“Me laird,”Boyd interjected. Madison had completely forgotten the man was still there waiting orders from his laird. Theodore barely gave Boyd a glance over his shoulder.
“The men are headin’out as far as Dundee,” Boyd answered.
“That’s a five-day ride just gettin’there,” Theodore said as he kept his eyes locked on Madison. She folded her arms across her chest, refusing to be pushed aside or forgotten about. If the men were going out to find her family, she was going to go with them.
“Aye,some have family they are goin' to check in on while they’re gone,” Boyd answered as his eyes shifted to Madison before returning to Theodore. Theodore nodded as he pressed his lips into a tight line. She watched Theodore chew over his words before giving Boyd a wave.
“Get another horse ready,”he finally said after a moment of silence.
“What?”Boyd gasped as he glanced to Madison with utter shock. “But I thought… aye, me laird, right away.”
Boyd bowedand turned for the stables as Theodore lifted his chin and arched an eyebrow. Madison’s heart pounded wildly in her chest as she tried not to get overly excited at the prospect of going.
“Tell ye what,”Theodore said as a smirk played at the corners of his lips. “I’ll strike a bargain with ye. I’ll let ye come with us to one village along the way and in exchange ye have to join me for dinner tonight.”
Madison’s eyesnarrowed as a prick of uncertainty jabbed at her. There was something more Theodore wasn’t telling her, she could see it like a dark cloud in the depths of his gaze. Yet, what exactly he had up his sleeve, she wasn’t sure.
“There’s a catch,I just cannae figure out what it is. We’ve had meals in the past, so what makes this one different?” she asked as the feeling of weariness came over her.
“It’sthe dinner with the council members. They are insistin’ I set a date for our weddin’. I’m hopin’ that maybe if they see us together, a united front, then I’ll be able to earn more time. Nae to mention ye havenae really been properly introduced to the clan. What say ye?”
Madison hesitated and stepped closer.She glanced about as if inspecting who was around them before uttering a word. “The council? Arenae they the same men who whisper behind me back? I daenae think I want to endure a conversation with them, let alone a meal.”
“Then we’ll beon our way and ye can enjoy the library, or the drawin’ room. I’m sure there is nay end to the amount of distraction the castle can provide.”
Madison groundher teeth together as she debated the bargain. Having dinner with the council wouldn’t be that bad. But at the same time, she didn’t want to endure the questions and etiquette of high-ranking people.
“Two villages,”Madison countered. “Ye let me go with ye to two places. And I’ll even wear whatever ye want me to.”
Theodore’s lipsstretched into a smile as she watched his imagination pop open. His gaze drifted over her and she could feel the rush of heat as if he exposed every inch of her bare skin. She tucked a loose strand of her hair behind her ear and tried to hide her blush. But it was no use, Theodore had seen it.
“Well,I suppose ye’ll have to make do spendin’ yer day here. Boyd, make ready the men. We are leavin’.”
“Wait,”Madison said as she realized he was about to just leave her there. “This isnae fair. This is blackmail.”
“I prefer the term, negotiation,”Theodore said with a smirk.
“Fine,”she huffed. “One village.”
“And one dinner,”Theodore interjected.
“And the dinner,”she conceded as Boyd came around the corner with a horse in tow. Theodore stepped into her line of sight, blocking the horse from her view. He leaned closer, ensuring he caught her gaze.
“And ye’ll like it.”
Madison’s eyeswidened with shock. “Come again?”
Theodore foldedhis arms over his chest as he let the smile stretch across his face. “If ye wish to add a second village, then ye’ll sit through the dinner with a smile on that beautiful face of yers and pretend the meal and company are the best ye’ve ever had.”
“Ye’re infuriatin’,”Madison protested as her mouth dropped from his audacity.
Theodore shrugged a shoulder.“Aye, but I’m the laird.”
“Fine.I’ll smile, I’ll play nice. I’ll even toast to yer council, but ye’re takin’ me to two villages.”
Theodore’s lipscurved as he stepped aside. “Then we should get goin’. We’ve places to see.”
18
