“She allowed my sister to kick you around like a lost kitten?”
“She didn’t allow aught,” Maude retorted. “She may be aware of all that goes on, but she isn’t our mother. We’re grown women. I didn’t need her to come to my rescue as though I can’t handle being taunted. Should I have run crying to tittle-tattle every time something was said that hurt my feelings?”
“That’s not what I meant. I know you’re capable of taking care of yourself. You’ve been doing it for far too long, but that doesn’t mean she should turn a blind eye to something so wrong. I’ve known you for two moons, and I wanted to throttle my sister and her friends the night I met you. It’s not that you needed rescuing so much as it’s she shouldn’t allow such behavior among her ladies.”
“Do you think they make it obvious? Do you think we snipe at each other in front of her? Of course not. It’s done behind hands and fans. It’s done when she isn’t near. It’s done while gossiping between dances. No one will confess to hurt feelings, so they leave her none the wiser. Going to her would be the same as cutting my hand open in front of a pack of wolves. One sniff of blood, and they would have been on me because she wouldn’t spare the few innocent ladies. Then they’d all have some bone to pick with me. No. I keep my head down and carry on until I leave.”
“That’s so wrong. It’s dishonorable. It’s--”
“Kieran,” she snapped. “Not everyone here is a Highlander. They don’t hold themselves by the same values we do. Consider those who’ve served the queen most recently. A Kerr, a Dunbar, a Johnstone, an Elliott, a Maxwell, a Kennedy. They’re all Lowlanders. There’s me, Blair, and Cairstine Grant who was cozy at times with your sister. Laurel Ross was as thick as thieves with Madeline, though she apologized to me just before I left the solar. Elizabeth and Deirdre Fraser are both married now. Your sister—well we ken aboot that. I’m outnumbered here. It’s Blair and me. I can’t expect the others to understand our way of life and adopt Highland values. Not when life as a courtier is aboot gossip, intrigue, backbiting, and politics. The other three Highland ladies banded together against me because they understood life at court. It was best to leave well enough alone, and that’s how I’d like to keep it.”
Kieran wanted to argue with her and convince her he was correct, but he wasn’t a lady-in-waiting, nor had anyone made him live here for the past seven months. His sister had been here for years. When he examined it in those terms, he realized Madeline’s changes shouldn’t have shocked him. The influences here were not ones to make her a paragon of virtue.
“If that’s what you want, then I will stand beside you. But I say that with the full disclosure that I won’t turn a blind eye or a deaf ear to anyone who speaks ill of you.”
“I know, turtledove.” Maude slid her hand up his chest until she found his nape and guided him toward her for a long, last kiss. “I must prepare for the evening meal.”
“Where I shall sit beside you.”
“We’ll see what Da has to say aboot that.”
They slipped back to their own chambers to prepare for the evening meal.
Chapter Twelve
The evening was going perfectly. Maude didn’t remember the last time she enjoyed supping at court. She and Blair joined her father moments before Kieran arrived. His presence garnered attention since it had been days since the last time he sat at the Sutherlands’ table, and this time, he sat far too close to Maude for anyone to doubt his interest. Their arms brushed together throughout the meal, and Kieran pressed his thigh against hers under the table. Hamish’s glare warned him to keep both hands where the old warrior could see them.
Kieran leaned toward Maude and reached past her for the jug of ale, using it as an excuse for his chest to touch her shoulder as he whispered. “I touched your hair when it was down this afternoon, but it was too dark for me to see it. I didn’t have a chance to say aught yesterday. But I shall not be remiss any longer. Your hair looks beautiful. You look beautiful.”
Maude blushed but offered him her half-smile. Kieran decided he found it enigmatic. He also noticed more men looking at her as the meal progressed, and he feared they would think the same way. It would act as a siren to them to figure her out, discover what mystery lurked behind it. He forced himself to keep his jealousy at bay and not make an arse of himself as he did the day at the priory. Maude gave no indication that she noticed anyone else, though Kieran knew that would change when the dancing begun. Maude would have more dance partners than she’d had the entire time at court. He knew she would draw some men with honest intentions, but her physique would draw the lechers as well. Her clothing was no different than before, but her hair down gave her a youthful look that was appealing. She smiled more that evening, laughing at both her sister and her father while sharing that enigmatic smile with him. Men would circle like birds of prey despite Maude having been at court for months and never garnering such interest.
When the meal finished, servants swept in and pushed the tables and benches aside. While they cleared the floor, Maude stood beside Kieran as she spoke to Blair, who stood on her other side. The back of Kieran’s hand rubbed against the back of her own, causing bolts of electricity to surge up her arm to her breasts, making them feel heavy and full before settling in a pulsing tingle between her thighs. It was a brief and light touch, but she experienced it all the way to her core.
Hamish stepped next to Kieran and clapped a hand on the younger laird’s shoulder. He had missed none of their heated glances, nor how Kieran positioned himself to reach for the jug so he might touch her and whisper to her. Hamish hadn’t heard what Kieran said, but it made Maude blush, then smile. He’d almost forgotten how lovely his little girl’s smile was, but he reminded himself that she was a woman now. No longer a wee lass bouncing on his knee, she had a suitor who would soon twirl her around the dance floor.
“This is yer chance to stake yer claim. Make it clear. The vultures are circling now that Maude has come into her own. I’d thank ye if I didna want to thrash ye for bringing the attention to her. Dance at least thrice with her and be sure to dance the first two. People willna doubt yer intentions.”
“I thought to dance every one with her,” Kieran grinned before looking down to find Maude’s smiling face looking up at him. He took her hand in his and led her to the dance floor. Their approach, hand-in-hand, sent a ripple through the crowd. Instead of her hand on his arm as was customary, they showed an intimacy that most married couples and lovers lacked.
“People are staring,” Maude hissed.
“I know,” Kieran smiled. “The men are jealous.”
“I doubt that, but the women will call me a wanton.”
“As long as that wanton side is only for me.” Kieran pulled her into his arms for the first dance. He’d expected it to be a country reel, but it was one that would keep them together through the entire set. “If I can’t feast on you in private, then I shall enjoy every minute you’re in my arms in public.”
“Don’t you think this is a wee over the top? You not only sat with my family for the meal, you sat practically on top of me. No one looking at our backs missed how close we sat. Now you’re holding me indecently close.”
“I’m making up for lost time.”
“And if my father weren’t here, people would whisper that I was your mistress, not your possible intended.”
“There’s no possible, Maude. You are.”
Maude relented and enjoyed the dance. As one set ended, and the dancers lined up for the next, she thought she might sit it out or pair with someone else, but Kieran stood across from her in the line. The music began, and they came together before turning to their neighbors. They moved through the dance, always returning to one another. When that set ended, Kieran guided her through the crowd toward her family, avoiding the men converging upon where they stood. Once back at the Sutherland table, Kieran filled her chalice with ale before quaffing his. He refilled it for her again before returning the jug to the table. He reached up to brush away hair that stuck to her temple but caught himself and pushed his hair from his face instead. That would have been too great a breach of propriety, and he doubted Hamish would forgive such a blunder.
“Lady Maude,” a young Lowlander dared to approach. “Would you share the next dance with me?”
