Chapter 16
Dougal had been trying to work in his study when a faint knock sounded at the door.
“Aye?”
“It’s yer maither.”
He paused.
His mother would not bother him at this time unless it was something important. His first thought was Lily, and unease coiled in his gut.
No. If Lily were in any trouble or danger, his mother would not politely knock on the door. She would burst inside, panic-stricken and ready to fight for the little girl she had claimed as her grandchild.
“Come in.”
Kenna slipped inside, a nervous smile on her face. He clocked it immediately.
“Maither, what is it ye have to tell me?”
“Can a maither nae check on her only child?”
“Maither,” he said, his voice sharp. “Get straight to the point. Surely, ye havenae come all the way here to interrupt me work when I clearly told ye nae to.”
She sighed. “I suspect ye ken it’s about Lily.”
“Aye, but what I cannae figure out is what. Is she hurt?”
“Nay, of course nae!” Kenna exclaimed. “If something that serious happened, I would have kicked down the door!”
Dougal chuckled, despite his unease. “As expected. But that still doesnae tell me why ye are here.”
“Lily is exploring the grounds with Skye. And before ye lose yer temper, they have only gone as far as the gardens?—”
He was on his feet before she even finished speaking. He pushed past her, taking quick strides towards the door to the study. The quickest way to the gardens was the back door around the corner.
Kenna lifted her skirts and ran after him. “Son, ye daenae need to be so cross! They have only gone as far as the gardens.”
“So ye said.”
“Will ye please slow down?” she huffed, exasperated. “There is no need?—”
Dougal spun around. “Maither, I explicitly told Skye that Lily was to remain inside the castle unless I gave explicit permission for her to leave. Ye ken that.”
“Aye, I understand, but?—”
“Nay, I willnae hear anything more about it.”
Kenna kept up with him as best she could. He did not slow down, refusing to stop. He was going to let Skye know exactly how he felt.
There was a reason why he kept Lily inside. It was the safest place for her. The circumstances of her birth put her at risk were they ever to be discovered. Many wanted him dead, one man in particular. Dougal was not going to give him a chance to use Lily against him.
He stepped into the gardens, and his anger melted away when Lily turned to him. He was certain that Skye had alerted her to his arrival to soften his anger. It was low but effective.
“Lily,” he greeted.
She beamed. “Da, can I keep the goat?”
“Aye.”
“Da, please!”
She was so excited that she hadn’t even heard him agree. It would not hurt for her to have another animal friend.
“Lily, I said aye.”
“But Da, please. She’s so small and lonely. Blossom wants a friend.”
“I said aye, Lily.” Dougal crouched to her eye level, tugging one of her braids gently. He chuckled. “Ye can have yer goat. Pick whichever one ye like. Ye are so excited that ye didnae hear me tell ye aye thrice.”
Lily shrieked with delight, throwing her arms around his neck before dashing off toward the stables to spread the news, her kitten forgotten momentarily in her excitement.
Kenna laughed. “Aye, I heard. I think the whole castle heard ye, me dear girl.”
“But it’s exciting, is it nae?”
“As long as ye listen to yer da and take care of the goat. It’s a big responsibility; I hope ye understand that.”
It was similar to the speech she had given when Lily found the abandoned kitten mewling for someone’s attention one morning.
She had begged and begged Dougal to keep the kitten.
His first answer had been no, but after seeing the way she lit up whenever she saw the kitten, he had decided to let her keep it.
The only caveat had been that Lily had to take care of the kitten she soon named Blossom. And so far, she had done just that. She babied that kitten. It was taken care of better than some children.
Lily nodded. “I take care of Blossom, so I’ll take care of the goat too!”
Dougal glanced at his mother, nodding.
“Lily, why daenae we take a walk and tell the rest of the castle the good news? I think they’ll be excited to learn that Blossom has a friend now,” Kenna suggested.
Lily frowned. “But didnae ye say that everyone already heard?”
“Aye, I did, but we should make sure that everyone heard. Daenae ye think?”
“Ye’re right, Grandmaither! Let’s go!”
Kenna followed after her, giving Dougal a look.
He ignored her, turning back to Skye.
She was looking everywhere but at him. His anger had faded some, but she had to know the danger she had put Lily in by bringing her out here. He swallowed, realizing that he might have to reveal the truth of her origins.
The truth of where Lily came from was one he had promised he would take to his grave. He’d only told those who needed to know. Otherwise, Lily’s origins would have remained a mystery to them.
