
She whipped around, her eyebrow arching slightly. A speck of chaff caught his eye as her hair settled, and his fingers ached to reach out and remove it. Instead, he placed his hands on his hips, waiting for her answer.
“To my chambers,” she replied in a matter-of-fact tone.
He shook his head. “Nay, Mairi. We arenae done.”
Marian’s eyes narrowed slightly, her face falling for a split second.
“What do you mean?” she asked, and the irritation in her tone satisfied him. “There is nothing left to do. We have already sorted the store. Jamie and the boys will distribute the grains among the families on the morrow.”
Lachlan smirked at the defiance in her posture. “Well,” he said, taking a few steps toward her. “’Tis ye who wanted to prove yerself.”
Marian’s eyebrows drew together. “What does that have to do with rest?”
Lachlan’s eyes narrowed. He leaned in, close enough that he could be sure she smelled like flowers.
It makes nay sense.
“I’ll tell ye,” he murmured, leaning closer to her. “Resilience is one of the things that makes a true Highlander. And if a single task makes ye tired… then perhaps ye arenae fit to remain here.”
Marian’s jaw tightened. Her lips puckered in the same way they did whenever she was about to protest, but then she raised her chin, smiling.
Lachlan nodded in satisfaction.
I am certain she’ll want to leave after this.
Footsteps sounded behind them, and he straightened, turning to see who it was.
“You sent for them?” Marian asked.
He shook his head. “Nay. But I ken ye can use the company. We are goin’ beyond the glen to repair a broken fence line.”
“Repair fences?” Her eyes widened.
“Aye. Perhaps ye took notice of it durin’ the inspection ritual.”
Marian stayed quiet for a moment. “I did not,” she said finally.
Lachlan smirked, satisfied. “I ken, and I am nae surprised.”
“Evenin’, me Laird,” Finn greeted once he reached them, Marian’s maid trailing behind him. She bobbed a curtsy as soon as she stopped.
Lachlan nodded. “Where are ye headed?” he asked, looking between the two, and they both straightened.
“We only just—”
“—ran into each other,” the maid finished.
Lachlan’s eyes narrowed. He instinctively glanced at Marian and then looked away, staring blankly at the ground.
Does she ken somethin’ I daenae?
He folded his arms across his chest, his expression turning neutral again as he observed them.
The lass rushed to Marian’s side, picking out the chaff he’d spotted earlier.
“My Lady, what have you been doing?” she asked, fussing over her like a prized jewel. Her eyes fell to Marian’s dusty sleeves and widened at once. “Your dress,” she gasped, touching the sleeves. “It is your only dress from your—”
“Lilly!” Marian interrupted, her voice rising slightly. She blinked, seeming to compose herself. “The Laird and I were just heading to the fields. We are going to fix the fences.”
Lilly’s eyes narrowed. She moved closer to her mistress to whisper something in her ear, and Marian nodded. They both turned to face Lachlan.
“My Laird,” Lilly said, bowing her head slightly. “I would like to accompany Her Ladyship.” Her voice was surprisingly firm.
Lachlan contemplated her request for a moment before glancing at Finn. “All right, then,” he said, his eyes narrowing at the look on his face. “Finn will join us as well.”
The path narrowed as they moved further down the glen, the ground sloping unevenly beneath her feet.
Marian sighed as she stepped over a cluster of loose stones, careful not to slip as she had almost done during the inspection.
I never seem to have the proper boots on.
She lifted the hem of her dress slightly, keeping it from dragging through the mud as she followed behind Lachlan.
The sky was brighter now compared to the morning of the inspection, so she looked around, getting a feel for the land. Her brow furrowed slightly as she noticed the terrain.
“This is not the fastest route to the fields,” she said out loud, looking over her shoulder at Lilly and Finn to see if they agreed.
“Nay,” Lachlan replied without bothering to slow down, his tone matter-of-fact. “It is.”
Marian frowned, quickening her pace to keep up with him. “It most certainly is not,” she insisted. “The incline alone makes it inefficient.”
That caught his attention.
He stopped abruptly, turning just enough to look at her face.
“Inefficient?” he echoed, his eyebrow arching. “We arenae in one of yer London drawin’ rooms, Mairi.”
“And we are not on a battlefield either, my Laird,” Marian replied smoothly. “There is no need to make the journey harder for ourselves than it has to be.”
A small sound rose from behind them, almost like a laugh, and Marian turned slightly to see that it was Finn. He was walking a short distance away with Lilly, his lips curved into a smile he was clearly trying to hide. Lilly, on the other hand, looked more concerned.
“My Lady,” she called gently, “perhaps we should—”
“Nay,” Lachlan cut in, continuing in the direction of the rocky, uphill path ahead. “Let her speak. I’m curious to hear how she’d lead us through a land she doesnae ken.”
