“Perhaps I also prefer to tarry.” He said it with such a straight face, Senara couldn't help but laugh.
“Fine,” she conceded. “I'm Senara. If we're to be tarrying together, we ought to know one another's names.”
He gave a courteous nod. “Gavin.”
Gavin.
It seemed a good name for a man so beautiful.
Aye, he'd be a fine travel companion for the rest of her journey until it ended at Castle of Park and her new life would officially begin.
***
Gavin MacDuff had given only his name. Perhaps providing his full title would have seemed too pretentious a thing when Senara's lack of wealth was so obvious with her simple gray cloth gown and her tired steed.
It also may have had to do with the assumption she wouldn't care.
Gavin had rescued other women before. They'd all been grateful and eager to show their appreciation, especially after a shrewd assessment of his costly horse and clothing.
Though the lass had eventually remembered to thank him, she'd been ruffled at his interference.
“Ye've a fine sword on yer hip.” He nodded toward the leather-clad blade swinging beside the long line of her leg.
Her hand settled over the exposed hilt in a caring, protective gesture. “It was my da's. He was a knight when I was a babe, but the king dinna much care for him speaking his mind and took it all away.” She spoke of her father's loss of favor as if it were unimportant.
In a world dictated by the wealthy and the titled, her nonchalance offered a very foreign perspective.
Foreign and fascinating.
In fact, she'd never regarded his horse, or him, with the same assessing gaze other women did. Instead, she seemed to watch him with quiet observation. It made him wish he could see through her glass green eyes and into the sequestered thoughts beyond.
“He trained me with it when I was a wee lass,” she said. “Me and now my brother, Geordie.” She let her fingertips skim along the tops of the heather, leaving a ripple of purple flowers wavering in her wake. “They're why I came all this way.”
“And why is that?” Gavin asked with genuine interest.
Even Senara's posture was relaxed, as if she were without burden in her life. He envied her that.
No lairdship was stacked on her shoulders, no need for an heir pressing on her daily, no damn rejection to a marriage proposal to Colina MacKintosh.
Though it'd been a perfect match and could bring perpetual peace between their clans, her father had been adamant in his refusal without even listening to Gavin’s offer.
The very thought of it made his muscles tighten with frustration.
“My parents are without wealth.” Senara's soft voice broke through the ugliness of his thoughts. “I know my staying with them strains their stores. They never will admit it, mind ye, but I know I'm too old to be living with them. I've no wish to marry, and so I found employment.”
She glanced back at him with a conspiratorial smile. “I plan to save up all my coin to buy Geordie a knighthood.”
Knighthoods were expensive. Whatever type of employment she had aimed for would need to pay well to afford such a position for her brother. But he was not so crass as to bring up the impossible height of her lofty aspirations. The unfortunate ticking of time would handle it harshly enough.
“Why do ye have no wish to marry?” he asked.
She turned and looked at him. The sun shone behind her and lit her hair like a halo of golden fire. Her eyes were green as the leafy trees beyond and wide with the goodness of those who lived a country life. “I dinna want to marry because I'm no' in love.”
It was so easy a response, so light and innocently stated, he wanted to laugh. Instead, he hid his mirth with a wry twist of his lips. “People dinna marry for love.”
“I know.” She shrugged. “But they should.”
“Marriage is meant as a contract,” he pressed. “An agreement between two people for wealth or title, or even both.”
She met his gaze. “That's verra sad though, when ye think on it.”
A prickle of irritation raked over him. He, who had already been so disenchanted with his failed attempts to find his own suitable bride. He, who played by the rules as they'd been dictated.
He, whose hold on his lands died with him unless he had a legitimate heir.
The last thing he wanted was the wistful woman he'd just met to make him feel as though his choice in marriage was faulty.
“Are ye sure?” he asked. “What if ye could wed and have yer parents be wealthy and comfortable and yer brother in a knighthood? Would ye still no' marry without love?”
