Chapter 2
Raphael liked the attention to detail that had been placed on this dinner. The dining table was a masterpiece in itself, a long, polished mahogany expanse that gleamed in the soft light.
Intricate silverware, fine crystal glasses, and porcelain dinnerware were meticulously arranged, waiting to be put to use. Delicate linen napkins adorned each setting, hinting at the attention to detail that had gone into every aspect of this occasion.
Truth be told, this alliance was as important to him as it was to Jasper, but he could barely focus on it, and Jasper immediately noticed a hint of distraction in his demeanor.
“Is somethin’ on yer mind, Raphael?” Jasper inquired, leaning slightly forward in his chair.
Raphael was not usually the type to talk about his private affairs.
He considered that unnecessary. He was sure Jasper would have better things to talk about than what bothered him.
Even Raphael had better things to talk about.
He tried to bring the conversation back to their alliance, but he was still distracted.
“Well?” Jasper pressed.
“Ah, well… I apologize. I must confess, Jasper, me mind is elsewhere. It’s me maither, ye see. She has been quite persistent in her efforts to play matchmaker. She’s been suggestin’ potential matches and encouragin’ me to consider the prospect of marriage again.”
Jasper sympathized with Raphael’s predicament. “Ah, I see. Me own maither had a similar penchant for matchmakin’. In fact, she’s the reason me wife and I ended up together.”
Raphael’s eyebrows rose in surprise. “Really? How did that come about?”
Jasper chuckled, reminiscing about the past. “Well, me wife and I were both quite stubborn. She even more than me, if ye can imagine such a thing. We were refusin’ to admit our feelings to each other.
It was me maither who saw that we couldnae.
She orchestrated a series of events that led us to finally confront our emotions and realize that we were, indeed, in love with each other. ”
Raphael thought about it for a moment, then nodded, finding comfort in knowing he wasn’t alone in this experience. “It is fascinatin’ how maithers can sometimes see what their children cannae, isnae it? Though, it’s a bit overwhelmin’ at times.”
Jasper grinned, acknowledging the truth in those words. “Indeed, overwhelmin’ yet oddly endearin’. Perhaps yer maither’s intentions are rooted in love and the desire to see ye happy. Who knows, she might have a point.”
At that moment, the doors to the dining hall opened, and the ladies appeared to join them for dinner. Raphael couldn’t help but be captivated by Keira’s beauty.
Her presence was a vision of grace and elegance, and the way she carried herself drew him in. He endeavored to conceal his awe, but the enchantment was impossible to ignore.
“I hope you gentlemen haven’t been waiting for us too long?” Joan asked them, but her eyes were focused on her husband.
“Ye ken that I would wait for ye forever if I had to,” Jasper murmured back playfully, much to his wife’s delight, who chuckled sweetly at his words.
Keira, with her radiant smile and a gown that accentuated her feminine figure, took her seat at the table while her friend’s laughter still reverberated throughout the hall. The soft candlelight danced on her face, enhancing her delicate features.
Her eyes sparkled with a lively spirit, reflecting the joyful atmosphere of the gathering, and Raphael found himself subtly stealing glances at her, marveling at her poise and charm.
He was taken aback by the depth of her eyes, like pools of sincerity and kindness that seemed to surround her entire aura.
He did his best to avoid even looking in her direction, let alone daydreaming about her, but that was becoming increasingly more difficult. He had to remind himself that things didn’t go well when he started liking another person.
In fact, terrible things happened. He blinked heavily several times, in an effort to banish certain thoughts from his mind and engage in the conversation that had been ongoing.
“It is so lovely to exchange the city air for the hills of Scotland,” Avery commented. “I think even Keira has noticed an immediate change.”
It was then that Raphael remembered Keira had come for a visit all the way from London. He watched her eyes light up, and for a moment, he wondered how they would sparkle in the darkness with his hands wrapped around her naked body.
“Scotland is such a beautiful place.” Her voice brought him back to the present conversation. “It feels lovely to be away from the hustle and bustle of the big city.”
“I always got the feeling that ye three were city lasses,” Jasper pointed out, teasing his wife, much to her delight. “But as ye can see, it is easy to convert ye.”
“Only if we allow you,” his wife corrected him, and the entire group burst into an amused chuckle.
