Chapter 8

8

B raden was surprised to find himself enjoying the morning with Roselyn. He had been glad to see her affection for the dog, who had been his companion for quite a few years – he had been the reason he had come back, actually. Apollo was a good and faithful friend, and to see Roselyn fondling his ears and smiling at him brought Braden pleasure.

He had feared the Duke's daughter would be too cautious to appreciate the affections of a dog, but it seemed Apollo had brought out her lighter side, and as they sat on the rocky outcrop, looking out across the glen, Braden could not help but feel pleased to be in Roselyn's company.

What a beautiful smile she has, and the way she sits - so composed, as if for a portrait. Though if she thinks she can make me speak, she'll be surprised.

Roselyn was merely doing what others had tried, and failed, to do before. In the village, his adopted parents had tried to coax speech from him, and the local priest had sat for many hours, forming words, and trying to get Braden to repeat them.

"Ye can do it, Braden, just say the words," he would say, but despite his gentle patience, Braden had kept his promise.

He could not speak. No, more than that, he would not speak, and no amount of coaxing, cajoling, or threatening, would make him do so.

"I'm sure we can find a way to practice the words – the basics, at first. Just one word, then another, then another. Oh look, what's that over there?" Roselyn asked excitedly, as they sat gazing out at the view before them.

Tis' only yer lips I see, he thought to himself, for as she had formed the exaggerated shape of the words, the only thing on his mind was what if would feel like to kiss her.

But his thoughts were distracted by Apollo, who was chasing a butterfly and barking. Braden liked to bring Apollo up here. From this vantage point, he could see across the full extent of his lands.

His jurisdiction extended from one end of the loch to the other, and beyond the high mountain pass to the moorland, stretching almost to the sea in the west. But it was here, at the top of the long, winding path he liked to sit, and it was rare for him to bring company.

Roselyn was different though, and he had wanted to show her a sight he knew she would find impressive.

One word – I'll never utter another word, lass, he thought to himself, shaking his head.

The thought of speaking no longer came naturally to him. He could not imagine uttering a single word, let alone holding a conversation. He could communicate perfectly well without the necessity of words, and he had Kenna and Calder to speak for him when something more nuanced was required in speech. They understood him, and, in time, he felt certain Roselyn would, too.

"But I want you to teach me the signs you use with Kenna. I want to talk to you as they do," Roselyn said.

Braden nodded.

I'd like that. I'd like to speak to you, he wanted to say, and he pointed at the dog, making the sign he used to refer to Apollo.

Roselyn repeated it, and Braden nodded. She was a fast learner, and it did not take long before he had taught her the signs for everything they could see around them – the trees, the mountains, the path leading back down the hill.

"And what about the sun?" Roselyn asked, pointing up into the sky.

Braden made a circle with his fingers, and extended his hands to indicate the brightness, and covered it to indicate clouds. Roselyn nodded, and now she signed all the things she had learned, beginning with Apollo. It pleased Braden to think he had taught her something, even as he knew she would not be able to teach him in return.

Tis' far harder to learn to speak than to make signs. Especially when ye daenae want to.

Roselyn was kind, and his sister's intentions were honorable, but Braden had no desire to speak, and no intention of making himself do so. After they had named all the things around them, and Roselyn had repeated the signs several times, they made their way slowly down the mountainside, following the course of the path, with Apollo leading the way.

As they continued down the mountainside, they came to a place where a stream ran across the path. It was dry now, but there were days when it was impassable, and the water gushed so heavily as to cover the rocks.

Should I show her the waterfall?

There was a waterfall around a curve in the stream, where the water flowed over a cave opening back into the rock. It was a place where Braden often went, hidden away, and the only place he ever allowed his voice to be heard. There, behind the gushing flow of water, he would speak, his words echoing all around him. Only Kenna knew of the cave – though she knew nothing of what Braden did there – and now he beckoned Roselyn to follow him, still allowing Apollo to lead the way.

"Where are we going?" she asked, as they clambered along the edge of the stream.

Braden turned to her and smiled, pointing ahead, and making the sign for rain, which he hoped was obvious for her to understand.

"There's no rain," she replied, furrowing her brow, but Braden shook his head, and now the waterfall came into view, gushing over the rocks, as Roselyn let out an exclamation of delight.

"Oh, it's beautiful, Braden," she said, hurrying forward and standing on a large rock, where the spray created rainbows in the sunlight streaming through the canopy above.

Bathed in this spectrum of light, she looked truly beautiful, and Braden watched as she twirled with her arms open, enjoying the coolness of the spray.

She's certainly a bonnie creature. I wonder… should I show her the cave? he asked himself, but decided not to.

The cave behind the waterfall was the only place he allowed himself to speak. There was a ritual to it, and it was the only place he could truly express the thought and words in his heart. He had found it quite by chance, and the first time he had spoken into the cave had been a remarkable revelation.

