Wake Me With a Kiss: A Fairy Tale Retelling (Regency Fairy Twists Book 1) (4 page)

“We shall see,” Aunt May said vaguely. “Good day to you, my laird.”

Instead of looking affronted by Aunt May’s rather rude dismissal, he
merely seemed amused. Rose scrabbled to save the situation.

“I am sure we would be delighted.”

His eyes crinkled in amusement. “Would ye indeed? I’ll look forward to it
then. Good day, Mrs. Merriweather, Miss Merriweather.” He bowed and they
dipped.

She could not help but watch him confidently swagger down the garden
path toward the route through the woods. He must have asked about them to
discover where they lived. Did he know the tales of their reclusiveness? Did he
think them mad?

“Aunt May, did you not like the laird? You were not at all your usual
self.”

Her aunt shrugged. “I liked him well enough, but he is a bit rough. I’m
certainly not used to having a highlander in my house.”

“We should be honored he asked us to dinner.”

“And we can be honored, my dear, but we cannot accept. Whilst your highlander
friend might have few airs and graces, everyone else in attendance will, and
you know we have no place dining with them.”

Rose sighed. She should not care for people who thought them beneath
them, but she could not help but be curious. What would it be like to be at
dinner with all these grand people? Listening to them converse and watching
them dance? She would dearly love to experience it.

Once Hamish had vanished out of sight, Miss Taylor approached. “Mrs. Merriweather,
will you look over the menus for the week with me? I need to let the delivery
boy know what we need.”

Aunt May nodded. “Of course.” She glanced at the house as tendrils of
smoke still seeped from the door. “We had better do it in the garden.”

Rose grimaced. The house would smell of smoke for weeks. It was odd
because she could not remember Mrs. Shaw ever burning anything.

“I shall just rescue my menus, Mrs. Merriweather. I’ll be but a moment.”

“Perhaps you can read in the garden, Rose,” her aunt suggested. “It is a
little breezy but far better than sitting inside the house at present.”

“Yes, I suppose I shall.”

Rose followed the housekeeper in. The acrid scent of smoke lingered in
the air. Miss Taylor turned, making Rose pause.

“Why do you not see if you can catch up with the laird? Perhaps offer
him an apology?”

Rose frowned. “Aunt May will be furious. She doesn’t like him for some
reason.”

“She is merely being protective.” Miss Taylor squeezed her hand.
 
“She has yet to realize you are a grown
woman, Rose, and you need to discover the world.”

“I hardly think running after a highlander is discovering the world.”

“No, but it’s a start.”

She considered this. Why she wanted to see him again, she did not know,
but she was not keen on leaving things as they were. Perhaps it would be a good
idea to run after him and apologize for her aunt’s behavior and the disaster
that occurred today.

“Will you keep Aunt May busy?”

Miss Taylor offered a secretive smile. “That was my plan.”

Rose beamed at her. “Thank you!”

“Hurry up, now. He’s got long, strong legs. You’ll need to be fast to
catch up with him.”

Rose tried not to think too hard about those long, strong legs as she
hastened down the path and into the forest.

It was hard to keep
the smile from his face as Hamish considered Rose’s stumbled apology for her
aunt. That’s what it had been—a desperate apology. Interesting how she had been
keen to make up for her aunt’s cold behavior. After all, she had been happy to
see the back of him a few days ago. This time, however, she had been civil. But
there was more to it than that. She had met his gaze with bright interest. When
he had looked at her, she’d blushed but she had held his gaze. That bright zing
of sensation he had felt when he’d touched her seemed to linger in the air
between them.

He brushed a tree branch aside and continued along the forest path at a
leisurely pace. His plan was to visit again in a few days. Hopefully there
would be no more disasters. Either the cook was a terrible one or something
strange had been going on. From what he had gathered so far, most aunts and
mothers were keen for the nieces and daughters to meet him—after all, he was
now a laird—but this Aunt May, however, was entirely different. He had the
sneaking suspicion the burnt bread had been deliberate. It would have been very
hard to create so much smoke without intention.

So why was this aunt so keen on keeping him away from her niece? Did he
think he would scandalize her? He would have to do his best to prove he was not
just a rough highlander.

