Cicilia sighed, clearly heartbroken for the children, and unable to do anything to help.
But Alexander could. “He was yer friend, an’ he loves ye still,” he said patiently. “Which is why he will nae mind that we’re gonnae get ye a new special friend when we go to buy new animals for the farm.”
“Laird, I cannae let ye—” Cicilia started urgently under her breath.
“Ye mean it?” Annys asked him excitedly.
“Nae take backs, aye?” Jamie added.
“I mean it,” Alexander told them seriously. “When yer sister goes to fetch some animals, I’ll make sure she has an extra pouch o’ gold to get the best pig for ye.”
“Thank ye, Alexander!” both children yelled simultaneously and scrambled down off their chairs to hug him and kiss his cheeks.
Significantly happier, Annys called, “I’m gonnae tell Katie!” and then she and Jamie hurried out of the room.
When the library door swung closed and left Alexander and Cicilia alone once more, there was a long beat of silence before either spoke. Cicilia broke it, saying quietly, “Ye really dinnae have to do that.”
“Aye,” Alexander told her. “I did. An’ what’s more, I will nae be leavin’ on the morrow. Me an’ Nathair, we’ll stay here until we’ve made sure everythin’ on this farm is straightened out good an’ proper.”
She didn’t speak for a moment, and for a horrible second, Alexander thought he’d managed to say the wrong thing…again. To his utmost surprise, though, the next minute, she had launched herself into his arms.
He felt her warm skin against his cheek as she hugged him, but though he was shocked, he did not let go. She was standing, him sitting, negating their height difference entirely. And while her body was pressed against his, even though he was not typically one for unsolicited touch, he could not help but notice how well they fit together.
Her skin is so soft, an’ her hair smells like wildflowers.
More than that, her generous curves pressed against his chest, and when he gingerly hugged her back, the tone of her body even under the nightgown was warm, comforting, and appealing.
He could not help it but wonder what it would feel like to do the same, to hold her like this, but without their clothes. To feel her pull him closer, their every inch of skin touching, their eyes alert, the grip of her thankfulness instead a grip of desire…
But no.
Inappropriate. Yer faither would be ashamed.
Wouldn’t he? It had been such a long time that Alexander didn’t even have an answer for sure.
When Cicilia let go, her cheeks were fiery red. “I’m sorry, Laird. I’m just so grateful that—”
He cleared his throat. “Alexander,” he said, and then stood and walked out of the room, his thoughts threatening to overwhelm him if he stayed.
Before the door swung shut, he heard her voice, more robust now, call, “Thank ye, Alexander.”
It was well past the usual bedtime for the farm when Nathair returned, minus Jeanie, who he said had taken her grandfather home after they’d questioned him. “Old Ewan said he saw somethin’ last night. Still, his eyes couldn’ae make out anythin’ more than a blurry figure,” Nathair told them, obviously frustrated.
Cicilia tried not to groan at this. Of all the people on her land that night, why only Ewan? She loved the old man, but could it not have been his daughter instead? One of the farmhands? “Did ye find out anythin’ in town?” she pressed.
Nathair shook his head and frowned. “Nay, lass, much to me chagrin. I’m sorry, but nae body we questioned seemed to stick out in particular. We couldn’ae pick up a trail or anythin’. I dinnae ken how somebody could vanish like that.”
Alexander frowned deeply. “None o’ this makes any sense,” he declared. “But I suppose the first step will be to be practical. Nathair, I need ye to do me a favor an’ play escort on the morrow.”
Cicilia raised her eyebrows. “Oh, aye? Who’s he escortin’?”
“Ye,” Alexander told her simply. “He’ll go wi’ ye to the market an’ ensure ye get the best prices for the replacement animals, an’ help ye pick out an excellent pet for the bairns.”
Automatically, Cicilia opened her mouth to argue.
Does he think me incompetent? Does he think I cannae handle me own farm?!
But before she could express those thoughts at all, he spoke again, as though he’d read her mind.
“Be realistic, Cicilia,” he told her a little disapprovingly. “Ye ken that as a lassie ye’ll be swindled by unruly merchants if they get half a chance. Men have more power to bargain.”
She scowled. “An’ ye dinnae think I’ve bargained at all in the last year?” she asked. “Ye dinnae think—”
“And more importantly,” Alexander interrupted, “It is nae safe for ye to go without a man. Or are ye tellin’ me ye’re in the habit o’ travelin’ without an escort?”
“When I need to be,” Cicilia said sullenly, though she knew he had a point. She did do most of her bargaining on her own…but she usually had one of the farmhands accompany her. She wasn’t a fool. She was small, shapely, and passing bonny. She knew the workings of the minds of lesser men.
Alexander sighed. “I’m nae tryin’ to be condescendin’ to ye. I ken ye’re capable—more than capable. But there’s nae harm in lettin’ someone take care o’ ye a little. It is nae right, but it’s how things are. A male escort will keep ye safe.”
