The Highlander's Servant: Book One of the Highlander Possession Series (21 page)

             
“Nay,” Kirstin was becoming aggravated by her mother’s responses, “I love him.”

             
Mrs. Croft, in all her fury, marched up to Kirstin and tugged on her arm for emphasis, “No, ye donna. Yer too young to ken what love is.”

             
Kirstin yanked her hand away from her mother, “Are ye telling me I donna love the man? Then, why does my heart beat for no other?”

             
“Because,” Mrs. Croft said through clenched teeth, “Yer naïve.”

             
Kirstin glared at her, her eyes folding over into a glare, “Nay, Ma. I am no longer that innocent child anymore. I have grown since I last saw ye and it seems ye have failed to notice. Mayhap we donna all change for the better, because ye surely have no’.”

             
A huff of air left Mrs. Croft, and her shoulders tensed when Kirstin had insulted her. With her nose pointed in the air in a conceited way, Mrs. Croft replied, “The only one that has changed for the worse is ye. Yer judgment is swayed by what only ye ken, and no’ what I ken. In time, my daughter, ye will understand.”

             
As Mrs. Croft made to turn around and leave, Kirstin was left asking, “Will I?” but it was said with an obstinate tone.

             
“Aye, ye will.” Her mother said in a little more than a whisper, and then left Kirstin alone with her confusing thoughts.

             
She took a seat in a chair, within the foyer and pondered her mother’s actions, Davie’s earlier words, and her own conflicted thoughts on whether or not she has changed for the better. Of course, Kirstin very well knew that she was changing in maturity and individuality, but was it really for the worse, as her mother had so blatantly put it?

             
Surely not, for she still felt the same. She still felt like the Kirstin she was only months ago. The only difference was that she could think and act for herself, and no longer have to be told to do things. Perhaps she was not as bad as her mother had made her out to be?

             
Then why had her mother been so persistent in her ways?

             
Then, Kirstin wondered if Mrs. Croft actually knew something she did not.



              “Lachlan?” Kirstin asked, knocking on the door to his study. Silence answered her and she hesitated slightly before opening the door anyway.

             
Roderick and Lachlan were talking, but in hushed tones. They stood by his desk, facing one another. Kirstin chose to leave after she saw the laird and his squire speaking, but when she was about to turn around only then did Lachlan call out to her.

             
“Are ye all right, Kirstin?” he asked.

Kirstin met his eyes with her own, “I was hoping to
speak to ye about something.”

Worry etched his brow, “What about?”

She warily looked to Roderick who was also waiting for her answer, and then she replied, “My mother.” At that very moment, Roderick’s eyebrows raised and Lachlan’s furrowed.

Roderick spoke next, clearly not thinking over his words, “Aye, well she is something worth talking about.”

This time it was Kirstin’s eyebrows that furrowed, “Why do ye say that?”

Lachlan’s arms crossed as he glared at Roderick, who whistled lowly and then said, “I am no’ the one to say, but the laird here,” he motioned to Lachlan, “would be more than wiling to give ye such an answer.”

Then Roderick left, chuckling under his breath with knowing that he had made Lachlan infuriated. After the door shut, Kirstin approached Lachlan and stood where Roderick had.

“Lachlan,” she said cautiously, “What is Roderick
speaking of?”

Lachlan sighed, taking a seat at the chair of his desk. He put his elbows on the desk, balancing his chin on his hands, “
Yer mother,” he began, “Doesna want us to marry.”

Kirstin watched him as she thought over his words, and then took a seat across from him, “I ken that, but I
donna ken why?”

Lachlan frowned at that, “I have my suspicions but I
donna think ‘tis the best time to tell ye.”

“Please Lachlan,” Kirstin begged; reaching her arm across the desk that separated them. She reached for his arm and put a calm hand against it, “What suspicions?”

“Nay,” He said suddenly, “I promised myself I wouldna tell ye until the timing is right.”

She took her hand back, as if he had hurt her
, and even though he had not physically, he did emotionally, “Why canna people no’ tell me anything?” She said this more so to herself, but her tone of voice was conflicted and angry.

“Mayhap,” Lachlan replied anyway, “
’Tis because people donna want to hurt ye.”

Her eyes snapped up to his in a glare, “And
yer no’ hurting me by keeping things from me?” The question was rhetorical, but she continued by sarcastically saying, “Aye, because that makes sense.”

Lachlan’s frown deepened, “I am only trying to keep ye innocent for as long as I can.”

Kirstin snorted, uncaring of how unladylike she may appeared to be, “I am no’ as innocent or ignorant as I first was when ye came into my life, Lachlan. Running into ye that day in the market was only the beginning of my tainting, the ultimate disintegrating of what purity I may have had. It seems that all I have left is my dignity, and it seems that ye have lost yers.”

“Kirstin, I-“ Lachlan began, looking more alert and utterly shocked by her response.

              “Nay,” she interrupted him, “Donna say anything else, for it will only hurt me more in the end.”

             
Lachlan was about to say more despite her reasoning, but Kirstin held her hand up and shook her head. She got up from the chair and abruptly left, making sure to slam the door as emphasis for her frustration.