Marian’s chin lifted. “I do not need to know every inch of the land to recognize a poor choice of direction,” she huffed, stepping past him before he could respond.
Lachlan stared at her with a hint of amusement on his face. Slowly, a smile tugged at the corners of his mouth.
“Aye?” he said dryly, falling into step behind her. “Then lead the way, me Lady. Let us see what ye ken.”
Marian turned around, straightening her back as her eyes lit up in excitement.
“I have a better idea,” she announced. “How about we put it to the test? We can split into two groups. One group follows your course, and the other follows mine.”
Lilly’s hand shot up immediately. “I choose your course, my Lady,” she said, and Lachlan scoffed.
Marian nodded. “Perfect. You and Finn can follow that curve alongside the hill. I shall follow the Laird and cut through it. We’ll see which group arrives first at the grazing field.”
Lachlan raised an eyebrow, incredulous. “And ye chose to walk with me, why?”
Marian sighed dramatically. “For the sake of fairness, my Laird,” she replied, her voice laced with sarcasm.
Someone needs to keep you in check.
Lachlan stared at her, his eyes narrowing.
“All right,” he said, throwing his hands up in the air. “As long as ye daenae try to slow me down.”
The two groups arrived at the field at the same time.
Lilly and Finn waved from the other side of the field, while Lachlan stood behind Marian. He turned slightly toward her, noticing the deep frown on her face.
I doubt she ever had to run in England.
Marian crouched to catch her breath, and he offered her a hand, biting back the smile that was starting to tug at his lips.
“Me course appears to be just as efficient as yers,” he said.
Marian rolled her eyes, leaving his hand hovering in the air.
She’s a proud lass, even now.
Lilly came quickly to her side, rubbing her back gently.
“I do not think so, my Laird,” she said, not daring to look up at him. “Finn and I did not have to run uphill to get here in time.”
Lachlan’s eyebrows drew together as he took a closer look at the maid.
Another brazen English lass. Perhaps it is the same with all English lasses.
Marian held her hand, and Finn nodded in the back.
“Aye,” he agreed. “Forgive me, me Laird, but I shall have to side with the ladies on this.”
Lachlan’s eyes narrowed.
“It is all right,” Marian said, finally straightening. She raised her chin slightly. “There is no need to dwell on the matter. We all know who was right, except we choose to fool ourselves.”
She walked slowly toward the broken fence, and Lachlan followed closely behind.
I daenae fancy that she’s right.
His jaw tightened slightly, remaining that way for the rest of the journey.
Soon, they reached the broken fence.
The ground near the fence was softer than the rest of the field, damp from the previous night’s mist. Lachlan pressed his boot against the base of one of the leaning posts, testing its stability.
“Rot’s started settin’ in,” he muttered, more to himself than anyone else.
Finn nodded beside him. “We’ll need to reset at least two posts.” He glanced up briefly. “Maybe three.”
Lachlan nodded once. “Then we’ll get to work at once,” he said, rolling his shoulders slightly to loosen the tension that had settled there.
Finn went ahead to gather the appropriate tools from a small box they kept at the end of the field, and Lachlan stopped near one end of the broken fence, his gaze sweeping over the damage.
He raised his head, about to ask for a pair of pliers, when Marian stepped up beside him, her attention drifting somewhere beside the fence in front of them.
Lachlan followed her gaze.
They were only a few paces ahead—Lilly, kneeling by a fallen rail, and Finn crouched beside her, saying something to her that neither Lachlan nor Marian could hear. They laughed together, the sound carrying easily in the open air.
Lachlan’s eyebrows arched slightly.
How long has this been goin’ on?
Finn handed Lilly a rope and guided her hands as she attempted to tie the Highland knot. Their heads bent closer together, shoulders nearly touching as he showed her how to loop and pull.
Lachlan’s jaw tightened. He glanced at Marian briefly before returning his gaze to the two oddly matched lovebirds.
I cannae believe this.
Lilly got the knot wrong for the second time, and Finn smiled, more patient than Lachlan had ever seen him.
Lachlan tore his gaze from them, instead watching Marian watch them. Her expression was softer than he’d ever seen it, almost serene. The wind lifted the hem of her dress slightly. The breeze blew softly against her curls as she stood transfixed in place.
As though she craves what she sees in front of her.
Lachlan frowned at the thought.
His chest suddenly felt heavy as she turned her head, catching him staring at her. He did not look away.
For a moment, they held each other’s gaze, both suddenly aware of the easy affection unfolding a few paces away. Something neither of them possessed with the same simplicity.
Marian broke their stare, and he cleared his throat, the sound rougher than he had intended. He turned back toward the broken fence.
“Let’s get to work,” he said.
And for once, neither of them had anything clever to say.