Tomas was very pleased when after the first few weeks, all of the Ruthven men had been trained in how best to patrol the holding to prevent raiders. That meant he, Drew, and Ethan no longer had to ride out at night and could focus on building each warrior’s skills. They were having mixed results with that and they retired early one evening to discuss it privately, gathering in Tomas’s room which was slightly bigger and contained a table and four chairs.

They had barely made themselves comfortable when there was a knock at the door. Tomas opened it to a serving maid, bearing a jug of wine, goblets, a plate of sliced apples, pears, and cheese, and what appeared to be a small loaf of nut-bread. It had always been one of his favorites.

“Moyna bid me to bring these up to you.”

“Thank ye, lass. Just put the tray on the table and please give Moyna my thanks as well.” Tomas felt a bit guilty. He’d wanted the opportunity to speak with Moyna alone, but the few times he’d tried during the day, there had been too many people around.

He knew the best chance he had of catching her alone would be to seek her out in the kitchen an hour or more after supper. By then, things would be cleaned up and most of the serving women would be gone. When Tomas lived here as a child, Moyna stayed in a small room off the kitchen. It had apparently been her home ever since her husband had died. Tomas doubted that had changed.

Unfortunately, when a certain green-eyed lass captured his attention in the evening, all thoughts of Moyna fled. He vowed to make a point of seeing her very soon.

“What’s made ye go quiet?” asked Ethan.

Tomas shrugged. “Nothing really. I need to try to speak with Moyna alone. She clearly remembers me and hasn’t said anything. She is surrounded by servants and occupied until well after the evening meal.”

Drew grinned. “And by that time, ye’re so enraptured with Lady Vida that ye forget the old cook even exists.”

“I’m not enraptured with Vida.”

“No?” asked Ethan. “Then do ye mind if I pay her court?”

Tomas scowled. Yes, he minded. He minded quite a lot.

“Cool yer temper, friend,” added Ethan. “I’m jesting. She only has eyes for ye anyway.”

Tomas shook his head. “Nay, that’s not true. We’re just friends. She likes to play chess and no one else is willing to lose constantly.”

Drew laughed. “Keep telling yerself that. But the truth is, she’s fallen hard and fast for ye.”

Tomas’s scowl deepened. “Nay, she hasn’t. At least, she’d better not have.”

“And why’s that?” Asked Ethan.

“Because she’ll get hurt. I don’t love her. I can’t love her. We aren’t staying here, remember? We leave in February, if not sooner.”

Ethan chuckled. “Tomas, ye care for her and ye’re deluding yerself if ye think ye don’t. There’s no question in my mind that she’s fond of ye. What’s more, her papa thinks ye hung the moon.”

Tomas rolled his eyes. “He might, but that doesn’t mean he’d want me to marry his daughter. And I sure as hell don’t want that bastard for a father-in-law. Nay, we have a specific mission. Bring the Ruthven soldiers’ skills up to a satisfactory level to ensure the clan is protected. That’s it. And to that, our plan tonight was to discuss what our next steps are—not the Lady Vida’s romantic notions.”

They did discuss their plans late into the night. They identified a handful of men who had been sufficiently talented to start with and who had already learned a great deal. These men had the potential to become the very best in the clan and Tomas believed it was most important to work closely with them to assure this. “When we leave, we must have a group of highly skilled men who can take over training and continue to build the other men’s skills.”

They also identified a few men who needed intense, focused training, or they would be a liability forever. Most of the rest were doing well enough with the training they were currently being given. Only after they had their next steps completely mapped out did they retire for the night.

When Tomas finally lay on his bed, he was exhausted and ready to sleep, and yet sleep eluded him. His mind kept replaying the things Drew and Ethan had said about Vida…she’s fallen hard and fast for ye…ye care for her and ye’re deluding yerself if ye think ye don’t. He couldn’t do this.

He couldn’t have her.

He didn’t want her.

As he thought about her sweet personality, her breathtaking smile, her enchanting laughter, and her sheer beauty, he knew instantly that thought was blatantly false. His increasing hardness told him he absolutely wanted her. He had never desired any woman so completely. But his desires could not be allowed to cloud his judgement. Vida Ruthven was not a woman he could have.

A very, very evil part of him whispered, what better revenge for the horrible things Ruthven had done than to steal his daughter’s innocence before returning to the Highlands? But he shut that down immediately. It probably would destroy Ruthven if he learned his former stable boy had despoiled his daughter. Nevertheless, the person most hurt would be Vida. Tomas could never allow that to happen. Why? Because Ethan was right, Tomas cared for her. More than that, he liked her. He enjoyed simply being with her. In fact, he looked forward to the time they spent together at meals, or playing chess in the evening.

He also admired her. She lost her mother at a very young age, but she had apparently managed to rein in her father’s temper from early on. He realized she now played the exact same role his mother had played in the clan. Only where Katherine could only protect others from Ruthven’s anger by seeing it directed towards her, Vida had the ability to calm her father simply with her presence. His mother would completely adore her.

