Silence fell.
What had she done?
13
The silence in the room after Laura's dramatic exit felt deafening.
"Well, that was entertainin',"Aisla commented, and there was definitely laughter in her voice now.
Maia staredat the closed door, her heart still racing, her mind spinning with the enormity of what she'd just done. She'd lied. Boldly, brazenly lied to a woman who clearly had expectations regarding Ewan, and now?—
Maia's faceburned with embarrassment. She covered her cheeks with her hands, mortified. "I cannae believe I just, I dinnae mean to, it just came out!"
"Ye toldLady Laura ye're betrothed to the laird," Aisla said helpfully, as if Maia might have forgotten in the last thirty seconds.
"I ken what I said!"Maia wanted to sink through the floor. What had possessed her? She'd stood there in front of two strangers and a child and claimed to be engaged to a man who'd kidnapped her. A man who was only keeping her here as leverage against her uncle.
Though even asthe embarrassment flooded through her, even as she wished she could take the words back?—
She didn't regret them.
Not if itmeant standing up for that little boy. Not if it meant stopping Laura from threatening him with the same isolation, the same imprisonment that Maia had endured for six years.
She'd do it again.Even knowing the consequences. Even knowing she'd have to explain this disaster to Ewan.
"Are ye really goin'to marry me uncle?"
The small,hopeful voice made Maia's stomach drop.
She loweredher hands to find Kian standing right in front of her, his dark eyes, so like Ewan's, wide with excitement. He was practically vibrating with energy, a huge smile on his young face.
"I—"Maia's throat tightened. "Kian, I?—"
"I'm Kian,"the boy said, as if she hadn't just used his name. "Kian Byrne. Me faither is raisin' me 'cause me parents died when I was wee. He's me cousin but he says I can call him Faither. And ye're goin' to be me new maither!"
"Oh nay,"Maia whispered. "Nay, sweetheart, I?—"
"Ye're so much nicerthan Lady Laura," Kian continued, completely oblivious to Maia's distress. "She's always tellin' me to be quiet and to stop runnin' and to act more like a proper heir. But faither says I'm perfect just the way I am, and I think ye'll say that too because ye stood up to her and told her she's wrong!"
The pure joyon his face made Maia want to cry.
"Kian,"she started gently, trying to find words that wouldn't crush that happiness. "I need to explain somethin'—"
"Can I call ye Maither?Or should I call ye Maia first and then Maither after the weddin'? Leon says I should call ye 'me lady' but that sounds too formal for someone who's goin' to be me maither, daenae ye think?"
Maia looked helplessly at Aisla,silently begging for help.
Aisla's expression had softened,sympathy replacing amusement. "Kian, why daenae ye run along and let Maia get settled? She's had a long journey."
"But I wantto talk to her!" Kian protested. "I want to tell her about the castle and show her all the best places to explore and introduce her to me pony."
"Later,"Aisla said firmly. "Give her some time to rest first, aye? Ye can talk to her at supper."
Kian's face fell slightly,but he nodded. "Aye, all right. But ye'll come to supper, will ye nae?" He looked back at Maia earnestly. "faither usually eats in the great hall, and ye can sit next to him since ye're betrothed, and I can sit on yer other side."
"Kian."Aisla's voice held a warning note.
"Fine, fine, I'm goin'!"The boy gave Maia one last brilliant smile.
