Chapter 7
The group gathered in front of the ready carriage, the air charged with anticipation. Keira was still standing next to Joan and Avery. Jasper held his wife’s hand, but Keira could see his facial expression was extremely grave.
Her own hands were clammy, and no amount of wiping them on the soft fabric of her gown could have solved that problem.
This was accompanied by that all too familiar knot in her stomach, which she knew would not go away until she was in Raphael’s home.
And even then, it might not disappear at all but rather worsen.
“Well, I suppose that is it,” Raphael said as he watched the footman load the last of the suitcases onto his carriage.
Jasper was the first one to look at Raphael with a stern expression, his voice carrying a hint of warning. “Remember, Raphael, Keira’s safety and well-being are of the utmost importance. If she is hurt or offended in any way, ye willnae just lose me support, but probably yer life as well.”
Keira gasped, while Avery smirked and Joan rolled her eyes at her husband’s threat. This must be normal in the Highlands, then.
Raphael, though teasingly, rolled his eyes, too, at Jasper’s seriousness. “Rest assured, dear friend. I have nae intention of causin’ any harm to our esteemed guest. Keira will be safe under me care.”
Keira couldn’t help but blush at Raphael’s confident response. She appreciated Jasper’s concern for her—and she was afraid his threat wasn’t an empty one, but she also sensed the underlying camaraderie between the two men.
Jasper held Raphael’s gaze, emphasizing his point. “See that ye do, Raphael. It’s nae a matter to be taken lightly.”
Raphael nodded, and instead of a reply, he offered his hand. Jasper shook it firmly while still eyeing him suspiciously.
Joan chimed in, trying to lighten the atmosphere, “Well, you’d best get going before nightfall.”
Keira gave both her friends one more hug, and she made a point of thanking Jasper warmly, then headed for the carriage.
Momentarily, Raphael was there, extending his hand to assist her.
His touch was gentle, sending a tingle through her, and she felt a rush of warmth and admiration.
She placed her hand in his, allowing him to help her up.
“Thank you,” she said, her voice soft, and her cheeks flushing with a delicate shade of pink.
“Ye’ve heard our friend,” he teased, glancing back at Jasper. “I am to ensure yer safety and yer comfort, or else.”
Keira chuckled as she paused and turned around, saying, “That’s why he’s my favorite among my friends’ husbands.”
She saw Jasper’s look soften, while Avery was quick to complain.
“Hey, Darragh would kill for your safety as well. He almost killed Jasper for Joan’s safety once.”
Everyone laughed at that, and Joan said, “We know, Avery. Darragh is a great man, too. You don’t need to remind us. The question is if Raphael is as great.” She winked at Keira, her own threat and suspicion evident in her words.
Keira laughed. “No blood will be spilled on my account,” she teased and turned to the carriage again.
As he helped her up, Raphael whispered in her ear, “Thank ye, Keira. Ye seem to be the only one who believes in me.”
A playful twinkle in his eyes showed he hadn’t taken offense at this conversation.
“Yes, well, do not get used to that,” she whispered back, biting her lip as she climbed into the carriage, peering out the window for a last wave goodbye.
Raphael settled opposite her, and within seconds, the carriage had set off. Keira waved to her friends, listening to the sound of the wind carrying off their laughter and well-wishes, creating an atmosphere charged with excitement and anticipation.
The carriage rolled forward, leaving the castle and its surroundings behind, venturing into the open road. The Scottish landscapes painted a breathtaking backdrop, and Keira couldn’t help but be entranced by the beauty that surrounded them.
As the carriage carried them further from the castle, a strange silence settled between Keira and Raphael. The rhythmic sound of hooves against the road and the gentle sway of the carriage seemed to create a peaceful cocoon, but her mind was anything but peaceful.
Even when she wasn’t staring directly at the man at whose mercy she would be for the next two weeks, she could still feel his gaze linger on her. She would notice it from the corner of her eye.
Keira gazed out of the window, in an attempt to calm her nerves, taking in the picturesque Scottish countryside.
Rolling hills, adorned with a tapestry of greens and golds, stretched as far as the eye could see.
It was a serene landscape, one that would easily allow her thoughts to wander, but her rebellious thoughts wanted to remain within the confines of this carriage and focus on nothing else but the man seated opposite her.