His mother and Stephen were the only ones who knew the truth. His servants only knew that he was protective of the girl he had brought home one day and to never speak of her existence in case any of the enemies he’d made over the years heard.
He watched her go, all the warmth draining from his face. “A word. Now.”
He didn’t wait for her answer, only caught her wrist and steered her toward the back door leading back inside the castle. He didn’t stop until they were back at the study, shutting the door with more force than strictly necessary.
“Ye took her outside the walls.”
“We went nae further than the garden.”
“Did anyone see ye?”
“I daenae ken. We werenae hiding, Dougal. We were walking.”
“That is nae answer.” He paced up and down, jaw tight, every line of him coiled with something that looked far more like fear than anger, though he’d never admit to the former. “What if someone recognized her? What if word reached the wrong ears?”
“What wrong ears? Ye’ve never told me who ye’re protecting her from.”
“Because it is none of yer business.”
“Then how am I supposed to keep her safe if I daenae ken what I’m keeping her safe from?” Skye’s voice rose to match his. “What are ye hiding from me?”
It would be easy to turn and send her away. To refuse to tell her anything.
He should. Dougal should send her back to Castle Muir and forget that any of this had ever happened. It was the safe thing to do. He told himself it was for Lily, but in truth, part of it was for himself.
“Her maither was me betrothed. Elsie.” The name came out rough, as if it cost him something to say it.
“She didnae die in a fire, whatever the Highlands believe. She died birthing Lily, at the hands of the man who thought the bairn wasnae his own. I’ve spent seven years keeping that truth buried so it wouldnae follow Lily and ruin what little peace she has. ”
Skye went very still. “Dougal.”
“Now ye ken.” His voice had gone hoarse. “Now ye understand why I cannae have her seen, cannae have questions asked, cannae have ye taking her wandering off without a word to me first.”
“I understand ye’re frightened.” Her own voice softened, though the stubbornness never left it entirely. “But that doesnae make it right to cage her.”
“It isnae yer place to decide what’s right for her.”
“Then whose place is it? Yers? Ye, who barely let her breathe without permission, who’d sooner keep her locked behind stone than let her scrape a knee?”
Dougal crossed the distance between them in two strides, close enough that she had to tip her head back to hold his gaze, close enough that she could feel the heat rolling off him, could see the muscle working in his jaw.
“Ye disobeyed me.”
Skye held his gaze and didn’t look away. As frustrated as it made him, he respected it. She wasn’t backing away from his anger and was, instead, confronting it head-on.
“Aye, I did.”
“That’s a punishable offense, lass, and ye ken it.”
“Then punish me.” The words dared him the way she always seemed to dare him, even when sense screamed at her to back down. “Go on, then. Tell me what ye intend to do about it.”
He didn’t answer right away. His gaze dropped, just briefly, to her mouth, and she felt it like a physical touch, her breath catching in her throat.
“Careful,” he murmured.
She was testing his patience, more than she even realized. Or she realized every second of it and didn’t care.
“I’m always careful.”
“Ye’re the least careful woman I’ve ever met.”
He hadn’t moved, and neither had she, but the distance between them had shrunk to almost nothing. He was close enough that she could feel the warmth of him.
His hand came up, not quite touching her face, but hovering close enough that she felt the ghost of it against her cheek. She didn’t pull away. She couldn’t, if she was being honest, though every instinct told her she ought to.
No kissing.
She had made that rule clear before they agreed to this.
Dougal kept his hand in the air, hovering just inches away from her cheek. His entire focus was on her lips, soft and pale pink.
How would she taste?
He had tasted her cunt, but he had yet to taste her lips.
“Does yer rule still stand?” His voice was rough, quieter than before.
She nodded, unable to trust her own voice.
His jaw tightened, something raw flickering behind his eyes before he shuttered it away, the careful distance he always managed to reclaim settling back over him like armor.
“Then leave,” he grunted. “Before I forget meself entirely.”
Skye hesitated, taking a step back.
“Skye, I told ye?—”
She turned around and fled as fast as her feet would carry her.
Dougal dropped his hand, letting it dangle uselessly at his side. Skye had looked back not once, but twice. He wanted to chase after her, press his lips against hers and show her just how much he desired her, but he didn’t, remaining where he stood instead.
She was right to rush away, and he was also right to send her away.
She had been clear about what she expected, but now he damned himself quietly for agreeing to it.