"I'm nae afraid of ye," he had said, voicing the words he would speak in his dream, if only the stranger's face was revealed.

"I've never seen anything like it," Roselyn said, and now she slipped off her shoes and sat down on the rock to bathe her feet in the crystal-clear water.

Braden sat next to her, and he, too, pulled off his boots and put his feet into the water.

"I hope you're not going to throw yourself in again like you did yesterday," she said, and Braden smirked, cocking an eyebrow, challenging her.

Why? Would ye like to see me without my shirt and breeches again, lass?

Braden could have sworn Roselyn could read his mind, because she blushed and looked away from him.

But Braden was content to sit next to her on the rock, watching as Apollo leaped into the water. As he emerged, he shook himself off, causing Roselyn to let out a cry.

"Oh, Apollo, really, did you have to do that? I'm all wet," she exclaimed.

Her dress was soaked, and Braden could see the outline of her figure beneath the material. She had a slender figure and small, petite breasts. His eyes lingered as he imagined what it would be like to hold her in his arms.

Daenae think such thoughts. What would she say if she knew ye were thinkin' that? he scolded himself, even as part of him enjoyed the prospect.

He had been surprised not to find Roselyn married or betrothed, and he wondered if she, too, was surprised at his lack of attachment. Braden found it hard to talk to women. Signs were useful, but for the cultivation of romance, something more was needed.

His position as laird had meant the occasional tryst was forthcoming, and there were women amongst the clan who did not require words to show their affection. But as for making a true romantic connection, Braden often found himself at a loss. It was not that he did not wish to be betrothed, to marry and have children. As laird, he knew his duties well enough. But the matter of finding the right woman had so far eluded him.

"I'll have to use my shawl to dry myself with. Where can I go?" Roselyn asked, and Braden pointed to his eyes across the water, promising not to look if she was to remove her dress in his presence.

She nodded, and Braden turned away, listening to the rustle of her dress. But as he turned – and he assured himself it had not been by design – he realized he could see Roselyn's reflection in the water. She was taking off her dress to wring it out, and in the stillness of the pool by which they were sitting, he could see her outline perfectly revealed.

His eyes grew wide, and he could not help but stare. She was, as he had imagined her to be – slender. Her back was turned to him, and he could only admire how her figure became a little wider around the hips. She used her shawl to dry herself off, stretching out her arms in the sunshine, as Braden forced himself to stop watching.

She's a bonnie creature, make nay mistake, he told himself, aroused by the sight of her naked form.

"I'll have to put the dress back on wet. It won't dry properly, but it's not far back to the castle, is it?" Roselyn said.

Braden shook his head, not daring to turn to her, even as his eyes remained fixed on her reflection in the water. She was beautiful, and he imagined what it would be like to take her in his arms, to hold her, to kiss her.

"You can turn around now," she said, and Braden turned, cursing himself for blushing lightly at the thought of what he had seen.

What fortune brought me such a sight, he said to himself, even as he would never purposefully have spied on her.

"Are you all right? You're quite flushed," Roselyn said, as Apollo bounded past her and leaped back into the pool, shattering the mirror stillness of the reflection.

Braden nodded, and Roselyn took several steps back, shouting at Apollo not to splash her again. Braden clapped his hands together, and Apollo swam to the edge, clambered out, and promptly jumped up at Braden, who was immediately soaked to the skin. Roselyn laughed.

"It's your turn now," she said, and Braden smirked.

His tunic shirt was soaked through, and he pulled it off, not caring if she saw the scars on his body. To his satisfaction, Roselyn blushed, and her eyes still on his torso as they walked towards the path.

Aye, I'll let ye look, he thought as they left the waterfall behind and made their way through the trees.

The sun was at its midpoint, and Braden was hungry as they reached the castle. The guards at the gate saluted as they passed, and as they entered the courtyard, Kenna came hurrying to meet them.

"He didnae make ye walk all this time, did he?" she exclaimed, glowering at Braden, who shrugged.

"No, no, not at all. We had a delightful time – we walked up onto the ridge, and then your brother showed me a waterfall. We even had time for a short lesson, too," Roselyn said.

Kenna looked at Braden in surprise, and he shrugged again, signing to her as she spoke.

"You are a fortunate favorite – he shows nay one his waterfall. But… ah, he's sayin' an honored guest should be shown the very best places," Kenna said, and Braden nodded.

He had enjoyed the company of Roselyn that morning – more so than he had expected. Braden had seen a different side to his guest.

"Well, I'm very grateful to you. And to you, Apollo – though you got me rather wet," Roselyn said, patting the dog's head.

If only I could make her wet too, Braden said to himself, trying to hide his arousal at the thought of Roselyn's reflection in the pool. Apollo barked. He was hungry, too, and thankfully enough to distract Braden, who called him to follow them into the keep.

Aye, a very pleasant day, he thought to himself, the lingering memory of Roselyn's reflection imprinted on his mind.