“Well, I think that’s ridiculous,” Cicilia huffed.
“Ridiculous or nae, it’s a fact. An’ it’s me penny ye’ll be takin’. Will ye let Nathair take ye?” Alexander asked her.
She hesitated.
Alexander rolled his eyes. “Or do ye want the whole world to ken ye’re a lassie wi’ neither husband nor faither before I’ve had a chance to do anythin’ about it?”
“I’ve been managin’ just fine,” she protested, though more out of stubbornness than an actual argument. “I think ye’re bein’ ridiculous.”
“Ridiculous I may be, but will ye do as ye’re asked?” Alexander said calmly.
Cicilia glanced at Nathair, who winked at her. She let out a long sigh. “Aye. Aye, fine. An’ what’ll ye be doin’ while me an’ Nathair are gettin' acquainted?”
To her extreme amusement, she saw a flash of something like annoyance in Alexander’s blue eyes.
He is nae…he cannae be jealous?
But then it was gone, and he said, “I need to have another look around the place meself. If I’m gonnae get this place sorted properly, I need to ken everythin’ about it. An’ I guess the bairns can help me if they want to.”
Cicilia’s heart fluttered at that. She couldn’t help but love the way the twins had taken to Alexander—and, frankly, the way he had taken to them, whether he’d admit it or not. Aye, he was a grumpy excuse for a man, but he seemed to make the bairns happy.
An’ God kens they’ve been needin’ some happiness since me Daddy died.
She’d have to speak with the twins and have them return the book to her before she left, without Alexander knowing. She knew they had several hiding places, but she did not trust more than a few of them while Alexander was poking around, and she wasn’t there with them.
I’ll hide it in me room. To be safe. They’ll nae let him go in there, an’ I dinnae think he would go without me anyway.
She spoke with the men a little longer, setting plans for the morrow, then excused herself to find the twins. To nobody’s surprise, they were not asleep yet as they should be. They seemed very excited by the game of hide-the-book. Jamie made Cicilia close her eyes while he fetched it, and they both grinned widely as she hid it under her bed.
She sent them back to bed, made sure they were tucked in warm and safe, and then returned to her own room.
After she had prepared for bed, Cicilia lay awake for a long time, the events of the day refusing to relent enough for rest. Who could have done such a thing as all of this? It made no sense, none at all. The o
nly people she did not know on her own land were some of the hired laborers the farmhands sometimes subcontracted.
But how could one o’ them have so much hate as to do this? Surely they’d prefer their wage? An’ besides, they’re all vouched for.
It was a puzzle, and while Cicilia was often fond of puzzles, this one frustrated her in its apparent complete absence of a solution. What were the other variables?
The village was two hours away, the farm market even further. Besides that, there was hardly anything in the vicinity at all.
She frowned. She’d never sleep if her thoughts kept along these lines.
What else is there to think about?
The answer came more quickly than she would have liked to admit. There was barely a pause in her thoughts as they turned to the Laird, and his softness today—even though only the previous night, they’d argued. He’d soothed her and held her, and also offered to pay for some of the damage.
An’ it was nae just charity. He kens I’ve got me own money. He just genuinely wants to help.
And the way he’d spoken to the twins about their father! Cicilia had embraced him because she had no other way to express the gratitude and affection she felt towards him for that. Given half a penny, she might have kissed him, too.
Her cheeks shone crimson in the dark at the thought. Being so close to a man, being held in strong arms and feeling his taut muscles through his nightshirt…it had once again caught her off guard.
Cicilia’s mind may be sensible, but her body was not. At the thought of being held in those arms once more, at allowing herself to be vulnerable just once, her heart started to race.
He was the Laird, and he was a better man than she’d thought. A good man, even. But that was all it would ever be. She’d only known him for four days, and no matter how good, he was still a threat. Besides, she was much too busy to be getting her mind in a tangle over a man!
But she wanted him, physically. She had since he’d caught her in the stables, since the first time they’d argued. It embarrassed her and fascinated her because this…this was not something she was used to.
Have I ever wanted to explore these things so much? How do I make it stop?
Well, there was no point worrying about it now. It was naught but a passing fancy. Once Alexander had decided what to do with her farm, he would hopefully leave Cicilia and her land alone for good.
And so she tried to sleep instead, secretly hoping that perhaps she’d return to last night’s pleasant dream with the dark-haired stranger and the ballroom.
At least in her dreams, there was no need for concern. Not about anything.
Chapter 12
Adoquatio Rei et Intellectus
Correspondence of Mind and Reality
Was it a dream or a memory? Cicilia wasn’t sure, but it soon stopped mattering as she settled into the mindset of herself at eight and surrendered to the illusion.
Daddy and Mammy were late in the fields again. They didn’t have much land yet. However, Daddy had promised Cicilia that when they’d made enough money, they’d buy all the surrounding acres and have animals of all sorts. Mammy agreed, adding that they’d even be able to hire some more farmhands, too.