“Aye,” Jasper had to agree, taking his wife’s hand and bringing it to his lips for a quick peck. “A woman’s mind is a mystery. It only does what it wants, not what it should.”
His words were followed by another burst of laughter.
“Isn’t life in general about wants?” Keira asked, much to Raphael’s amusement.
“Spoken like a true city lass,” Raphael couldn’t resist but comment.
Surprisingly, she did not take this as an offense, which he didn’t really mean it as, but rather as a playful retort.
“But city girls know more than you’d think,” she told him, and again, his mind raced with thoughts of what it was she would know if a situation provided the necessary circumstances.
Would she express her desire loudly? Would she be a little vixen if he awakened that in her? His entire body burned with heat at the thought, and it was difficult to extinguish it.
“That is true, I must say,” Avery confirmed. “For example, we all know a lot about Scotland, believe it or not. But we only started to read on Scotland when we got married to lairds,” she said playfully, “while Keira did that even before us.”
Keira smiled. “I’ve always found Scotland a fascinating place.”
Raphael couldn’t resist asking, “What aspect of Scotland’s culture fascinates ye the most? I hear we’re quite different from what ye must be used to.”
Keira smiled, her eyes alight with enthusiasm.
“To begin with, tartans.” She stole a glance at her friends, who seemed amused, and she returned her gaze to him.
“Oh, you know what I mean… The patterns and colors, each representing a clan and its unique story, are like a living tapestry of Scottish history. It’s amazing how something as simple as a pattern can hold so much meaning and heritage. ”
He was taken aback by her response. To be fair, most English people mainly appreciated their liberties. And whiskey. So, naturally, he couldn’t resist asking her, “Do you have a favorite one?”
Keira nodded without hesitation. “The Black Watch tartan has always appealed to me. There’s a timeless elegance to it, and it seems to resonate with the mystique of Scotland.”
“See?” Avery teased. “Joan and I had to learn all that, because… well, we love our husbands.”
“That we do,” Joan added with another sweet chuckle.
“But Keira actually learned all about Scotland because she wanted to,” Avery continued to tease their friend playfully.
“I read about Japan as well,” Keira said a little defensively, the blush on her cheeks revealing that she felt a little embarrassed being put on the spot like that. “And many other places. But that was before I discovered the beauty of horseback riding.”
“Ye ride?” Raphael spoke again before he was able to bite his tongue.
His mind was running faster than his tongue in this conversation. And it was fast conjuring up images of Keira’s feminine figure riding a horse.
Her strong legs would grip the horse’s strong body, keeping herself in place, with her fingers raking through the horse’s mane. He wanted to know what it would feel like to have her legs wrap around his waist, to feel her hands raking through his own hair…
Get it together!
“I do.” She nodded, gazing at him, and thankfully interrupting his thoughts—even for a moment.
Her eyes revealed that, for her, it was a cherished passion.
“I absolutely love it. There is a sense of freedom and connection to nature that comes with it. The wind in your hair, the rhythm of the horse… it is exhilarating.”
Raphael’s eyes lit up with genuine interest. He could not imagine that this little lass from London would fit in so perfectly here. That was yet another dangerous thought.
Keira riding a horse. Keira walking up to him, wearing a thin, see-through nightgown, which he would slide down her silky, soft body and then taste every single inch of her skin.
There was something about this woman that seemed to awaken risqué thoughts in his mind with her just looking at him. He couldn’t remember the last time a woman had tempted him so, without even being aware of it.
“Mhm,” he couldn’t help but agree, pushing all those other thoughts away—even for a moment. “The bond between a rider and his horse is truly somethin’ extraordinary. Have ye had the chance to ride in the Scottish countryside? The landscapes are unlike any other.”
She shook her head immediately. “I’m afraid not.”
“Ye simply must,” he said, taking a sip of his ale. “It is like a magical adventure. I think that you would enjoy it.” His eyes stayed on Keira a little too long, and her blush returned. Soon her cheeks would be painted a permanent shade of pink.
I wonder if the blush reaches her neck and chest when—
He shook his head and tried to focus on the conversation. He painted a vivid picture with his words, hoping she’d understand.
“Imagine this,” he continued, a smile gracing his face, “the hills stretchin’ as far as the eye can see, the scent of heather in the air, and the melodies of nature accompanyin’ yer ride. It’s a journey that invigorates the soul, there’s truly nothin’ quite like it.”