Raphael had an air of quiet confidence about him.
Occasionally, their eyes would meet, and she would notice that little smirk that only seemed to make her even more self-conscious.
It made her want to check whether her hair was in place, whether her gown showed as little decolletage as possible.
Or perhaps she wanted to show more? Her own mind was confusing her with its own wishes and desires, and that confusion was more than evident in the rosy, red hue on her cheeks.
But the desire to hear him speak was there again. She turned to him, wondering what she could ask him. Maybe start with herself?
“You know, this is probably the most adventurous thing I’ve ever done,” she admitted easily because it was the truth.
Raphael seemed to have been brought back from a silent reverie by her voice, and it took him a moment to process her comment. “This?” he echoed.
The sound of his voice reminded her how close they actually were, how dangerous this was, to be alone in a carriage with a strange man, to be headed somewhere where she had never been before. How strange, how dangerous, and how exciting.
“Yes.” Keira smiled a little nervously, noticing that he was not taking his eyes off her. In fact, he seemed to trace the entire length of her body, from head to toe, slowly, languidly, taking his time.
She pretended not to notice, but that was easier said than done. “Before this, I think the most adventurous thing I’ve ever done was save a kitten from a tree. Despite what you think, it was quite the perilous task, let me tell you.”
His eyes widened in surprise as if he wasn’t sure whether he had heard her right.
Then, he exploded into a boisterous chuckle, the likes of which she had never heard from a man.
When he laughed, it was as if the cares of the world momentarily lifted, leaving behind an infectious mirth that easily spread to those around him.
It was a rich, warm sound that bubbled up from his chest, traveling up his throat and spilling out in musical notes, filling the air with a sense of lightness and happiness. She hadn’t been certain that he was even capable of such unrestrained laughter, yet she had just heard it.
“What about you?” she asked, once he was merely smiling.
“Me?” he repeated.
“Yes.” She nodded, a mischievous glint in her eyes. “What is the most adventurous thing you’ve ever done?”
He leaned back slightly. “An adventurer’s tale, ye say?” He seemed to ponder it for a few moments, then he continued. “I once climbed a rather treacherous peak in the Highlands durin’ a snowstorm. It was quite thrillin’.”
Keira raised an eyebrow in surprise. That seemed exactly like something an arrogant, self-sufficient Scottish laird would do. Yet, she liked everything about it.
“Scaling mountains in a snowstorm? Why does that not surprise me?”
He grinned, playing along. His eyes narrowed, and his teeth flashed at her. “Surprise is me middle name.”
“You’ve made that clear with your counteroffer,” she replied playfully.
“But in the end, it seems we are both exactly where we wanted to be,” he told her, tilting his head a little with that devilish smirk.
God, was he trying to be even more charming?
“Yes, aren’t we both quite the adventurers?”
She had no idea where these bold words and questions were coming from, but she knew that she wanted to keep going in exactly this direction. This was the woman she wanted to be with him—bold and unapologetic, completely herself, without any fear of any repercussions.
At that fleeting moment, their eyes locked, and for a heartbeat, time seemed to stand still.
Unconsciously, Keira leaned closer, only to realize what she was doing.
She blushed, quickly pulling back, but the draw was too strong.
The chemistry between them was undeniable, a spark that held the promise of something intense.
“I have to say, ye’ve taken me by surprise, lass,” she heard him admit, much to her delight, while she was still adjusting in her seat, feeling like she was sitting on pins and needles.
“I have?” she asked, suppressing a smile.
“I honestly thought that the only adventures a lady of yer stature was accustomed to would be afternoon tea and quiet garden walks.”
Keira gasped in mock indignation. “How dare you underestimate the thrill of a carefully orchestrated tea party? The social intrigue alone is worthy of a full-length novel!”
Raphael chuckled again. “Ah, social intrigue, the true essence of high society. I stand corrected.”
This was the first time a gentleman had actually understood the jist of her joke and laughed so warmly. Members of the ton did not really enjoy a woman who had opinions, or even humor, for that matter.
Bickering with Raphael was unlike anything she had ever experienced. It was so refreshingly novel, and she was enjoying it more and more with each passing moment.
Yet, she knew she had to be cautious. She remembered Avery’s question about whether she would be tempted to fall in love with this man. That was, of course, impossible for one very simple reason.