“Hamish!”

His heart came to a standstill. Was he hearing things?”

“Hamish! I mean.…my laird…”

He turned and his grin expanded. Rose barreled toward him, her hair
still wild and streaks of dirt on her gown. He wondered if she had realized
there were streaks upon her cheek and forehead too. She could have no idea how
much he longed to lean forward during his audience with her and her aunt and
wipe the dirty marks away with this thumb.

“Hamish is just fine.”

She sucked in a breath. Clearly she had run after him. He could not help
but be flattered she had run all this way to catch up with him.

“Is all well?”

“Yes, of course,” she said breathily. “I just…I wanted to apologize for
my aunt’s behavior. We are not used to visitors.”

“Och, I dinnae mind. I’m no’ that used to paying visits myself.” He
motioned back in the direction of her house. “Should I walk ye back?”

She shook her head. “My aunt is occupied and I have little intention of returning
to the house just yet.” She giggled. “It’s not exactly pleasant.”

He chuckled. “Indeed.”

“It was…” She coughed. “It was very kind of you to pay us a visit.”

He shrugged. “As I said, yer my neighbors. It seemed the thing to do.”

“How did you find us?”

“I asked around. It wasnae hard to discover where the pretty fair-haired
lass was.”

Color spread up her face. She looked to the ground.

“I’ll admit I was curious about the lass who had given me a telling off
for being on my own land.”

The heat in her cheeks fairly burned. “I did not know who you were. You
caught me off guard,” she protested.

“Aye, as did ye,” he said softly. “Well, I am glad to make yer acquaintance
properly, anyway.”

“And I.”

“I had intended to invite ye and yer aunt to dinner at the castle before
yer cook decided to burn the house down.”

She frowned. “Yes, that was very unlike Mrs. Shaw. She’s normally so
careful.” She peered at him. “You want us to come to dinner?”

“Of course. As I said, I dinnae know many people around here and as a
main landholder, it’s my duty to get to know the local families.”

“I’m not sure many think of us when they think of the local families. If
you asked about us, you probably know we are considered…well…”

“Reclusive?”

“Yes.”

He would not mention that a few people had embellished their tales when
he had spoken with the villagers about them. Some said her aunt was simply mad.
Others had said Rose was a lost princess, tucked away in the woods for her own
protection. Someone else had inferred the aunt had rescued Rose from a murderous
father who had killed her mother and run away to Scotland. None were
particularly plausible, but he liked the idea of her being a hidden-away
princess. She would make a good one, he decided.

“My aunt is protective,” she explained. “She is normally such a lovely
woman and I am endlessly grateful to her, but I imagine she saw you as a
threat.”

“I cannae blame her. I would be protective of ye if ye were my niece
too, and I dinnae exactly look like a gentleman.”

“No,” she agreed.

He didn’t think to take insult at that. Not when she glanced him over
and the stain on her cheeks darkened. Was he a fool for thinking her dislike of
him had travelled the same journey that his own feelings had? That she was
wildly curious about him and wanted to get to know him more? The fact that she
had come after him gave him hope.

“Have ye lived with yer aunt long?”

“Since I was a baby. My parents died in a carriage accident only a few
days after I was born. Apparently I was thrown clear or something, so I
survived. She moved her household here, mostly because it was too painful for
her to stay I think.”

“A blessing indeed, though I am sorry for your loss.”

“I feel sad about it but I never knew them, so it is hard to feel a
loss. Aunt May has been wonderful to me and I have lived a blessed life.”

“She must be a remarkable woman.” He held aside a branch, and he had to
admit to standing closer than he needed to when she brushed past. The subtle
scent of soap teased him, and he ran his gaze down her figure. A tiny tremor,
barely noticeable, ran through her body.

But he noticed it. He noticed everything about her.

“Aunt May has the biggest heart. And of course, Mrs. Shaw and Miss
Taylor have done their part in helping raise me. I think myself lucky to be
surrounded by such loving women.”

He nodded. “Ye are indeed.”

She turned her gaze on him, and he had to wonder why he’d ever thought
her eyes anything other than beautiful. Her gaze seemed to reach down inside
him and tug at his heart.

