“Even when I’m with you?”she asked, clearly flustered but somehow managing to keep it under control.
“Nay, I’d keep ye safe,”Ryan said, something dangerous flashing in his eyes when he met her gaze. “But ye daenae seem to like it when I act as a beast, and I can assure ye that if anyone were to put ye in danger, that’s precisely how I’d act.”
Margaret wentsilent for a moment as if weighing his words. Then, she murmured, “Well, I don’t think I’d complain if you were behaving that way to keep me safe. I simply don’t like it when you behave that way to rile me up.”
“Ach, ye’re nay fun, Sassenach,”he complained. “Ye ken I like teasin’ ye. Ye’re cute when ye’re angry with me.”
“Ryan!”she hissed, pointedly looking in the opposite direction but failing to hide the way color rose to her cheeks. “Is that any way to treat your wife?”
“Aye,”he said, only to be rewarded by a barrage of stuttering from the woman. “I think it’s me job to get under yer skin.”
She huffed,remaining silent as they passed through the castle gates. Ryan lifted a hand to one of the guards in greeting. As they continued toward the doors, Margaret’s back straightened out, and she held herself with confidence befitting of the lady of this castle.
“Why wereye and Cali out there?” he asked. “She said ye were on a walk, but couldnae ye have explored inside the gates?”
“We could have,”Margaret admitted. “It was my idea to go to the trees. They were so beautiful from my window, and I want to paint them. Since I didn’t have paints, I thought that going to see them up close would be a productive use of time.”
“Ye paint?”
“I do,”she said, sniffing slightly. “I wouldn’t say I’m particularly skilled, but I enjoy it.”
“Then I’ll makesure to get ye some art supplies,” he declared. “Perhaps that’ll keep ye from wanderin’ off and screamin’ because ye saw a harmless animal.”
“I didn’t knowwhat it was at first!” Margaret exclaimed, immediately lowering her voice when she realized that they’d entered the castle. “But… I would appreciate some paints and aneasel. It would be nice to have something to pass the time while you’re busy.”
“Are ye sayin’ye miss me when I’m workin’?” Ryan asked, grinning down at her.
“No,”she said immediately, removing herself from his grasp. “I just don’t have much to do when you’re not antagonizing me.”
Before Ryan could reply,she turned on her heel and scurried down the corridor. He shook his head, unable to temper the youthful affection that swelled in his chest.
That woman kenshow to keep me on me toes.
19
Sleep didn’t come easily for Margaret that night. Nor had it the night before when sharing a bed with the Laird had kept her too tense to rest. Yet tonight, it was a different kind of energy that kept slumber out of reach.
For the firsttime since arriving at the castle, Margaret felt like she truly had something to look forward to. The young deer that she’d met earlier in the day was such a welcome surprise, and the fact that Ryan knew of a place where they congregated was exciting. She was giddy like a child the night before her birthday.
She held her breath,turning to her side. Her eyes refused to stay closed. As she sucked in air, she tried to ignore the twinge in her shoulder. For nearly an hour now, she’d been rolling from one side to the other. If she could only stay still, she might have some hope of successfully succumbing to sleep.
Her resolveto keep herself in her current position lasted only a few more minutes. As slowly as she could, she shifted ontoher back. Burrowing deeper into the mattress, she stared at the ceiling.
“What’s got ye movin’around like that?” Ryan asked, his voice thick with exhaustion and tinged with annoyance. “Why are ye nae sleepin’?”
“My apologies,”Margaret said, feeling a bit chastised.
Sharing a bed is such a bother.I was trying so hard not to bother him, yet he knew I was awake anyway.
“Ye daenae need to apologize,”he said, scrubbing a hand over his face. “But ye didnae tell me why ye arenae sleepin’.”
“There’s no real reason,”she admitted, rolling onto her side to face him. “It’s just… well, I suppose I’m not all that tired. I keep thinking about the clearing you told me about and the deer that are there.”
“Ye’ve really taken a likin’to them, havenae ye?” he sighed, clearly not expecting a reply.
“Perhaps since Ican’t sleep, I should go back to my chambers,” she suggested, already scooting to the edge of the mattress. “I wouldn’t want to bother you.”
“Nay,”Ryan growled, grabbing onto her wrist. His grip was firm but surprisingly gentle. “I already told ye we were to share a room.”