Her mind still reeled from the revelation that he considered her capable of blowing upThe Minerva. She refused to accept it.
She would never have knowingly sent 127 men to their deaths.
Impossible.
Kieran MacTavish was mistaken.
She crumpled the note and stared down at the shirt and trousers.
Finally, she straightened her shoulders.
Very well.
She would meet his demands, but she would not make the path easy for him.
Ten minutes later, Eilidh walked into the great hall.
The trousers, shirt, and waistcoat did not feel as odd as she might have thought.
But they did not feel as comfortable, either.
It’s been six years since you wore such a thing, part of her pointed out.
Or . . . perhaps she hadn’t been as ‘boyish’ as others claimed.
The thought died on her lips as she caught sight of Master MacTavish.
Kieran.
He was similarly dressed to herself—trousers, waistcoat, and a shirt open at the throat and cuffed up his forearms.
But it was the fencing foil in his hand that stopped her short.
Surely, he didn’t think . . .
That she would be interested in . . .
But a glance around the great hall confirmed they were the only two present. The dining table had been pushed to one side and the carpet rolled up, leaving an enormous expanse of wood floor in the center of the hall.
“Ah! There ye are, lass.” He saluted her with his blade, surveying her up and down.
Frowning, Eilidh crossed to him.
She meant to administer a blistering set-down.
Truly, she did.
But his state of partial undress disrupted her breathing. Yesterday in the forecourt, he had at least retained his cravat and kept his shirtsleeves buttoned.
But today, her eyes were distracted by the ropes of muscle rippling in his forearms. Worse, a V of his bare chest peeked out from the top of his shirt. She could see hints of the planes of muscle, and even a glint of the chain around his neck, the wedding ring swinging to press against the linen as he moved.
Had shetouchedthat chest? Run her hands over those broad shoulders? Pressed kisses against—
Stop!
She gritted her teeth and pulled her eyes up to his.
He looked amused.