“What of your family? Do you have any that will come to live with you at
the castle?”

“My father died in battle, and my mother died a few years ago. A few
scattered family members are all I have left.”

“I am sorry.”

“Dinnae be. I am well-used to being alone.”

“You mentioned you were a soldier.”

“Aye.” He plucked a leaf from a nearby tree and began to pick it apart. “Had
I not inherited the lairdship, I would have continued fighting.”

“Do you miss the fighting?”

“In a way.” He gave her a tilted smile and flung the leaf away. “Does
that seem strange to ye?”

“Not at all. If it is all you have known for some time, it can be hard
to have your life change so quickly.”

He peered at her. “Yer a canny lass.”

Rose laughed. “I am not so sure about that.”

They stopped at the edge of the forest. Whether she was as aware they
were about to step onto his land as he, he didn’t know, but it felt like an
immense weight crushing down upon him. Yet it was not wholly unpleasant. It
made his heart quicken and his breath fast.

“I should probably return before my aunt misses me.”

He looked toward the sloping roof of the castle, just visible over the
brow of the hill. “Aye. Are ye sure I cannae walk ye home?”

“No, but thank you.”

She looked up at him, some question in her eye. What next, perhaps. Or
when will I see you again? Those were the questions rolling around in his mind.

“I shall call on ye again soon. I must begin to organize the work at the
castle but I shall come by, I swear.”

Her smile expanded. His heart stretched. This woman could never lie or
hide her feelings. They were written far too clearly on her face. She wanted
him to come and visit again.

“I—my aunt and I will look forward to it. Hopefully the smoke will have dispersed
by then.”

“I hope so.” He dipped his head. “Good day, Miss Merriweather.”

“Good day, my laird.” She dipped and turned away. He would watch her
until she vanished into the woods, greedy to see her for as long as he could.

Her foot caught on a branch as she turned, and he grabbed her arm to
steady her. She let loose a startled sound and before he had quite understood
what he had done, he had her in his arms.

“Rose,” he murmured, looking down into those eyes that held him
spellbound.

Her lips were parted, her gaze searching his. He was powerless to do
anything other than drop his head and brush his lips gently over hers. His
heart thrashed so wildly in his chest, he feared it might burst. She gave the
tiniest sigh and when he drew back, her eyes were still closed.

He held her until she opened her eyes and her soft gaze was enough to
have him grinning foolishly at her.

“I had better return.”

He nodded and released her. “I shall see you soon.”

Her answering grin before she vanished into the woods was enough for him.
He knew well enough that she too would be thinking of that kiss every day until
they met again.

“Are you humming
again?” Mrs. Shaw asked as she pummeled the dough into submission.

Rose glanced up from glazing the pastries. “I did not think so.”

“You were. I never took you for a hummer.”

She had never been, not until recently. Not until after that kiss. Three
days had passed and there had not been a single morning when she hadn’t woken
up and recalled it. It had been the briefest brush of his lips against hers and
it had been…well, perfect.

Underneath that steely highland exterior was a caring man, she was sure
of it. Not that she minded the exterior. He was utterly unlike every gentleman
she had ever read about or briefly met. There was no pretense. Hamish McTavish
was a rough, tough soldier with a good, solid heart. She suspected he would do
very well as a laird, particularly if the gardener’s praise of him was correct.
Apparently many of the tenant farmers were quite pleased to have a man who was
willing to listen to them and break bread with them in charge.

Not to mention his heroic act of going into the house to rescue Mrs.
Shaw.

The cook still would not talk about that day. Rose supposed she was embarrassed
about burning the bread, but surely she had to admire the way Hamish ran into
the building to find her.

Miss Taylor’s footsteps echoed on the servant’s staircase, and she entered
the kitchen and paused. “She’s humming again.”

“I just told her as much,” the cook replied.

Rose hoped she wasn’t blushing. When she glanced at the housekeeper, she
noted her knowing smile. Miss Taylor would likely approve of a budding romance
between her and Hamish. She had asked her if she had managed to catch up with
him and had nodded approvingly when Rose had told her Hamish would call on them
and ask them to dinner.