“It truly sounds magical.” Keira smiled, her eyes lighting up. “I would love to experience it.”
Asking her to join him was on the tip of his tongue. Would she accept? Would his hosts be offended by his boldness?
“What is yer favorite riding experience, so far?” he asked instead.
“It would have to be the first time I ever went riding,” she admitted, a soft glow blooming in her cheeks.
She smiled in a way he rarely saw a woman smile, in a way that simply warmed his heart.
“It was so difficult to keep my balance, I almost fell off twice, but the feeling… oh, there is nothing like that in the world.”
He could understand that. “The first time is always special.”
All the first times were special. And theirs? What would theirs be like?
Almost as if she were able to read his mind, their eyes locked.
Her cheeks flushed gently, and a smile danced on the corner of her beautiful, luscious lips.
He was almost certain that she was wondering the same thing, yet he could not say a single word.
But her body energy was drawing him in, pulling him with a force he was unable to fight.
Unbeknownst to them, the rest of the group had fallen into a comfortable silence, their attention fully captured by the lively exchange between Raphael and Keira.
Keira then shared an exhilarating horseback riding story, her animated gestures bringing her tale to life.
“There was this one ride in the countryside of Yorkshire that was particularly special. The sun was setting, painting the sky in hues of orange and pink. The whole world seemed to slow down as we trotted down a secluded trail, and the serenity of the moment was absolutely mesmerizing.” She stopped, then seemed to remember something.
“But, I suppose that horseback riding has its fair share of mishaps, doesn’t it? ”
Raphael wanted to remain his aloof self, but with Keira, that was impossible.
She had a way of drawing people to her, of immersing them into her story and making them do the talking, without it feeling forced at all.
That was exactly what she was doing now, and he had no idea how she was managing it.
He nodded. “There was this one time when I was ridin’ through the rollin’ hills, and me horse got startled by a sudden noise. The next thing I kenned, I found meself takin’ an unexpected tumble.”
Keira grinned, empathizing with his experience. “Oh, no! That must have been quite a surprise.”
He nodded, a playful twinkle in his eyes. “It was, indeed. A humblin’ reminder of the importance of stayin’ alert and in tune with yer horse. But despite the fall, it didnae deter me love for ridin’. In fact, it added a touch of adventure to the whole experience.”
Laughter rippled through the room as they exchanged lighthearted stories about their riding escapades. Raphael couldn’t help but feel a sense of both excitement and caution. He knew that getting too attached too quickly could lead to complications with devastating consequences.
She interrupted his tumultuous flow of thought with her own question.
“Speaking of adventure, has anything or anyone ever drawn you away from these beautiful hills?” she wondered. “Perhaps even to the very heart of England?”
“London, ye mean?” he asked, tilting his head a little, feeling unable to take his eyes off her even for a single second. It was as if his mind was making a permanent imprint of her lovely face, only to bring it up in the middle of the night to torment him with its beauty.
“Yes.” She nodded. “So, you have visited it?”
“Once,” he revealed.
“You do not sound impressed,” she teased, and he loved it.
There was that timid smile that he was starting to like more and more. He had seen many smiles on women—women who knew the power they yielded—but with Keira, it seemed that she herself was unaware of it, and that made her all the more alluring.
“Not nearly as beautiful as me own home,” he admitted, forcing her to react. “But not only that.”
“What else?” she asked, sounding more curious than ever.
“Rules,” he said simply. “There’s too many of them. They’re suffocatin’ yer spirit.”
“They are?”
“Arenae they?” he asked playfully.
“I’m not much for breaking rules,” she confessed, staring him dead in the eye. “I’m not drawn to danger.”
I cannae believe that.
He wanted to say this out loud. He would have said it out loud, but only if they were alone, which they were not. He had almost forgotten that there were others around them.
She had drawn him into this conversation with her voice of siren that had lured him right onto the rocky shores. And he wanted to listen to it even more, despite the danger.
“And here I was, thinkin’ ye’re an adventurer,” he teased, much to the delight of the entire group.
“Not all adventurers break rules,” she said, chuckling.
Somehow, he doubted that. And he hoped, against all common sense, that he would get the chance to prove he was right.