A Love to Discover (Loving in the Highlands 2)

He looks back at me. We stare at each other for a few minutes, without saying anything, and do not even realize that Forba and Anabel have finished laying the table, and nearly all the clan members have already arrived into the dining-room to have dinner.

The dinner is indeed delicious. It is not that I have helped with the preparations, but it is really tasty, for which I am very glad. Calem lets me know immediately that he loves the dinner and that he has never eaten such a delicious dinner before. I smile and resume eating.

I keep looking out of the window, and when the sky is starlit enough, I suggest Calem that we finish the dinner and go to the tower.

'It is a good idea,' he agrees, and we get up. We are not the only people who have finished eating, so it does not seem awkward that we leave the dining-room.

'At last, it is time to go to the tower,' I say excitedly, as we walk down the semi-dark corridors. 'The sky is very beautiful at this time of the day, and the tower makes it look even more magical. The inside of the tower is usually empty, so we can have the area all to ourselves,' I add, chuckling.

'Well, it will be fascinating to share that solitude with you, lady Elsie,' Calem says in his deep voice, and it sends pleasant shivers down my spine.

I turn to the right-side corridor, where the first set of spiral staircase is. We start going up the stairs silently, and only our footsteps are heard. My heart races, as I start thinking, what if the tower is not empty, and there are other people there? What if the clan members also want to see the night sky and are spending the evening there? Well, in that case, we will have to leave the tower in a minute and get out of the castle to enjoy the night sky from the outside.

The second flight of stairs starts. No voices can be heard from the tower. At last, we reach the top and enter the tower. It is empty.

'The view is fascinating,' Calem says softly, walking up to the edge and looking up at the night sky that seems like it is scattered with sparkling dots.

'I love coming here often, just to enjoy this view,' I say in a low voice. I do not know why, but both of us are speaking softly, almost in a whisper. Whatever the reason, it is so pleasant to hear his soft voice and to know that we are alone here.

'I would also love coming up here often if I lived here,' he says. 'Especially with you.'

His hand finds mine and holds it gently. I stand mesmerized, unable to move or to say anything. I let him hold my hand. I realize that he is leaving the castle early in the morning tomorrow, and these moments are going to be last memories that I will have with him.

'Elsie,' he says gently, now holding my hand with both hands, 'I like you a lot.'

I take a deep breath. I do not know what to say. Well, I am brave, but I have no idea what to say in those situations, mostly because this is the first time that I am in such a situation.

'Elsie, I know that you feel good when I am around,' he says. 'I know that you like to spend your time with me. And it makes me hopeful.'

I am still silent as a fish, only trying to steady my breathing, so that he will not realize that my heart is racing now.

'I will miss you,' he whispers, taking both of my hands into his own hands and giving them a gentle squeeze. I try hard not to look into his eyes, as I am getting a bit scared. I do not want to fall in love with him, as it will be painful to see him go, so I just get utterly interested in the starlit night sky and stay silent.

The rest of the evening is spent by silently looking at the sky. I do not know how long we have been standing here, watching the sky, holding hands in silence, but I am sure it was a good hour or two.

Calem

I watch the dawn from my bedroom window. I have not slept the entire night, thinking about Elsie. Yes, I admit to myself that I am in love with her. I cannot believe that the time passed so quickly, and that it is almost time for me to go. I am ready to go, except that my heart is not ready. My heart does not want to leave behind the love that it has found at last. My heart does not want to leave a part of it in this castle. I will miss her so much.