HISTORICAL ROMANCE: Scottish Romance: Scars of a Highlander (Highlander Alpha Male Romance) (Historical Fantasy Scottish Time Travel Romance Short Stories) (8 page)

The place was full of happy faces and the buzz of conversation and it kept Peter’s attention until his food arrived.

“You’ll love it.” Tilly said as she slid the plate of hot food over to him.

“Would you sit a moment?” Peter asked and then gestured to the free chair at the table.

“I’m working.” Tilly said with a shake of her head.

“I promise I won’t keep you long.” Peter insisted.

“My boss won’t like it.” Tilly said and shook her head again.

“You don’t strike me as the kind of girl who would care about such a trivial matter.” Peter said a little curtly.

“Well, I can assure you that I am.” Tilly said and her cheeks starting to blush with pink. “I need this job and I can’t afford to lose it just because some Duke wishes to speak with me.”

Peter didn’t say anything for a moment. He was surprised by the offense that was playing across Tilly’s face. He wasn’t sure what he had said to warrant it, but he wanted to find out.

“I didn’t mean to offend you.” He said quickly before she had a chance to walk away.

“I’m sure you didn’t.” Tilly said, but not in a forgiving way.

“I’ll speak to your boss should he have a problem.” Peter said and then he gestured to the seat again.

Tilly looked at it and then back to Peter.

“What could you possibly have to ask me about?” She asked him.

“Well, if you sit down then you’ll find out.” Peter said with a slight smile.

Tilly hovered over the chair for a moment and then decided to sit down. She waited for him to speak.

“Do you work in both the inn and the café?” Peter asked after a moment.

“Yes.” Tilly said and then she added. “As well as the mill on the weekends.”

“Why?” Peter asked her, a little surprised.

“For the same reason that every person works.” Tilly said as though the reason was obvious.

“Doesn’t it tire you out?” Peter asked because he understood her reasons.

“Should I sit out and beg because I feel tired sometimes?” Tilly countered quickly.

“I suppose not.” Peter said and then he took a second to recollect his thoughts. “So, you work every day?” He asked.

Tilly nodded. “Did you think that I took it easy?” She asked with almost a snort.

“I’m not sure what I thought.” Peter said.

“If you’ll excuse me, I really must get back to work.” Tilly said and then she looked behind her at the tables of dirty plates that were waiting to be collected.

“Might I ask you just one more thing?” Peter said as he watched her stand up.

“You just did.” Tilly said with a cheeky smile.

“Well, yes.” Peter said a little caught off guard by her quick wit. “Can I take you out to dinner tomorrow night?”

“Why?” Tilly asked with a confused face that was full of honest misunderstanding.

“You intrigue me.” Peter said.

“I’d like to have dinner with you very much.” Tilly said after a moment.

“I’ll have someone pick you up at eight.” Peter said and then he watched Tilly walk back into the mass of chores she was yet to finish.

He finished his breakfast quietly and then walked out of the café. She had been right. The food had helped to conquer the pain in his head and the sunlight no longer hurt his eyes.

She was in his thoughts though. She had been since she had walked up to him in the bar the night before, but now it was more than a simple annoyance. There was something about her that he couldn’t quite understand. It was like she was scratching at his curiosity, but he couldn’t quite reach the itch.

He walked back to his manner and thought about what he might say at the meal the next night. He was still unsure about why he had asked her. He knew that no good could come from his undeniable attraction to her, but still the urge to see her was too great, and he found himself for the first time in his life, a weak man.

******

The restaurant was busier than he had expected, and he could feel himself growing anxious over Tilly’s arrival. He had picked one of his favorite restaurants in town, but now that he was sitting in the fancy room surrounded by wealthy people, he wasn’t so sure that he’d made the right choice.

He thought about Tilly and what she might think. He hoped that she’d picked out something nice to wear. He hated the thought of people looking down on her because she couldn’t afford to wear silk out to dinner.

He could hear his fingers drumming against the surface of the table and he pulled his hand away. His eyes hadn’t moved from the door since he had arrived. He could feel his heart racing in anticipation and his brain scolding himself for being so drunk with folly.

The door opened and he saw the bright red curls that could only introduce one person. He stood and waited for her to walk over. She looked beautiful. She looked better than any of the other girls in the room. Peter’s worry had been about nothing, and he kissed her hand gently when she stopped at their table.

“You look astonishing.” He said and then he pulled her chair out for her to take a seat.

“Should that be taken as a compliment?” Tilly asked with a slight playful smugness on her face.

“I believe it should.” Peter said with a smile.

“I hope you weren’t expecting me to turn up in rags.” She said with a small gentle laugh.

“I wasn’t sure.” Peter said honestly.

“Well then, I guess I’m full of surprises.” Tilly said with a smile.

“Do you like the place I’ve chosen?” Peter asked her.

He watched as she looked around the room. It was one of his favorite buildings in London ,with its high arched roof and intricate wooden molding around the trim.

“Well, I’m unsure.” Tilly said after a moment.

“Why is that?” Peter asked with a look of confusion.

“Well, I was under the belief that we had come to eat?” Tilly asked.

“Your belief is correct.” Peter said with a nod.

“Then how should I know until I’ve tried the food? Surely I should be judging them on their standard of cooking and not on their location?” She asked with a glimmer of playfulness behind her eyes.

“I suppose you’re quite right.” Peter said with a stiff nod.

“The building is, however, beautiful.” Tilly said with a smile.