She only liked him because he represented all the adventures that she couldn’t have. That was why she was so mesmerized by him. That was why she was willing to follow him into the unknown.
“Ye ken, I’m wonderin’…” he continued suddenly, just as she thought they had finished their conversation.
“Wondering about what?” she inquired curiously.
“If ye’ve ever partaken in a sprightly Scottish reel. The energy and liveliness might be too much for a lady who prefers tea parties and quiet walks,” he teased her some more.
Keira laughed, feeling her cheeks flush pink again, a permanent reaction to this charming man before her, as it seemed. “Ah, but you underestimate my agility on the dance floor. A Scottish reel is an invitation to showcase one’s spirit.”
“I have to see it to believe it,” he replied with a devilish grin.
In the carriage’s dimming light, thoughts began to wander. Keira found herself contemplating what it would be like to lean in and steal a kiss, to embrace the daring impulse that fluttered in her heart. The swaying of the carriage seemed to echo the gentle dance of her emotions.
As if the universe itself was able to read her mind, the carriage navigated a gentle turn, and a sudden jolt threw Keira off balance. With a gasp, she found herself tumbling into Raphael’s lap, her pulse quickening at the unexpected closeness.
Her cheeks flushed more fervently than ever, laughter dancing in her eyes. His hands wrapped around her waist tightly, keeping her in place.
“Are you all right?” he asked, his voice a melodious accompaniment to their accidental intimacy.
“I’m so sorry,” she said, remaining in place, even though his hands were placed firmly around her waist, keeping her where she was, refusing to let her move even a single inch.
Her own hands immediately flew to his chest, and that was where they remained while her mind frantically refused to acknowledge the tight strain of his muscles. For some reason, she was unable to move, or she simply refused to admit that she didn’t want to.
“No need for apologies, Keira,” Raphael replied, equally entertained and unwilling to change anything regarding their current position. “It seems that fortune has a penchant for unexpected moments.”
She leaned back slightly, her gaze flitting out the carriage window to the passing scenery, only to return to him once again. “And do you often find yourself caught up in unexpected events, My Laird?”
“Life has a way of surprisin’ ye,” he said, winking at her. “I merely go along with it. Also, be careful with My Lairdin’ me. I might demand of ye to refer to me like that all the time.”
“Might you, now?” she asked with a melodious chuckle.
“Mhm.” He nodded, his eyes darkening. She wanted to get swallowed inside them whole. His hands were still on her waist, her body completely surrendering to his. “Because I ken what ye are thinkin’. I ken, because it is what I’m thinkin’, too.”
“And what is it I am thinking of… My Laird?” she asked in the same manner again, hoping to provoke the same desire, but just as his lips neared hers, dangerously close, the carriage came to a halt.
He lifted a brow at her but didn’t move away. “It seems we have arrived,” he whispered against her lips.
Disappointed and excited at the same time, Keira’s breath caught in her throat as she gazed out at Raphael’s castle.
It stood proudly amidst the rolling hills, a structure of stone and history, seeming to merge seamlessly with the natural beauty surrounding it.
Towers reached for the heavens, and turrets adorned the fortress like crown jewels, standing tall against the sky.
The castle seemed to have been kissed by the hands of time, bearing the marks of history within its stones. Ivy clung to the walls, weaving a tale of ages past, while the play of sunlight created an ethereal glow that made the entire scene seem like a painting brought to life.
Keira felt a sense of awe wash over her, the grandeur of the castle leaving her momentarily speechless. It was as if she had stepped into a storybook where knights and ladies once roamed the halls, and the air carried whispers of ancient tales.
“Breathtakin’, isnae it?” Raphael asked, his hot breath spilling right on her ear, down her neck, sending a million little goosebumps up and down her body.
She turned to him, her eyes wide with wonder, her heart filled with a mix of reverence and enchantment. “It’s… magnificent. Every stone seems to hold a story, and the very walls breathe history.”
The castle seemed to beckon to her, inviting her to step into its embrace, to become a part of its ongoing story. Keira knew that this was the beginning of a new chapter in her adventure, one that would be filled with discoveries, both about the castle and the man who called it home.
He nodded, a gentle smile on his lips, appreciating her awe. “It has stood through centuries, witnessing countless stories and generations. Welcome to yer home for the next two weeks, Keira.”