"I did. I thought I was bein' honest. Practical." He ran a hand through his hair. "I thought if I explained the situation clearly, if I made her understand the benefits of stayin', she'd see reason."
"And instead ye made her feel like a political tool," Catherine finished flatly.
"Aye. Apparently." He stared into his ale again. "Though I didnae realize that until today, in the garden, when I found her laughin' with young Malcolm."
"Malcolm?" Alyson frowned. "The guard? What daes he have tae dae with anythin'?"
"I saw them taegether. She was laughin' at somethin' he said. Looked so... happy. Comfortable." The words tasted bitter. "She never looks like that with me. Never laughs like that. So I... I might have gotten a bit short with him."
"A bit short," Sofia repeated slowly. "What exactly did ye dae?"
"Sent him away. Rather brusquely." Tòrr shifted uncomfortably. "Then I asked her why she was laughin' with another man."
Silence fell over the table. Then Catherine burst out laughing.
"It's nae funny," Tòrr growled.
"It's hilarious!" Catherine wiped her eyes. "Ye were jealous! Of Malcolm! A lad barely past his twentieth year!"
"I wasnae jealous."
"Ye absolutely were," Alyson said, though more gently than Catherine. "And what did Liliane say tae that?"
"She said..." He took another drink. "She said she laughs with lots of people around the keep. That everyone makes her comfortable except me. That I'm the only one who brings out her claws."
"Ouch," Catherine muttered. “Ye are such a fool.”
Tòrr scrubbed his hands over his face. "I've made a complete mess of this."
"Aye," all three sisters said in unison.
"Thanks fer the support."
"We're nae here tae make ye feel better," Catherine said bluntly. "We're here tae tell ye the truth. And the truth is that if ye want Liliane tae open up tae ye, tae trust ye, tae let ye past those walls she's built... ye need tae stop hidin' behind duty and responsibility."
"I'm nae hidin'."
"Arenae ye?" Alyson's voice was gentle but firm. "Every time things get too personal, too emotional, ye retreat intae bein' the laird. It's safer that way. But it's also cowardly."
"I'm nae a coward."
"Then prove it," Sofia challenged. "Tell her what ye really feel. Nae what ye need from her, nae what the alliance requires. What ye feel. What ye want."
"What dae I dae?" he asked quietly.
"Court her," Alyson said immediately. "Properly. Show her ye want her as a woman, nae just as leverage against her faither."
"How?"
"Start by stoppin' the jealousy over guards makin' her laugh," Catherine said dryly. "That was absurd."
"It wasnae…" He stopped at her raised eyebrow. "It might have been a bit absurd."
"A bit." Sofia smiled. "But it also shows ye care. Now ye just need tae show her in ways that dinnae involve broodin' or political speeches."
"Talk tae her," Alyson urged. "Taenight."
"I'll talk tae her," he said. "Taenight. I'll... I'll try tae explain properly."