But would Aunt May agree? If Rose even mentioned the laird, her aunt
changed the subject. Was it simply his rough exterior that was the problem or
something else? Did she really not trust her niece to make the right decision
regarding him?

Not that Rose was sure of the right decision, but all she knew was that
she had to see him again.

“Miss Rose…” Mrs. Shaw started, drawing her attention to the pastry in
front of her.

“Oh.” Rose had been brushing on the yolks so absently that she had
soaked the dough and it had lost its shape. “Oh dear. Sorry, Mrs. Shaw.”

“You are terribly absentminded, Miss Rose. Is there something worrying
you?”

“Not at all. I promise.”

Miss Taylor bustled past them. “Our Miss Rose is right as rain, are you
not?”

“Of course I am.”

There was clatter from upstairs. “Sounds like your aunt has returned.”

“I will be but a moment. I hope she has the book I requested.”

“More Highland history?” Miss Taylor asked, her voice utterly devoid of anything
mischievous but her eyes glinted. Surely Rose was blushing by now?

Removing her apron, she washed her hands and followed the housekeeper
upstairs. When they entered the entrance hall, Rose came to a standstill. The
breath vanished from her, along with perhaps a lot of her blood, which dropped
down to her toes. She felt a little faint.

Her aunt beamed up at Hamish, who had her arm tucked through his.

“Mrs. Merriweather?” the housekeeper said.

“Will you put some tea on Miss Taylor? Hamish shall be staying for some,
will you not?”

He smiled, turning his gaze onto Rose. “Of course. I would not think of
leaving you at such a time.”

“Such a time?” Rose asked, finally finding her feet and stepping
forward. His gaze lingered on her and dropped to her lips. Goodness, her stays
were tight. He had to be remembering, surely? It was as though unspoken words
whooshed
through the air between them.

I remember.

So do I.

I want to kiss you again.

I want you to kiss me again.

“Hamish was quite the hero,” her aunt gushed, leading him through to the
drawing room.

Rose followed them and perched herself on the sofa next to her aunt.
Once more Hamish’s frame filled the small chair and, she was sure, threatened
to snap the delicate thing in half. He would require very sturdy furniture at Baleith
Castle.

“Hero?” Rose repeated.

From the way her aunt smiled at him, she had to wonder if she had not
awoken in a dream. What had happened to the cool woman who had practically
thrown the man out?

“I was coming out of the chandlery,” Aunt May explained, “and I had my
basket full of candles. Before I knew it, some young urchin shot by and pulled
the basket clean from my arm.”

“Goodness, were you hurt?”

“Only mildly.” She motioned to Hamish who did his best to look bashful,
bringing a smile to Rose’s face because bashfulness really did not suit a man
of his stature. “Hamish here saw what had happened, leapt on his horse, and
dashed after the boy.” Her aunt drew a breath. “Goodness, I feel all
lightheaded when I think about it.”

Rose patted her aunt’s hand. “What happened to the boy?”

“I had a stern word,” Hamish said. “He’ll be doing a little work for me,
as I dinnae think he’s a bad lad. Just desperate.”

“That was kind of you, my laird.”

“Needless to say, he got quite the clip around the ear and a good
telling off. I dinnae think he will be causing trouble again, not if I can keep
watch over him.”

“It seems you did my aunt quite the favor.”

He lifted a shoulder. “Not at all. I did what any man would.”

Aunt May shook her head. “And yet no one else did. You leapt into action
without a moment’s thought.”

“Ye forget I trained as a soldier, Mrs. Merriweather.”

“Nonsense. Your actions were a mark of your character.”

Surreptitiously, Rose gave herself a tiny pinch. She bit back a yelp.
Yes, she was certainly awake and Aunt May was certainly mooning over a highlander.

“I am only glad to be of service.”

Miss Taylor entered the room with tea and biscuits. She placed them on
the table to the side and retreated with a quick smile toward Rose. Miss Taylor
was far too observant. Did she notice how Hamish kept looking at her? How she
kept returning the look? Aunt May did not, thank goodness, though it certainly
seemed as though she had changed her opinion of him. Maybe it would not be so
hard to gain her aunt’s approval of a courtship after all.

