Chapter 6 #2
Arran knew that he would have to marry someday. He figured that it would be some clan alliance or another to help secure things as time went on. He certainly had more than a handful of enemies with eligible daughters of marrying age, which would mean one fewer war to think about.
He had always imagined that he would need a heartier woman, somebody who would not shy away from working beside him, carrying out things in the keep while he was away holding to his other duties.
The women back home had their charm, and were more than tempting from time to time…
but they were nothing compared to the beauty before him.
He ought to have been ashamed of himself for thinking it in the first place, but there was no denying the uncomfortable lurch in his chest when she asked him to stay. But he would not compromise her honor; that would make him no better than the bastard that he had just saved her from.
“No, it is not that… I am just… I do not wish to be alone… please,” Victoria admitted softly.
He glanced at her, the way that she seemed to have folded in on herself with her knees up to her chest, and something inside of him softened as well. He moved to the single stool near the fire and pulled it somewhat close to the tub, his back to her so that he could watch the door. Just in case.
“Talk to me about something, anything,” she said from behind him.
Arran’s brow furrowed. “What?”
“Distract me… please. My body is somewhat relaxed, but my mind will not settle.”
Daenae speak of yer relaxed body, he groaned inwardly, for there were a few things he could think of that would make her even more relaxed. Yet, it did not seem like she was deliberately trying to torment him.
He frowned, thinking.
A distraction meant not asking her any of the burning questions that he wanted to ask her.
How had she come to be in that manor, never mind being engaged to that vile man?
Was it customary in England to live with a betrothed before the wedding?
Why was she going to marry him when he had obviously treated her so horribly?
He could not bear to think of Victoria anywhere near the Earl, not after what he had done to Kristin.
Moreover, where was her sister, and did they need to bring her with them?
He would have been more than happy to keep her safe as well if that would give Victoria some peace.
Should he offer such a thing to her, or would that be invasive?
“Ye seemed rather uncomfortable on horseback,” he said instead, cringing inwardly.
Victoria was silent for a moment, and then she snorted a laugh. “I ask for a distraction, and that is what you say?”
“Well, it’s nae like I have to do this sort of thing often.”
“Distract a naked woman? No, I would imagine not with words, you do not.”
He glanced over his shoulder at her, wondering if her words meant what he thought they meant. His brow arched in accusation, and her cheeks were certainly flushed a pretty shade of pink when he looked at her, but she motioned for him to turn back around, and he obeyed.
“But yes, I suppose that there was something unsettling about being shoved on a horse with a strange man. Things like that are not done in London, as far as I am aware.” Victoria paused, the splash of water suggesting she might be trying to unfurl again.
“The few occasions that I had to ride a horse on my own were usually just to accompany my father and his peers to hunts, but even then, I was not to ride but merely to follow, some poor soul leading my horse along on a rope. More often than not, I was in the carriage behind them,” Victoria continued with a hint of bitterness to her words.
“It is not as if I do not like horses, but unlike a lot of other ladies in the ton, my father actively discouraged me from riding; he considered it to be lewd.”
Arran’s eyes widened. That nonsense alone was enough to give him a very clear insight into the world that she had come from.
Even on a bad day, Kristin was a far better rider than he was.
She tended to have a way with animals that most of the men, including himself, lacked the gentleness for.
It was as if the horses wanted to please her, rather than obey her.
“Would ye rather have yer own horse, then? I daenae think there’ll be time to get a carriage.”
“No, of course not,” Victoria agreed. “But yes, a horse would be nice…”
Arran knew that he might regret placing the trust in her that would be required for her to ride on her own, but he felt comfortable in his choice.
He dipped his head in a nod. “I will arrange it.”
The silence between them stretched for a moment, but she was the first to break it. “I suppose English customs must seem strange to you.”
“I cannae even imagine what ye would think of our customs, lass.” Arran chuckled and shook his head.
Differences made for good sparks, in his opinion.
Not that he would be saying that one out loud.
“Although,” he added more somberly, “I hope what happened to ye isnae an English custom. If it is, I’ve a mind to consider ye all barbaric. ”
Victoria shook her head. “Not English, no. That is very much the Earl of Ashbrook’s… personal taste, shall we say.”
“Aye, I thought so.”
The silence returned, but Arran did not mind it, content to let Victoria feel her way through the conversation at a pace of her own choosing.
“Will you help me out?” she asked quietly after some time.
He frowned, glancing back at her again, drawn subconsciously to the sound of her voice. “In what way? Is there more ye want doin’ than me ensurin’ ye daenae have to marry that serpent?”
A faint smile twitched at the corner of her lips. “I meant, will you help me out of the bath?”
Of course, she did.
He did not answer but stood and grabbed the bath linen for her. He held it with one hand and offered his other hand to steady her. It was rather difficult to accomplish, given that he was staring at the ceiling.
When she took his hand, the touch might as well have burned him. It was like sparks all up and down his arm, radiating from all the points where her fingers touched, like magic. He could not explain it any other way.
The moment he was able, he slipped his hand from hers, flexing his fingers experimentally.
“I’ll leave ye to get dressed then. I’ll just wait outside the door.”
He had never felt anything like that touch of hers.
“My shirt should be more than long enough until we get ye something else, and I’ll sleep on the floor when ye’re done and ready,” he added.
He did not wait to see if she had anything to say before leaving the room for the second time.