“Really?” Cicilia said excitedly. “An’ then ye’ll be able to spend more time wi’ me!”
“Tha’s right, chook,” Daddy told her. “But until then, ye have to sit tight.”
And so, Cicilia sat tight. She knew that her family was already well-off compared to some other farmers. Still, her Daddy wanted to make enough to keep his family and everyone in their employ comfortable.
When she was little, that had just been Cicilia, Mammy, and Daddy, and Mammy’s friend, Angelica. Angelica cooked for them and got paid in return, which Cicilia had heard was because she didn’t get on well with her own daddy.
I always thought that was really sad. Imagine nae lovin’ yer daddy like I do!
When Cicilia was three, Angelica married George Humphries, and she thought for a while that Angelica would move away. But Daddy had insisted she stay, and George, too. He became their driver, adding to the growing collection of well-paid farmhands.
A year later, Jeanie was born, and Cicilia’s parents kept paying Angelica even while she was taking care of the bairn. Cicilia had once asked why, and Daddy had told her:
“Och, me love. Ye must always treat yer workers an’ yer servants as ye’d want them to treat ye if positions were switched.”
And that was why Mammy and Daddy went out to the fields every day, even though they had all these workers now. That was why, even though Daddy kept hiring and expanding, both of Cicilia’s parents were determined to do their part.
Cicilia understood. She even was proud of how hard her parents worked and how much everyone loved and supported them as a result. She loved helping out, especially when Daddy took her along to his trades.
Me Daddy is so clever. He sells everythin’ just a wee bit cheaper than other farmers and makes so much more money than everyone else!
And now people were even coming from afar for the privilege of working for them! Oh, Cicilia knew that there were some people that her Daddy dealt with that he wasn’t supposed to. It was not a hugely significant matter, though. All grown-ups had their secrets, and Cicilia was proud to be keeping his.
Now there they were. Daddy and Mammy were both dirty and tired but happy. They ran to her, and all three embraced. It didn’t matter that they worked such long hours. It didn’t even matter that she’d been lonely.
“When we’re gone, Cicilia, this’ll all be yer’s,” her Daddy told her.
“Gone?” Cicilia asked fearfully. “Where are ye goin’?”
“Hush, Cam,” Mammy replied. “Dinnae ye worry, pet. Nae matter what happens, me an’ yer Daddy will always be with ye.”
“Promise?” Cicilia pressed.
“Promise,” both her parents said, over and over again, echoing in her ears. “We promise.”
Cicilia awoke with tears in her eyes, staring up at the ceiling once more. The birds were singing, but the dawn hadn’t fully broken, and the rooster wasn’t yet crowing.
That dream is always so bittersweet. I long to see me parents, but then I have to leave them all over again.
It was no surprise that she should have such a dream. After yesterday, no doubt, her father’s spirit was gazing over her in disapproval. To have lost such a large swathe of her livestock and be no closer the next day as to how it happened!
Sorry, Daddy. Dinnae ye worry. I’ll fix it like I always do.
And Alexander was going to help. This thought gave her pause, though quite different from the feelings she’d been having the previous night. Now, her mind was refreshed, not clouded with emotion, and able to focus on the individual parts of what she had to do.
No doubt, it was pleasant of Alexander to offer funds and to remain on the premises longer. Cicilia genuinely believed that he wanted to help. That said, he was still the Laird, and, no matter how kind, always a threat. He knew about her father now. He knew about the book.
An’ that’s only a quick skim through. Lord only kens what he’d do if he got some o’ the information in there.
She sat up, rubbing her eyes, and then slid quickly out of bed. A plain woven farm gown today, the kind she wore when she was working with the cows—it was the quickest way to be ready to leave the house.
Once Cicilia was dressed, she rooted under her bed until she managed to locate the book again. It wasn’t safe for it to remain here, not when Alexander knew where it was. No, she’d have to hide it somewhere on the farm.
The twin’s hidin’ place for their sweetmeats is in the stables. He doesn’ae like gettin' muddy, an’ what’s muckier than a horse?
Bundling the book in a shawl, she stole out of the house, only pausing once to peek in on the twins. They were still snoring softly, and Jamie had clambered into Annys’s bed for comfort. The scene tugged at Cicilia’s heart, but she didn’t have more than a few seconds to
spare on it.
When she got outside, the sun was peeking over the horizon, and the farm was slowly coming to life. It was still quiet, though, quiet enough, at least, that she was sure she could slip to the stables without anyone noticing and be back inside before the cock crowed.
Most of the horses were still asleep when she entered. However, the Irish Cob filly Alexander had ridden here snorted in greeting. Cicilia stopped by her stall to pet her nose, then turned her attention to the loose board at the back of the stable.
A Hellion for the Highlander: A Steamy Scottish Historical Romance Novel Page 10