The moment that she touched him, Archer’s skin felt like it was awash in lightning. Heat rushed through him. And, if the way color rose into the apples of her cheeks, he would swear that she felt it, too.
“What do ye mean that willnae do?” Archer asked.
She tugged on his hand again, and he was entirely too curious to figure out what it was she was trying to do to fight her off. He allowed himself to be dragged to his feet, towering over her once he stood.
Emilie’s blue eyes blinked up at him, and for the first time since he’d walked into the dining room, a smile was tugging up the corners of her mouth.
“Ye’ll see,” was the only answer she would give him.
She dropped his hand, and Archer felt the loss of her touch immediately. Emilie only threw a quick glance over her shoulder, an expectant look on her face, before she turned and strode from the room.
Archer hesitated for the briefest of moments, wondering if he truly wanted to do this.
Did he want to follow after his wife? To give in to whatever whim she was having at the moment?
The answer was a quick and resoundingyes.
Whatever the reasoning, Archer did want to follow her. He wanted to understand more about why she had questioned him about his children. He wanted to experience more of her when she had dropped the facade of her brain being filled with nothing but jests.
Plain and simple, Archer wanted to take the chance to know just a little bit more about his wife.
He didn’t wait any longer. With quick, powerful strides, Archer followed after his wife.
She led him down the familiar hallways, and before long, he was able to piece together exactly where they were headed.
Emilie stopped in front of a large door that had been cracked. The sound of the tutor, Meredith, speaking drifted from just beyond it.
Emilie threw a glance over her shoulder, no doubt making sure that Archer really had followed her, before turning and putting her hand on the door. She did not spare him any additional explanation as she pushed it open.
“Good afternoon,” she breezed, walking in the middle of his children’s lessons.
Meredith’s words cut off mid-sentence, turning her attention toward the door.
“Can I help ye, me Laird?” she asked hesitantly, dipping her head a bit respectfully in his direction.
But it was Emilie, not Archer, that answered.
“Thank ye so much for showin’ up today,” she said, her voice filled with friendliness as she drew the other woman’s attention directly to her. “But we’ll be takin’ the twins out for some learnin’ outside. Ye’ll be dismissed for the rest of the day, with full pay for the session.”
Meredith’s eyes left Emilie long enough to flick over her shoulder and land on Archer.
His skin chafed against the sensation of being told what to do, of his staff being dismissed without his approval. But the feeling wasn’t nearly as strong as the curiosity at what Emilie was up to that was bubbling inside him.
Archer gave Meredith a nod, a silent confirmation that what his wife was saying was true. The tutor dipped her gaze again, turning to the twins and giving them a bright smile.
“It appears our lessons are done for the day,” Meredith said, giving them a broad smile. “Yer faither will be takin’ over from here.”
The twins shared a look, like they so often did. It was something Archer had noticed about them when they were incrediblyyoung, their ability to have a conversation without a single word ever passing between them.
They were doing that now, talking without words. And he couldn’t help but wonder what they were thinking.
Whatever Emilie has in her mind, remember to keep yer distance.
The reminder went through him like ice, and he hid his hands behind his back and clenched them into fists. He would give in to this curiosity surrounding him about his wife and see this day through.
But he must be careful not to get too close. He was already toeing a line he typically didn’t dare get close to. So, Archer would keep himself in check as they went about on whatever excursion his wife now had planned.
Meredith began packing her things, and slowly, hesitantly, the twins turned their attention to where Archer and Emilie still stood.