Chapter Twenty-Six

That night, as late as it was, Lachlan could not lose himself to sleep. He found himself repeating Kirstin’s words in his head, over and over again. His skin lacked her touch, as his arms remained empty of her small body. Lachlan needed Kirstin’s warmth, and he needed her forgiveness.

             
Without caring about the late hour, he slipped out of his chambers and down many hallways. He knew that Kirstin would be in the room he had originally given her; despite the many nights she had spent in his own.

             
He spared no thought as he pushed open the door, the one boundary that separated them, because he wanted to be anything but separated from her. With long, smooth strides, Lachlan closed the distance to the bed from which she slept.

             
Lachlan hummed her name as he lay down next to her, and took in her soft curves against his strong grasp. He hummed her name again, and only then did she begin to wake.

             
Slowly, she opened her eyes to look up at her beloved, “Lachlan?”

             
“Aye.” He confirmed, pulling her close against him. It was only partial satisfaction, because he was still emotionally absent from not gaining her forgiveness. Nevertheless, he placed a kiss against her temple and whispered, “I canna sleep, for I find myself in yer debt. I have wronged ye in keeping things from ye, but I wish for ye to ken that ‘tis in my best interest to keep ye innocent of what hardships ye may encounter in the future.”

             
“’Tis okay, Lachlan.” She said groggily, “I have accepted the fact that I am no’ supposed to ken. It doesna bother me as much anymore. Now,” She placed a hand to his sturdy chest, “let me sleep.”

             
Lachlan was silent for a long time, and then he broke the silence when he heard the faint beat of Kirstin’s heart, “I only wish ye were mine since the beginning.” He murmured, pressing another kiss to her temple, “Goodnight, my love.”

             
It took several more minutes for Lachlan to fall asleep. He had so many thoughts racing through his mind, and when sleep did find him, even then he was not at peace.



              “Lachlan.” Kirstin spoke, her voice warm and soft, “Alana has invited me to go into town with her. Can I?”

             
He had rolled over in the bed to see Kirstin already dressed and ready for the day. She was bent down to one knee at his side of the bed, her eyes more than hopeful. It took a long moment for him to process her question, and then he replied, “I will go with the both of ye.”

             
A bright smile touched her lips, “I canna thank ye enough!”

             
She missed the faint smile that he gave, and he said more so to himself, “Then donna thank me.”

             
Kirstin had gone after that, so that Lachlan could return to his chambers and get ready. She met Alana down the stairs and in the foyer, “Good morn’.” She greeted the older lady.

             
Alana nodded in acknowledgement, “And good morn’ to ye.”

             
Kirstin beamed, “I have a friend ye may take a liking to.”

             
“Do ye now?” Alana said, “And who might this friend of yers be?”

             
Kirstin blushed a deep crimson, “Well, I so happened to come upon her when I ran away, but her name is Vanora and she is almost as motherly as ye.”

             
“Oh, I am motherly now?” Alana laughed light heartedly, “I have always been told I am a cheerful, protective woman.”

             
Kirstin looked up at her, her face still flushed slightly, “And so is Vanora which is why the two of ye would make the best of friends!”

             
Alana grinned, “Then I may have to meet this Vanora of yers.”

             
“Aye,” Kirstin agreed, “Ye will.”

             
At that moment, Mrs. Croft came towards them, “Where are ye both going so early in the morn’?”

             
Alana answered for Kirstin, “Why, we are going to the market at this time, so that we can get all that is needed for the day’s upbringings.”

             
Then Kirstin added, “Would ye care to join us?”

             
Mrs. Croft thought it over but with little thought, for she quickly agreed to go with them. Just when she had done so, Lachlan came down the stairs, dressed casually in breeches and a white linen shirt.

             
“Ye did no’ tell me that he was coming.” Mrs. Croft sneered in the direction of Kirstin. Alana shrugged at that, “Ye better take a liking of each other for there is still much time ye have to spare to one another.”

             
Kirstin smiled at the way her friend so easily defended her.

             
“Shall we take off?” Lachlan asked. Everyone had agreed except for Mrs. Croft who walked on with firm lips.

             
Alana chatted the entire way, as she was very excited for the extra company. When they arrived at the market, Lachlan did not leave Kirstin’s side. Together, they watched Alana and Ewan flirt so openly, and Lachlan finally said, “I willna be surprised if they marry.”

             
Wide eyes met his scrutinizing ones, “What do ye mean?”

             
“Canna ye see it, Kirstin?” Lachlan said, tearing his gaze away from the old couple and looking down at Kirstin, “They are in love.”

             
Kirstin looked back at the old couple that had joy in their eyes and smiles on their faces. Something seemed to glow about them, especially Alana who was talking with a faint blush on her cheeks. Kirstin wondered if that was what love looked like. Then she wondered if Lachlan and her looked like that.

             
She looked down at their intertwined hands, and when she gazed upon his dark eyes, she felt a smile grace her lips. Surely, they must have looked as happy as Alana and Ewan.

             
“Will ye allow yer head servant to marry?” Kirstin asked him.

             
Lachlan nodded slowly, “How could I no’? I am no’ fate, nor should I try to control it. I believe that they are meant for one another, therefore when the day comes, I will give Alana her leave and she will be allowed to do what she wishes in life.”

             
As if a thought had struck Kirstin, she warily looked around the area and said aloud, “Where did my mother go?”