Chapter 18
The air outside smelled of fresh grass and a hint of rain that had not yet fallen. Emma walked along the courtyard path with Ava, with the baby cradled against her chest. The sky was pale blue, a sharp contrast to the smell of the incoming rain.
“Let me hold her for a wee while,” Ava suggested, extending her arms. “Yer arms will tire.”
“I am fine,” Emma said, though she shifted the bairn higher and tucked the ribbon under Stella’s chin so it would not tickle her. “Remember what Ma used to say when her sister gave birth a few years ago? A bairn is lighter when ye like the weight.”
“Aye, but ye will like a rest as well,” Ava countered. “When we go to the market, I will buy a pin and perhaps some sense for ye as well.”
Emma smiled. “Buy the pin and leave the sense. I ken well enough how to take care of a baby.”
“‘Tis nay surprise that the bairn has gotten used to ye,” Ava added, her voice gentle.
Two guards passed near the gate, their voices low. Emma couldn’t exactly hear what they were saying, only short snippets that she couldn’t make sense of.
“… fire should start dying out by now,” one of them had murmured.
Her steps faltered, and Stella shifted to make a small sound. Not quite a protest, more of a breath caught on the edge of a change.
Ava turned at once. “What is it?”
“Nothing,” Emma said quickly, forcing a smile that cost more than it should. “I thought I heard something.”
“Ye did,” Ava confirmed. “They were whispering like lads who had forgotten where they stood.” She glanced at the guards and lowered her voice. “What do ye think they were talking about? Something the Laird did, maybe?”
“I daenae ken,” Emma responded.
Now that she thought about it, she could almost smell the smoke in the air along with the rain. Something was burning, yet as far as she could see, there was no fire.
“Ye think he killed something? Or someone?” Ava asked, leaning closer, her tone teasing.
However, Emma couldn’t shake away the feeling that had arisen solely from that thought.
Killed someone.
“Emma, I am just joking,” Ava added almost immediately, noticing the tense look on her sister’s face.
“Aye, I ken that,” Emma muttered. “Daenae make a meal of it.”
“Ye made a meal of it with yer face,” Ava pointed out. “Ye went from honey to vinegar in a blink.”
“Leave it, Ava,” Emma sighed. “Please.”
Ava’s lips thinned. “Aye. For now.”
They moved on. The path curved by the herb beds.
This was the exact same place Emma had helped the maid plant the flowers the other day.
Her eyes settled on the fresh soil and then flicked up to the sky.
Butterflies flew past, along with bees, taking a stop on each petal before going on their merry way again.
“Look,” Ava said, nodding toward the sky. “Swallows for luck.”
“Luck is a lazy woman’s prayer,” Emma said.
“It is,” Ava agreed. “And swallows are pretty. Ye can admire both.”
They reached the small arch that opened onto the outer walk and paused. Emma watched as Duncan came through from the far side, his stride brisk and his gaze sweeping the courtyard. She exhaled as he drew closer. She wasn’t exactly sure of what she might get this time around.
“Lady Emma,” he greeted, bowing his head.
“Duncan,” Emma returned.
“The Laird has doubled the watches,” he said without preamble. “Best ye stay inside the main walls.”
Emma tightened her hold on Stella. “Is something amiss?”
“Just a precaution,” he said. His tone was measured, but his eyes were unreadable.
“For what?” Ava asked.
“For whatever comes.” Duncan shifted as if the ground itself were tugging at him. “Stay close to the hall.” He gave a second, shorter bow and left before either could press him further.
Ava watched him go.
“Just a precaution,” she repeated incredulously. She turned back to Emma. “Still think he is harmless?”
“I daenae ken,” Emma replied. “But I cannae look at him and see a monster either.”
“Maybe ye are looking with the wrong eyes,” Ava said dryly. “Ye look with yer heart and call it sense.”
Emma let the words land but refused to pick them up. “Is it just me, or does it look like the garden needs some cutting?” she asked after a breath. “Someone needs to properly collect these herbs.”
“Daenae change the topic,” Ava huffed. “Ye and I both heard what the Laird’s braither said.”
“Aye, we did,” Emma acknowledged. “So what if he is trying to keep the castle safer? Why does it matter? He didnae get to where he is by being lenient with his guards now, did he?”
“So, that is what ye think this is? Just some regular work for the guards?”
“Yes. For all we ken, a warthog may have breached the castle last night, and they are just trying to be more careful. Safety is important, at the end of the day.”
Ava sighed and reached out to stroke Stella’s hair. “Ye are hard work, Emma.”
“Only because ye push,” Emma retorted, her heart beating fast.
She didn’t believe any of the words she had said, but it was the best way to keep Ava off her back for now. Later, she would meet Jack in private and ask what was going on.