But the fact remained he couldn’t have Vida Ruthven. As much as he desired her, he could not imagine staying here. Nay, it was out of the question. Still, perhaps he wouldn’t have to. Maybe he could talk her into returning to the Highlands with him. Laird Carr had even suggested that if the Ruthven garrison didn’t show sufficient improvement by February, Lady Vida should be removed to the Highlands for her own safety. Maybe, even if the Ruthven men had improved, Tomas could convince her father that they didn’t have sufficient skills yet and he would see the wisdom in sending her away. That could be the very sweetest revenge possible. By all indications, Ruthven had hated Katherine. He had no compunction about sending her to the Highlands in order to steal her lands and title. Maybe Tomas could take Ruthven’s beloved daughter away to the Highlands, leaving him with only the lands and title he so coveted.

Even as he considered this, he knew she wouldn’t go willingly. Just as his mother hadn’t wanted to leave her people. But there was no sense worrying about it now. He’d cross that bridge when he came to it. Maybe this would be possible.

~ * ~

Vida had been disappointed when Tomas and the other Carr men excused themselves from the hall right after supper. Playing chess with him in the evening had become the thing she looked most forward to every day. Tomas was funny and smart. He was an excellent chess player and he made the game truly a challenge. What he’d said about learning different things from different people was true. She had improved her own game by playing with him and he seemed to be learning from her. She had nearly lost several times, but she hadn’t been tempted again to throw the game. He liked that she challenged him. And she liked that she didn’t have to pretend with him.

Vida was quickly coming to realize there was much more to it than simply enjoying the game. She could no longer deny her growing attraction. She’d never experienced this before. When she was with him, it felt as if a flock of twittering birds took flight in her belly.

He didn’t treat her like any other man of her acquaintance.

Of course, she didn’t have much experience with other men. When in the company of lowland nobility, her father was never more than an arm’s length away. Oh, she had met many noblemen and she had no doubt that any number of them would have jumped at the opportunity to negotiate a betrothal with her father. But very few of them ever spoke a word to her other than a polite greeting.

Then there were her clansmen. To them she was always “Lady Vida.” They would never have spoken to her in anything less than a formal, respectful manner. She could at least have a conversation with Father Michael or her papa, but that was the extent of her experience with men.

Tomas MacHenry was another story entirely. He talked with her and asked questions as if he truly wanted her opinion. He would laugh with her and tease her. He made subtle innuendos that could make her blush even as the yearning to discover the things he hinted at burned inside her. He looked at her in a way that suggested he might desire her too and that made her feel beautiful.

She felt alive when she was with him in a way she never had before. To Tomas, she wasn’t a noblewoman to be treated with care, or a possible bride with whom a betrothal might be negotiated. She was a woman. A woman whose company he enjoyed and whom he found attractive.

As Emma had helped her get ready for bed that night, Vida was still pre-occupied with thoughts of Tomas.

“What on earth has you so distracted, my lady? You haven’t heard a thing I’ve said to you.”

“I’m sorry, Emma, did you say something?”

Emma laughed. “No, but that just goes to show how far away your head is. Or is it not so far away after all? Perhaps it’s upstairs with a certain handsome young Highlander.”

Vida smiled, knowing her face had gone red. “He is rather attractive, isn’t he?”

“Oh yes, Sir Ethan’s a fine specimen of a man.”

“Ethan? I wasn’t thinking about Ethan.”

Emma laughed harder. “I know you’re not thinking about Ethan. By the saints my lady, ’tis obviously Sir Tomas you’re pining for.”

“I’m not pining.”

“Nay? You’ve been down in the mouth all evening—ever since they retired early.”

“Was I that obvious? Does everyone know?”

“Everyone knows you like him. Except perhaps your father, and he’s too enamored with Sir Tomas himself to pay attention to what you think of our guest.”

Vida grinned. “Papa does seem to be rather impressed with him.”

Emma sobered. “Aye, he does. But Lady Vida, don’t get caught up in a fantasy. As much as your father likes him, he isn’t a nobleman and I suspect Laird Ruthven’s affection will fall short of allowing you to marry Sir Tomas. Besides which, the Carrs will only be here until February at the latest.”

“They could stay longer…”

“Nay, Lady Vida, don’t count on that. It’s fine to enjoy Sir Tomas’s company while he’s here, but don’t let it go further. In that way lies heart ache.”

“You worry too much, Emma. I know everything you say is true. I’ll be careful with my heart. I swear I will.”

Now Vida lay in bed, still thinking of her handsome Highlander, being anything but careful. She imagined what it would be like to be kissed by him, to be held close and loved. To marry him. She didn’t care what Emma had said, there wasn’t a man anywhere in Scotland who would be a better leader for this clan. If she could just get her papa to see that, she might have a hope. Surely, if Sir Tomas were offered a title and lands, he would consider staying here as her husband.

Emma was right about Papa, though. Sir Tomas, the warrior who was helping to train the Ruthven garrison, was worthy of the adoration of men. But where her hand in marriage was concerned, her papa wouldn’t be as accepting.

What was it Tomas had said about what his mother did when she wanted his da to see things her way? She makes him think it was his idea. She’s always called it ‘going around to the postern gate.’ That was it. Maybe Vida could find a postern gate and make Papa think it was his idea. She’d have to keep her eyes open.