Chapter 6 #2
“All I’m saying is that you ought to be careful, Keira,” Joan spoke with a wisdom that seemed to surpass all their age.
“Because I’m wondering… if you feel all these overwhelming sensations, how will you ever go back to a boring life with the Earl?
” She paused for a moment, allowing her words to sink in.
“Instead of getting yourself prepared to go through with your plan, you might be making it even harder for yourself to live the dull life you’ve always feared. ”
Keira had to admit that her friend was right, and these words caught her off guard.
But it was something she didn’t want to think about right now.
Life was to be lived in the present, not the past or the future.
The past was over and done with. The future was yet to come.
If she focused too much on either of those two, she might miss the precious moments of the present.
“If I remember correctly, Joan, you were the one who ran away from an arranged marriage back in London.” Keira didn’t say this out of malice but rather to put things in perspective.
“It was I who gave you my carriage to run off to Scotland, where you eventually found happiness. What I’m trying to say is that I also thought your plan was utterly insane, but as your friend, I wanted to see you happy.
I wanted to be there for you in any way I could. ”
Immediately, the look on Joan’s face was one of regret.
She took Keira’s hand into her own apologetically.
“You are absolutely right. You were there for me when I needed you the most. Your unconditional love and support have helped me find happiness. I will be there for you, for whatever it is you need. I was just worried and maybe a tad bit overprotective, because we don’t really know this man. We don’t know what he is really like.”
“I’ve always been a good judge of character, you know this,” Keira reminded her. “You know I wouldn’t even consider going anywhere with him unless I was utterly certain that he is a good man. And of this, I have no doubt.”
“If that is what you feel you must do, you know you can always count on us,” Avery interjected.
Keira felt a sense of relief knowing that her friends were with her every step of the way, not just in spirit but also in the practical aspects of her adventure. Their unwavering support bolstered her confidence and steeled her resolve to embark on this journey.
Avery and Joan, recognizing the need for some privacy, stood up and exchanged knowing glances. Giving her space to finish packing would allow her to collect her thoughts and prepare for the journey ahead.
“We’ll be just outside if you need anything, Keira,” Joan reassured, offering a comforting smile. “I also have to go and tell Jasper what is going on. I don’t know how he will feel about this, honestly. He looks at both of you as his sisters, you know.”
Keira smiled. “He is a good man. You are very fortunate. You both are.”
This knowledge saddened her for a moment, but then she remembered her plan. It made her smile. It made that burden go away.
With that, Avery and Joan left the room, gently closing the door behind them, giving Keira the solitude she needed.
Keira took a deep breath, the weight of the moment sinking in.
She tried to stay focused on the task at hand, organizing her belongings and double-checking her essentials.
She didn’t want to consider how her friends might be right.
How this whole deal might affect her. Surely she wouldn’t let herself fall for a man this arrogant.
It was just as she said. One last adventure before returning to her duties.
Jasper was still frowning, a whole minute after Raphael had informed him of his plans. The man just stood there as if the weight of the announcement was yet to dawn on him. Raphael felt it was his duty to inform his friend and host of his plans .
“She is a city lass, Raphael,” Jasper finally spoke. “She isnae used to the way we run things here.”
Raphael shrugged. “I dinnae mean to do anythin’ to her, Jasper. Ye ken me. I will merely have her as me guest, nothin’ else.”
“I do.” Jasper nodded. “I ken ye. I ken the sort of man ye are. That is why all this is such a surprise. Ye’re nae a man subject to his whims, and this is exactly what it is. A whim, somethin’ ye do in the spur of the moment, without any prior thought, and such things dinnae always end well.”
“That may be so,” Raphael could agree that much, and to his surprise, it amused him greatly. “There is something about this lass that is making me do things the unorthodox way.”
“Orthodox or nae, ye need to be careful, Raphael,” Jasper told him gravely as he walked over to him.
His study allowed the two men a private conversation, and Raphael had known Jasper well enough to sense that he would get his honest opinion on the matter at hand.
“Keira is Joan’s friend. She is a good lass. They all are. And I willnae stand for them bein’ disrespected. Ye ken what I mean?”
“Of course,” Raphael assured, pressing his hand to his friend’s shoulder. “The lass merely wished to do some Highland sightseein’, and I was happy to oblige, especially with the cèilidh at our home bein’ organized soon.”
“Aye.” Jasper nodded.
Something told Raphael that his friend wasn’t all that convinced, but that didn’t matter. What mattered was that Raphael was leaving Jasper’s home with Keira joining him in the carriage. As for what would happen later… well, he would happily cross that bridge when he got to it.
“I’ll go see if the lass is ready,” Raphael said, and without waiting for Jasper’s response, left the study and headed down the corridor, in the direction of Keira’s chamber.
He knocked on her door only twice, sturdily. Her voice came from within, and upon being called, he opened the door. She was still in the process of packing her suitcase, which seemed already full to the brim. With a nightgown folded in her hands, she lifted her head to him.
“Oh, it’s you,” she said, smiling.
“Were ye expectin’ someone else?” he teased, entering, then closing the door behind him.
“I thought the girls returned to give me more advice,” she revealed.
“Ah.” He nodded, walking around the bed over to her.
She hastily placed the delicate nightgown in the suitcase and closed it, as if she were hiding a most secretive thing from his sight.
“Did they advise ye not to come?” he inquired, eyeing her playfully.
To be quite honest, it was difficult to look at anything else. She was utterly mesmerizing, and the way she blushed every time he made her self-conscious about something made this game even more fun.
“No,” she said quickly. Suspiciously quickly.
He stepped closer to her. Now, they were standing face to face, and he was staring at her like an animal about to attack its prey. He thought she would look away, but she held his gaze, surprising him.
“Then, ye must not have told them all the conditions of our wee deal,” he surmised. The blush on her cheeks assured him he was right in thinking so. “And I thought they were yer best friends. Dinnae best friends share everythin’?”
She pouted before replying, “I tell my friends everything.”
“But this,” he reminded her.
She didn’t like that, and he liked it too much. His grin and her blush proved it.
“You don’t know what our friendship is like,” she pouted . “You assume you know everything, but you don’t.”
“I might ken a wee bit more than ye, city lass,” he said somehow proudly, which only made her even more upset. Her eyes widened, her nostrils flared, and her lips… they were even more kissable now as he gazed at her. “I also ken that we need to get goin’ soon, lest it is too late.”
He took a step back, eyeing her from head to toe. She was like a marble statue, beautiful and pale. He wanted to imprint this image upon his memory and never forget the way she looked now. He then headed towards the door and, before exiting, said only a few carefully selected words.
“I will be waitin’ for ye, Milady. Dinnae take long.”