That was if he wanted to court her.

Aunt May served the tea. Rose had to mask a giggle at the sight of the
tiny china cup in Hamish’s large, capable hands. She took her own cup and
squeaked when it nearly tipped upon her—entirely her own fault, of course, for
not concentrating. She was far too clumsy sometimes.

“Did ye finish yer business in town, Mrs. Merriweather?”

“I did, thankfully. I was quite shaken after that incident so I am
grateful you saw fit to escort me home.”

“I wouldnae have abandoned ye at such a time, and I’m glad I have the
chance to take tea with ye.”

“And without any burnt bread this time,” Rose put in.

“Aye, no burnt bread.”

Her aunt fingered the empty cup in her hand. “Yes, that was…well, our
cook is normally so careful. Let me assure you that will never happen again,
Hamish.”

Hamish.
Rose smiled to herself. One heroic moment and he was
no longer
my laird
, said with an air
of disdain. Now he was Hamish, said with warmth.

“I am grateful to see ye again, Mrs. Merriweather,” he continued. “I was
hoping to invite ye and yer niece to dinner at Baleith Castle.”

“Oh.” Aunt May stared at her cup.

“There will only be a handful of guests, but I’m told it’s the done
thing for the laird to host a dinner every summer.”

“Yes, Laird Malcolm did make it a tradition,” Rose said. Though they did
not usually attend, in spite of being invited.

“I should very much like yer company.”

“Well, I…” Her aunt pressed her lips together. “Very well. It is only
one dinner after all.”

Rose had to pin herself to the seat to prevent herself from leaping upwards.
Inwardly, she grinned from ear to ear. Outwardly, she kept a polite smile on
her face, catching Hamish’s eye every now and then. Aunt May dominated the conversation
with talk of the conservation of the castle and the new fabric she had
purchased today. Hamish was enthusiastic about the castle and did an admirable
job of listening to her aunt’s plans for the fabric and her previous projects.
Rose herself could hardly summon a word. In her mind, she was already at the
castle, dressed in her finest gown, eating dinner next to Hamish, then perhaps
dancing with him.

And another kiss. In her fantasy there was definitely another kiss.

“Well, I had better leave ye ladies for the day. I’ll send a formal
invitation shortly.”

He rose and they followed suit.

“I must thank you again for your help,” Aunt May insisted.

“Yes,” Rose agreed. “Thank you so much for helping my aunt. It could
have been a grave situation indeed without your assistance.”

“Not at all.” He smiled into her eyes, setting her aflutter. “Good day,
ladies. I shall look forward to seeing you at my house next time we meet.”

Rose felt as though she must have been holding her breath until he’d
left. Taking in a long breath of air, she tried to quell the butterflies in her
stomach. Butterflies? No, make that jackrabbits. Bouncing around in excitement.
She would actually get to go to a formal dinner at the castle…and she would get
to see Hamish again.

“Thank you for accepting the invitation, Aunt May. I know you do not
like dinner parties.”

Her aunt tilted her head and smiled. “I just pray I do not regret saying
yes.”

“Why would you?”

“We are not one of them, Rose. You know that.”

“One of whom? I have never been given the chance to find out.”

“The people attending will be noble. Some titled. All with far more
riches and graces than us. I hope you enjoy it, I really do, but…”

“You fear how people will treat me.”

“Of course. You are only young, Rose. You have never seen the cruelty of
the world.”

Rose eyed her aunt, searching her grey eyes for answers. “And you have?”

“Too many times,” her aunt said mystically. Her slightly sad smile
stretched. “I am sure you will have a pleasant time regardless. Hamish is not
the sort of man to let his guests go neglected.”

“No, I am sure he is not, and he does not seem to have any false graces.”

“Indeed. In fact, he is quite the gentleman.”

“Aunt May, would I be correct in thinking that you like that man?”

Her aunt pursed her lips. “Perhaps.”

“And that you maybe thought him too rough before?”

“Something like that.” She tilted her head. “But even an old woman can
be wrong once in a while, can she not?”

Rose laughed and embraced her. “Of course you can, Aunt May. Of course
you can.”