Cassian (The Immortal Highland Centurions #2) - Jayne Castel Page 0,35
nodded. “He leads the Dunnottar Guard.”
The steward’s wife gave Cassian a long, appraising look as he approached. Aila stiffened; it wasn’t a look she’d dare ever give a man.
Cassian didn’t appear to notice Fyfa’s sultry gaze. Instead, his attention was riveted on her companion. “Aila,” he greeted her brusquely. “What are you doing outdoors at this hour?”
“Fyfa was giving me a tour of the castle,” Aila replied with a shy smile. “Stirling is bonny by torchlight. We’ve just been to the Nether Bailey.”
“It’s not safe for two women to go wandering about,” he replied, casting Fyfa a narrow-eyed look.
“I’m Hume Comyn’s wife,” Fyfa replied, holding his gaze boldly. “We are perfectly safe, Captain.”
A little of the tension upon Cassian’s face eased at these words, although his expression remained stern. “All the same … I think it’s time I escorted Aila back to her chamber.”
“Of course.” Fyfa’s mouth twitched as if she was repressing a laugh. “We are done with the tour now.”
Not wanting to appear rude, Aila turned to the steward’s wife. “Thank ye so much, Fyfa … I enjoyed that immensely.”
The young woman dipped her head. “I shall see ye tomorrow, Aila.” She cast another lingering look in Cassian’s direction. “Captain.”
He nodded, but remained silent, waiting while Fyfa picked up her skirts, turned, and made her way up the steps into the keep.
Once she disappeared inside, Cassian turned to Aila. “Have a care, Aila. We aren’t amongst friends here.”
The disapproving note in his voice made Aila tense. She’d been happy to see him, but didn’t appreciate being treated like an errant bairn. “I’m aware of that,” she replied stiffly. “But I wasn’t tired, and Fyfa offered to show me the castle.”
“Come,” he grunted. “Let’s get you back to your chamber.”
Together, the pair of them made their way inside the keep, past the helmed English soldiers who stood guard at the entrance, and across the hall beyond to the stone stairwell that spiraled up to the floors above.
“Where are ye residing while we’re here, Captain?” Aila asked. The silence between them made her uncomfortable, and she missed the easy camaraderie they’d experienced on the journey.
“Just down the hall from you and the others,” he replied, his tone gruff.
Aila frowned. His mood seemed dark tonight, and she suspected that her behavior wasn’t the reason for it. “Ye seem preoccupied,” she ventured. “Is anything amiss?”
He cast her a glance, his gaze shadowed. Side-by-side, they began to climb the stairs. “De Keith has a mouth that could sink ships,” he muttered. “During the banquet, he managed to insult Edward.”
Aila’s mouth thinned. She was torn between admiration that the laird had the courage to do such a bold thing, and concern that he might actually go too far and put them all in danger.
“And Longshanks? Did he bite?”
“Apparently, he’s not fond of that name … so I’d say it softly if I were you.”
Aila swallowed a laugh. “Really?”
“Yes, across the border he’s fondly known as ‘the Hammer of the Scots’.”
Aila’s step faltered, and she nearly tripped. Cassian caught her by the arm and pulled her up, saving her just in time.
For the barest instant, their bodies collided, and Aila felt the iron strength of his muscular frame against hers. But then he shifted away, and the moment was lost.
“I see the name shocks you too,” he observed, his tone wry now.
“How arrogant he must be,” Aila breathed, “to call himself that here.”
“Oh, he’s arrogant,” Cassian replied. “And clever too. De Keith needs to watch his step.” He paused then before injecting a note of censure into his voice. “As do we all.”
They reached a landing and passed by yet another pair of English guards before entering the long hallway leading to the guest chambers. Small, oil-filled cressets lined the grey stone walls, illuminating the hall in a lambent light.
As she walked past Lady Elizabeth’s door and then Lady Gavina’s, Aila was acutely aware of the tall man who walked at her side.
Reaching her own door, Aila turned to face Cassian.
They were completely alone, for the first time since he’d come to her rescue that day on the stairwell.
Heat rushed through Aila when she tilted her chin to meet his gaze and discovered that he was watching her. The cresset-light played across his tanned skin. It highlighted his high cheekbones and the flecks of gold in his hazel eyes.
The moment drew out, and Aila’s chest tightened. The tension was almost unbearable, and so she softly cleared her throat. “Will Edward meet with De Keith again