“Have you ever been to dine here before?” Peter asked her because he was sure that nothing was out of her reach.

“I can’t say as though I have.” Tilly said softly. “Although I have heard the food here is quite delightful.”

“I’m sure you will find it so.” Peter said.

“So might I ask what it is about me that intrigue you?” Tilly inquired.

“You might ask, but I’m unsure you would be happy with the answer.” Peter said.

“I’m quite sure I didn’t ask about its effect on my happiness.” Tilly said with a tilt of her head.

“But my manners still call for it not to be effected.” Peter said after a moment.

“I doubt your manners have anything to do with it.” Tilly countered him. She watched as he opened his mouth to speak, but she stopped him before he had a chance to make a sound. “You did after all question whether girls like me even bathed.”

“You heard that?” Peter asked as he thought back to the night that they had first met.

“I think most of the inn heard that.” Tilly said with a slight wrinkle of her nose.

“So, you suppose I have no manners?” Peter asked.

“I suppose you have manners for those you believe are worthy, however, that it isn’t truly having manners.” She said.

Peter thought about her words. “I suppose I must agree with you.” He said.

“So, assuming that you care about your manners now, that must mean that you have decided I am worth more than you had initially thought.” She said.

Peter shifted a little in his seat. He could feel himself growing uncomfortable underneath the pressure of Tilly’s gaze and his cheeks were starting to pink.

“I suppose you’re right.” He said eventually when he realized that Tilly wasn’t just going to let her observation slide.

“Might I ask what changed your mind?” She said.

“I suppose in a way nothing has changed my mind.” Peter said after a moment.

“I don’t understand.” Tilly said with a soft wrinkle of a frown appearing on her forehead.

“I’m not sure I do either.” Peter said.

He looked at her and tried to find the right words to explain. He was just as confused as she was. He had no right to be changing his mind about her because that would give him a place in his mind. She was looking at him, though with her big green eyes and softly freckled skin and all he wanted to do was to explain.

“I guess I just got you wrong.” He explained finally.

“I’m sure I should be very touched that you have admitted that.” Tilly said with a gentle smile that didn’t quite match the wild hair that surrounded her pretty lips.

“How does a girl like you end up without a husband?” Peter blurted out before he had a chance to stop himself.

Tilly looked at him for a moment. She looked startled by his sudden question and the familiarity that was required to ask it in the first place.

“I’m sorry that was rude.” Peter said quickly.

Tilly shook her head. “It’s fine.” She said and she gave him a reassuring look. “I grew up on the streets. I don’t have anything to offer and we both know that marriage isn’t built on love alone.” She said with a smile that Peter could tell was masking sadness.

“I suppose that’s true.” He said. “Do you ever hope to marry?”

“I think I can do quite well without a man.” Tilly said after a second of thought.

“I’m sure you’re right.” Peter said. “Would you care to go for a walk after dinner?”

“I should need a long walk to settle my stomach after so much fine food.” Tilly said with a smile.

*******

They walked alone in the darkness for almost an hour before Peter made the suggestion to head back to his estate. Tilly had been concerned with his intentions at first, but when he pointed out her shivering body and the blue tinge to her lips she agreed.

The smell of dust had lifted somewhat from the air when they walked through the doors, and the coldness that had met him on his first night home was nothing more than a memory.

Peter showed Tilly in to the study that he’d sat with George in not two nights before. The room was small but cozy, and the books that lined the walls had filled the air with the smell of knowledge and old paper.

“You have a lot of books.” Tilly said as she looked up at the shelves that filled the walls.

“I like to read.” Peter said with a smile.

“I’ve read very little.” Tilly admitted. “But I’ve liked the little that I’ve had a chance to read.” She added thoughtfully.

“You’re welcome to borrow any book of your choosing.” Peter said with a warm smile when he noticed the fascinated look in her eyes.

“I fear that might be a pointless endeavor.” Tilly said as she turned her attention away from the books and to Peter.

“And why might that be?” Peter asked her and then he walked over to the small chain of bells that would alert his staff to his need for attention. He pulled the bell and then turned back to face Tilly.

“I find little time to read.” Tilly said simply. “If I’m not working, then I think time is better spent sleeping or eating.”

“You’ve had this whole evening off. You could have spent it with a book.” Peter said and then the door opened and he informed the maid to bring in two cups of hot cocoa.

“I think this is perhaps, my first evening off in three years.” Tilly said after a moment’s pause. “Ever since I started working in the inn.”

“Well then, I’m very privileged to have had so much of your time.” Peter said honestly.

“Why did you ask me to dinner?” She asked him suddenly.

Peter didn’t say anything for a minute. He was unsure about what she wanted the answer to be. “I told you.” He said finally. “You intrigued me.”

“Enough to take me out to a place where you might get seen with a girl from the streets?” Tilly asked him.

“I suppose so.” Peter said.

“And what do you hope will come from this evening?” She asked him with her eyes holding firmly onto his gaze.

The door opened and the maid walked in with a tray. Tilly watched as she quietly put it down on one of the tables and then walked back out of the room.

“You should have thanked her.” Tilly said without waiting for Peter’s answer.

“I pay her and that’s thanks enough.” Peter said.

“Do you pay her extra to not poison you?” Tilly asked with a small, playful smile on her lips.

“What kind of question is that?” Peter asked.

“Do you?” Tilly pushed.

“Of course I don’t.” Peter said a little haughtily. 

“Then you should have thanked her for not doing so.” Tilly said.

“You really are a strange girl.” Peter said and he watched her intensely.