Highlander's Trials of Fire
“If there is then I will make sure to tell ye about it.” She leaned back in the bench and continued to eat her sweet cakes. “I still cannae believe ye went to the village to get these for me. That is very sweet of ye.”
“Oh, ye think I did this because I wanted to be sweet?” he asked. “Nay, nay, I did this because ye will be doin’ somethin’ for me soon.”
She froze, save for her mouth which chewed much slower. “Which is?”
“Ye will be makin’ yer own sweet cakes for me.”
Jonet’s eyes went wide. “I—what?”
“Ye said ye would make them, didnae ye?” Matthew leaned forward. He was enjoying watching her grow flustered. They had fallen into a rhythm of easy banter, but now and again, Matthew obtained the upper hand and unnerved her.
“I did but…”
“Unless ye arenae as good as ye say ye are.”
Jonet narrowed her eyes. “Stop tryin’ to taunt me. If ye want me to make ye some sweet cakes, then so be it. I’m nae afraid of makin’ anythin’.”
“Afraid?” Matthew blinked confusedly at her. “Who said anythin’ about bein’ afraid?”
She only punched him lightly in his arm, making him laugh.
Talking to her like this made it easier not to think about what had happened, even though it lingered in the back of his mind. He knew it lingered in the back of hers as well, though she did well not to reveal it. He knew now that he should not have said anything. Telling her what happened only made things worse, made spiraling thoughts spring into her mind and bring her down a dark, dark hole.
Matthew did not want her to go down that hole, even though he was slipping down it himself. He still repeated the excuse he had told himself in his head, aware that it was losing its luster. As odd as it sounded, it had to be something like that. Otherwise, that would mean that Jonet had been right all this time.
He did not want to consider that possibility.
Chapter 13
Jonet had been praying all day and she did not think she would stop any time soon. Ever since Matthew had told her about his experience when returning to the Castle, she had been praying for his safety, even after he had managed to calm her down. She didn’t know how he managed to do it. Her hysteria had mounted to a place never seen before and he had managed to bring her back down to normalcy with a single kiss.
God, I am truly beginning to like him, arenae I?
Christal flicked the side of her head, making Jonet cry out. Jonet clutched the side of her head, looking at the cook in alarm.
Christal only pointed to the bowl Jonet was working on. “Why do ye always do this?” was all she asked.
Jonet looked down to see that she was already covered in flour. She gasped in surprise. She had only begun five minutes ago.
Christal shook her head, looking very amused. “I cannae hardly believe how little ye’ve changed over the years. I would think that makin’ so many mistakes over and over again would force ye to take yer head out the clouds and focus on what ye’re doin’ but alas.”
“Sorry,” Jonet mumbled. Suddenly aware that she had touched her head, she realized she must have flour in her hair as well. She had to look like a sorry sight.
Thankfully, Matthew was not in the Castle. He had gone with her father, Dougal, and Jonathan to hunt for tonight’s dinner, leaving Jonet with the time to make the sweet cakes she had promised him.
If only she could get herself together.
Christal touched her arm, looking worriedly towards her. “Are ye all right, lass? It looks like ye have somethin’ on yer mind.”
“I have always had somethin’ on me mind,” Jonet tried to joke, wincing a little when it fell flat.
“Nae like this, ye daenae,” Christal complained. “Come. Sit and tell me all about it.”
Jonet allowed her to steer her over to the stool that she would always sit on. “I may only be overthinkin’ things but…”
“If it is botherin’ ye this much, then I daenae think it’s as much nonsense as ye claim. Now stop beating around the bush and tell me what’s gotten ye like this. Does it have to be with yer new betrothed?”
“We’re nae betrothed,” Jonet protested. “We only happen to be courting’.”