“That’s very kind of you to say.” Cara folded her hands in her lap, fighting the urge to twist her fingers together. “But that’s not all of it, as I believe you know.”
Niamh rolled her lips together, leaning even closer. “It would go a long way toward securing the betrothal to be able to hold Sitric’s hand or hug him when he walks into a room—as that is just how he greets those closest to him. But don’t force yourself into situations that make you truly uncomfortable. Don’t change yourself until you lose sight of who you are.”
“Thank you,” Cara replied. That was just the trouble, though. If only someone had offered her that advice five years ago before she’d ever met Torna. Once he entered her life, he crashed through it like a storm, ravaging everything within her until he blew away entirely. By then, Cara could hardly remember who she’d been before, let alone remember how tobethat person again.
When she’d sat with Diarmid, it felt as though a piece of that girl, the one she’d been before everything changed, fell back into place.
Chapter Fourteen
“Who’s ready topractice being incredibly uncomfortable?” Diarmid asked with a grin, rubbing his hands together as he strode into the hall.
Niamh giggled, shaking her head at his antics. “As much as it pains me to admit it,” she said, turning to Cara, “there’s none better to teach you to be charming than our Diarmid.”
“Hey!” Dallan poked his head inside from the door behind Diarmid to glare at his betrothed.
Niamh shrugged, then hurried over to give poor Dallan a goodnight kiss. “I’ll leave you to it,” she whispered, disappearing into her room.
“Finn and I will be wandering about the grounds,” Dallan told them. “Sitric took Illadan, Cormac, and Broccan down to the alehouse to try to win them over to his plan. If he comes back, we’ll signal you.” Without waiting for a response, he quietly shut the heavy oaken door.
Diarmid joined her in the seating area, this time sitting opposite her. He reclined in the chair, looking much like a wolf trying to pass as a dog. Even at rest, his powerful build and relentless charisma created a formidable presence. “So, how did it go?”
“You were there.” Cara knew it was a sharp reply, especially for someone helping her, but she felt the need to put some distance between them.
For the briefest moment, she could have sworn his face fell. But then that grin returned, mischievous as ever. “I meant how did you feel about it? Did you feel that practicing it here with me prepared you well enough to endure it with our gracious host?”
Cara raised an eyebrow. “Endure?”
“It would be unfair to hold anyone to my standards of charm, obviously.”
“Obviously.”
“Good, then we agree. Now,” he began, “we have two things that you should probably practice, and you’re going to loathe both of them.”
“Perfect,” she replied tartly. “What do you propose?”
“Since we’ve made some real progress with physical contact, we need to work on conversation. Do you know much of teasing and bantering to endear your partner? Or of hinting at intimacy?”
“What do you think my mother taught me of courtship? How to seduce a man, or how to impress him with my knowledge of domestic affairs?” Cara couldn’t believe she was even having this conversation. This wasn’t the sort of thing anyone was normallytaught. Normal people simplyknewhow to do all these things. Not as well as Diarmid, she grudgingly admitted, but well enough to get the job done.
“I understand your point, but, I know your mother, and it could honestly have been either.”
Cara shot forward in her chair. “What?”
“I stayed at Thurles, remember?” he explained. “Dearest Illadan tasked me with keeping an eye on your mother so she couldn’t get into any more trouble. And we didn’t evenknowwhat she’d plotted with Aodh then. We just knew she was trouble.”
“What did that entail?”
Diarmid shook his head at the memory. “Following her around everywhere. Listening to her complain about everything. Not to offend you, but it wasn’t the most riveting assignment I’ve been given.”
The conversation was already making Cara uncomfortable, she decided. “What’s my other option?”
“Oh, we’re doing both,” Diarmid replied. “Probably at the same time. Then neither will seem so bad on its own.”
Cara pinched the bridge of her nose. “I suppose I have no say in this?”
“If you’re really, truly opposed to anything I suggest, we won’t do it. But I wouldn’t suggest it if I didn’t believe it a worthwhile exercise.”
She nodded her understanding. “And the other?”