She nuzzled the rounded tip of her nose against the white patch of hair on her horse's forehead and tilted her head in thought. “I canna think I would if I dinna love him. My family is happy and has well enough for what they need. I can always buy a knighthood. But love...”
She spun in a circle, which sent her blonde hair fanning out around her. Her hands pressed to her small bosom and she gave a smile which parted her full, pink lips and revealed perfect teeth. “Love is too special to be bought no matter how much wealth ye have.” She shrugged her slender shoulders again. “Besides, it doesna matter.”
He frowned. “Why is that?”
Her grin turned playful. “Because I've no' anything to my name but Norbert and a sword. They're worth the weight of my heart, but I know my fortune. No man will marry me for anything but love.”
With a decisive smile, she began walking again. Castle of Park became visible in the distance, powerful and grand. Senara pointed toward it. “What would ye do if ye owned that castle?”
Gavin mentally ticked off the massive list of his responsibilities. “I suspect I'd ensure the staff was all paid and cared for while properly maintaining the people on the land.”
“Then ye'd be a good owner of the castle.” She nodded silently to herself.
“And what of ye?” he asked.
She gave a soft laugh. “No' anything as grand and right as what ye said. I was thinking if I owned that castle, I'd stuff vases full of heather in every room until the entire castle was near bursting with purple.”
He couldn't help but smile at the thought of her hurrying through the rooms with armfuls of heather. It was not so difficult an image to procure. “Ye'd need a lot of vases.”
“Aye.” She glanced over her shoulder at him. “Is that Castle of Park, do ye think?”
Her horse stopped and nipped at some tender bits of grass. “It is.”
Senara stopped as well and ran a slender hand over Norbert’s glossy brown neck. “Then I suppose our tarrying has come to an end. I'll be working there, as a lady's maid to Lady Edana.”
Gavin gritted his teeth.
Edana was his father's sister, the last of the family Gavin had left, and the only reason he tolerated the old woman. Age had left her bitter and hard. Were it not for his father’s dying wish for Gavin to keep Edana close and safe, she’d have been married off long ago.
But then Gavin’s father had never seen the side of Edana she showed the rest of the world. He’d harbored sympathy for her, stating life had dealt her an unfair hand.
“Do ye know Lady Edana?” Senara asked.
He nodded. “I do.”
Senara was too gentle to be subjected to his aunt. The lass could fight decently enough, but a sword wouldn't help against the cut of Edana's sharp tongue.
Senara ran her fingertips over the horse's chin where several scraggly white whiskers jutted from his velvety fur, and the beast resumed walking once more. “Do ye think she'll like me?”
His aunt would hate Senara - for her beauty, her vitality, her differing perspective on life, and her inability to be impressed by wealth - all the things Gavin found so curiously fascinating.
“I think ye shouldna worry about impressing her,” Gavin said finally. “She isna a woman easily won over.”
He'd hoped to dissuade Senara, but the set of her chin told him s
he'd taken his words, instead, as a challenge.
They began the short path toward the castle entrance, and Gavin found himself wishing to prolong their arrival. Senara was captivating and alluring. Even the way the light caught her loose golden hair, it was as if the sun itself were drawn to her.
“Were ye traveling to Castle of Park as well?” she asked.
“I was,” Gavin said. It was time to be honest on his position. He slid his gaze in her direction to gauge her reaction. “It’s my home and I’m its laird.”
A Ghostly Tale of Forbidden Love
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
USA Today Bestselling Author Madeline Martin lives in Jacksonville, Florida with her two daughters (AKA the minions) and a man so amazing, he's been dubbed Mr. Awesome. Madeline has an affinity for cat videos and wine memes as well as anything Scottish or rippled with muscle and wearing a kilt. She enjoys giving workshops and loves to help promo other authors. Make sure you check out her Facebook page every Friday when she features and gives away a book by a fellow author in her Free Book Friday event.
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