Theodore's breath caught as Madison came down the steps.
"Ye clean up well, lass,"he said, his voice rougher than he intended.
The blue dresshugged her frame, the color reminding him of the loch on a winter morning—pale and shimmering. She was beautiful. He'd thought so before, but seeing her like this, healthy and whole, something tightened in his chest.
Madison's cheeksflushed as she ducked her head, but not before he caught the small smile on her lips. His gaze traced the curve of her waist, the way the fabric moved as she walked. Pride swelled in his chest—not just at how bonnie she looked, but that she was here, healing, trusting him enough to stand before him without fear.
She had filledout and was no longer the fragile lass he’d saved from the hunt. Nor were her eyes hollow with dark circles aboutthem, but large saucers that flickered and danced with life. And while her gown was a bit loose in places where the fabric didn’t cling as it should have, to him, she looked like an angel.
“Are ye ready for dinner?”Theodore asked as he drew his eyes back to her face. She glared at him as she pulled in a long deep breath.
“What exactly am I gettin’myself into tonight?” she asked as Theodore offered his arm to her. His lips twitched in amusement as he led her down the corridor. Their steps echoed and bounced along in a steady rhythm that only seemed to measure Theodore’s heartbeat.
“Well,if I’m to answer honestly, I couldnae tell ye. I ken the council wants to have a good look at ye. They’ll probably ask about yer family and other things like that.”
“Am I to be honest?”Madison asked as a hint of mischief flickered across her eyes. There was something about the way she asked the question that pleased Theodore. Perhaps it was her defiance of the council or maybe it was the fact it showed him she was trying to get ahead of the problem. Either way, she had a way of getting under his skin.
Theodore’s chesttightened as he stole another glimpse of her out of the corner of his eye. Madison was stiffened as the approached the door of the great hall. The aroma of roasted meats and herb bread wafted through the corridor.
“Breath lass, they’ll nae bite,”Theodore said. “I take that back, they might. But daenae fret, I’ll nae let them get away with it.”
Her hand slippedto the crook of his arm. He could feel her fingers digging into the fabric of his sleeve as he watched her nerves mount. She glanced at him. The sparkle in her eyes reminded him of the faintest wisp of the heavens coming out in the darkest of nights.
Theodore gaveher a reassuring nod and pushed open the doors to the great hall. Every eye turned as they entered. A small gasp escaped Madison’s lips as her grip around his arm tightened.
“I cannae do this,”she whimpered so low, he wasn’t entirely certain of what she said.
“Aye,ye can, just take my lead and ye’ll be fine,” he answered as they moved to the table.
“Call the hour,the laird has finally joined us. We’ve only been kept waitin’ for over an hour.” Sarcasm mingled with irritation as it dripped from every syllable. Out of all the people in the room, it was Aaron that spoke first. His voice grated on Theodore’s nerves. If there was one person Theodore had hoped would have refrained from coming, it was him.
“Oh, come now, Aaron,”Edmund chimed in as the round council member stepped through the crowd. He opened his arms and welcomed Theodore and Madison with a warm welcome and cheery cheeks. “This is a joyous affair. Our Laird has finallyagreed to settle. This should be cause to celebrate. And who could begrudge such a lovely lady her time to make ready?”
Edmund scooped Madison’shand from her side as if it were a snake and drew it to his lips. Theodore didn’t move, but watched as Edmund made a spectacle before Madison.
“Move aside,we all must have a look,” Andrew chimed in. Theodore found a spark of gratitude flicker as Andrew pushed Edmund off Madison. If Theodore didn’t know any better, he would have thought the men before him had never laid eyes on any so beautiful before.
While many ofthe council looked relieved that Theodore had finally brought them a lass to look over, there were still some that were clearly displeased. Aaron folded his arms over his chest and scowled at Theodore. And while Aaron would never say anything to jeopardize his place on the council, his disdain for Madison was evident.
“And what of yer family?What clan do ye hail from?” Garret asked, his voice quaking from old age. Madison opened her mouth to answer only to get bombarded by others. She glanced at Theodore with a desperation in her eye that he couldn’t ignore.
“Alright,the lot of ye, take yer places at the table. Ye each have one question for the lass, and only one. I’ll nae waste our evenin’ caterin’ to the likes of this council.” Theodore made sure to make eye contact with every single council member in the room as he helped Madison to her place. She sat at the head of the table, inclear view for all to see. Much to Theodore’s surprise, he didn’t catch her panic under the keen and judgmental glares of the council.
The questions poppedoff as Theodore stood next to Madison, ensuring the council’s questions didn’t cross any line. The last thing he wanted was for them to bring up the hunt and the events that happened.
“I’m sorry,”Aaron said as he rose for his moment. Theodore rolled his eyes and flexed his jaw. Aaron moved to the center of the room and paced the length between Madison’s table and the council’s. “Truly I am. I have nay question for the lass.”
“Finally, a reprieve,”Theodore mumbled as Aaron lifted a finger. Theodore’s eyes narrowed at the insult. But as the rules implied, Aaron still had the floor.
“Doesnae meanto say I’ve nay bit of advice for me Laird,” Aaron said, his voice laced with malice.
“Speak plainly and quickly,”Theodore warned as Aaron’s eyes gleamed with a sort of pleasure one gets from causing strife.
“Of course,me Laird, I merely want to put to vote now,” Aaron said. “For where I stand, I think we can all agree, this lass is nae fit to be our Lady.”
The room eruptedin chatter and protests. Theodore stepped forward and reached for the pitcher resting on the table.Without hesitation, he launched the pitcher like a spear, slamming into the wall. The room went silent.
Theodore movedto the center of the room, his gaze locked on Aaron as he moved toward him. The anger festered within him and with each step he took, Theodore calculated his next moves carefully.