They walked further down the path until they got to the corner of the castle towers. From where they stood, Emma could see miles away to the edge of the castle gates and beyond toward the mountains that lined the horizon.
Her eyes caught the thin thread of smoke that rose beyond the gates and into the bright blue sky. She was fairly certain that Ava saw it as well.
She turned to give her sister a knowing look, and Ava did the same thing. The baby fussed against her neck, and Emma swayed a little, patting her gently on the back until she relaxed again.
“So what do ye think is burning there?” Ava asked.
Emma said nothing, only watched the rising smoke. It was evident that it was not coming from a kitchen, and it did not sit like a kiln. It climbed and pulled and tried to be the sky, but the sky would not have it.
“Ye think yer future husband is doing something ye willnae approve of?” Ava asked.
“He is protecting something,” Emma murmured, the words heavy on her tongue. “I ken it.”
“Aye,” Ava uttered. “And at what cost?”
Emma shifted Stella and pressed her cheek to the child’s warm curls. Stella stirred and snuggled closer, a small weight that asked for nothing more than a steady arm.
“At least he is protecting her,” she said. “That is a cost I can accept.”
“Is it?” Ava asked.
“Aye.” Emma nodded.
They watched the smoke rise into the sky for a while longer. The question of what could possibly be burning bounced around her skull like a headache that wouldn’t leave. The questions were growing now, and she realized that she would have to ask him about it all eventually.
“Come. Let us keep walking,” Ava’s voice brought her back to the present.
They moved further down the path. The gentle afternoon breeze provided the perfect temperature for Emma and the baby, even as her thoughts continued to churn.
Her eyes flicked to the training yard. The lanterns that had been fastened to the trees last night had been removed, and the field had been ploughed to remove all signs of a scuffle.
Did that also have something to do with the fire as well?
A wave of dark gray appeared on the horizon, confirming Emma’s suspicion.
“It looks like rain,” Ava remarked, gesturing toward that part of the sky.
“Good,” Emma uttered, her voice calm.
Perhaps the rain was precisely what she needed. It could wash away all the doubts that had been growing in her head since the first time she saw Jack this morning and noticed the red stain on his cuff. It might even help Stella have a good night’s sleep.
She opened her mouth when the sound of footsteps came from behind them, firm and unhurried.
She turned and watched Jack approach from the far end of the courtyard. Duncan and two guards hung back as he walked toward her, a look of determination resting on his face.
Aside from the determination, nothing in his expression was readable. He eventually stopped before her and gave a quick bow to Ava.
“Might I speak to Emma for a moment?” he asked, his voice clear.
“Definitely.” Ava took a step back.
Jack, however, took Emma’s hand and pulled her forward.
“Emma,” he said, stopping beside her. His gaze flicked to the child and softened. “I have changed me mind. Tonight, there will be nay training.”
She frowned. “Nay training?”
“Aye.”
“So I daenae have to come out tonight?”
“Ye do.”
“Ye just said there would be nay—”
“I ken what I just said.”
“Then what?”
“Something else,” he said, his voice low. “Ye will see soon enough. Just come, and be ready to be surprised.”
“Are ye going to tell me what that something is?” she asked.
His mouth curved faintly. “Nay. Ye will find out when ye should.”
Good God.
What was it with this man and playing unnecessary games? Why did he like to torture her with his incomplete thoughts and supposed surprises?
Her eyes flicked to the smoke and eventually the fire behind the fences once again, and the words traveled to the tip of her tongue. She could just ask him now. All she needed to do was open her mouth and let the words fall out. So why was she hesitating?
He reached for the baby, interrupting her thoughts. “Here. Let me take her.”
“She is fine where she is,” Emma said without moving.
“That isnae a request, lass,” he grunted.
Their eyes met and held. His did not flicker away. Slowly, Emma eased Stella into his arms. The baby blinked once and settled, calm as if nothing was wrong in the world.
Emma kept her voice even. “Midnight?”
“Aye,” Jack said. “Outside me study.”
He turned and carried the child toward the castle.
Duncan cast Emma a brief, unfathomable look and then followed, and the remaining guards went after him. Chills crawled up her spine and lingered there after they had gone.
Midnight.
What could he possibly be planning anyway?
She racked her brain for what could make Jack ask her outside that night, if it wasn’t to train her, and she couldn’t settle on one thing.
Her spine grew rigid as the last question echoed in her mind. He wanted to meet her outside his study and not outside the castle. Did this mean he was going to…
Her heart skipped a beat.
No, that couldn’t be it. If he was going to ask her to his bed, he would need to do it more politely. Jack wasn’t the kind of man who liked to hide behind what he wanted.
Ava moved to Emma’s side, her eyebrows already raised. “What was that about?”
Emma folded her arms. There was no point in hiding anything from her sister now. “I think I might need a new dress.”