“I’m so sorry,” she gasped, trying to right herself.
“Stretch yer legs and do what ye must,” Gabriel said as the door opened for her. Elena shot out of the carriage like a bullet from a rifle. Gabriel chuckled as Jacob popped his head into the carriage.
“And how was last night?” Jacob asked as he wagged his eyebrows.
“Quiet,” Gabriel answered in hushed tones. “How much further till the castle?”
“I can have ye there in a few hours if ye’d like,” Jacob answered.
“Nay, prolong it as long as ye can, but when we do get there, remember, yer my eyes and ears on her. I’ll want to know where she goes about the castle, her favorite foods, her hobbies. Everything ye can get for me. But be-”
“Aye,” Jacob said, patting Gabriel on the shoulder. “Discreet. I ken and I will. But are ye sure yer tricks will work on her?”
“Last night she dreamed of me,” Gabriel said, glancing around Jacob to ensure Elena was nowhere within earshot. “If my plan works, she’ll be craving not only my company but me as well.”
“And then happy ever after,” Jacob said with a huff of dissatisfaction.
“Life is nay happy ever after. A man must work, as well as a woman. I daenae think she has worked a day in her life. But, I think in a few months she’ll come accustomed to it and appreciate all she has a bit more. Ye ken, make the wine a bit sweeter.”
“Do ye want me to take a loop around the loch again?” Jacob asked. “It’ll add another day to yer trip.”
“Nay,” Gabriel answered as he leaned back and shooed Jacob away the moment he spied Elena. “She’s smart. She’ll ken we’ve gone in a circle. But find a way, aye?”
“Aye,” Jacob said with a chuckle as he stepped aside allowing Elena back into the carriage.
“Are ye nae goin’ to stretch yer legs too?” she asked as she climbed back in and settled in the seat.
Gabriel kept his eyes on the book in his hand and shook his head. “Nay. If yer ready, we can continue.”
“Tis a lovely day,” she said, her voice falling as she spoke. “Would hate to let it pass by without seein’ it fully.”
“The sun is up, the birds are out, and all is well, is that it?”
“Aye,” Elena said with a pinch of ire. “If ye daenae like it, fine but ye cannae make me nae enjoy the moment.”
Gabriel closed his book and straightened in his chair. With his eyes boring into her, he forced his face to remain as stone. “Yer more than welcomed to be any which way ye want to be. I, however, daenae have time to frolic in the fields like a school girl or pick flowers. If ye’d like, I can leave ye here wit’ a few of the men and send a coach back for ye.”
“Ye wouldnae dare,” she hissed as she crossed her arms over her chest, glaring back at him. The coldness in her gaze eased as Gabriel rapped on the roof once more to start the journey again.
“When we get to the castle yer more than welcome to do as much or as little as ye like,” Gabriel said, opening his book.
“And what is it ye’ll be doin’?”
“Well,” he said, drawing his eyes to the brooch on her chest. A smile played on his lips a moment as he admired the fact she wore his family’s crest so close to her heart. “There are several tasks I’ll have to work on and of course tendin’ to clan matters. The work of a Laird is never complete,” Gabriel answered.
Just ye wait, my dearest. Yer life is just gettin’ started.
Chapter 11
“Doyou ken when we will arrive?” Elena asked as she noticed the sun dipping into the tree line. Long shadows stretched across the ground. She couldn’t help but ponder over the distance between her family’s land and Gabriel’s. She had been told the journey wouldn’t take more than a few days, yet the ride seemed to drag on.
“Suppose we will arrive when we arrive,” Gabriel said nonchalantly. His tone grated on Elena’s nerves. She exhaled out all her frustration. Although she wished she could get out of the carriage and move around, the more they stopped the more time she would have to spend in Gabriel’s company.
“Do ye think we will get there for dinner?”
“Are ye hungry? I can have the carriage stop and go huntin’ for ye. In fact that is a great idea. We should stop and have a bite.”
“Nay, that is alright,” Elena said, throwing her hand out. “Let us keep going for a bit longer. The night has nae yet come and I’m certain we will arrive soon.”