He argued, “I have more experience in these matters.”She had just opened her mouth to contradict him when he added, “After all, ye’re a titled lady only recently come o’er from Ireland, aye?”
She couldn’t deny the story she’d made up, so she acquiesced with a nod.But she had no intention of letting Adam blunder his way through an awkward explanation when she could wrap a man around her finger with a wink and a grin.
So when the guard returned and led them into the keep, she strode through the great hall ahead of Adam.The servants were setting up trestle tables for supper, draping them with tablecloths.She dodged between them, scouring the hall for the laird.
Near the hearth was a well-dressed man with thick waves of brown hair and lively eyes.The noblemen around him hung on his every word and laughed at his every jest.That must be the laird, she decided.
Picking up her skirts, she surged toward him with a smile of sheer delight, as if he were the only man in the hall.
“M’laird!”she gushed.“What an honor to meet ye!”
Her enthusiasm and her appearance excused her rudeness as she barged into the group, lowered her gaze, and executed a deep curtsy that may have revealed just a bit of her bosom.
When she lifted her eyes again, the men were left speechless.
“And ye are?”he asked, perusing her slowly from head to toe as if measuring her beauty and calculating her charms.
“Oh, muddled me!”she said, feigning fluster.“I am Lady Aillenn o’ Bhallach, m’laird.”
His eyes danced with pleasure.“An Irish lass?”
The others chuckled in approval.
She cast him a coy glance.“Aye, m’laird.”Then she straightened with playful pride.“I’m the daughter o’ Tiarna Fursa.”It never hurt to impress a man with one’s bloodline.
“Is that so?”She had his full attention now.Ignoring the others, he stepped toward her, his hand extended.“The honor is mine, m’lady.”
She slipped her hand into his, and he covered it with his own, bestowing upon her a wide smile.
“M’laird,” she murmured, leaving her hand in his and looking up at him with liquid eyes, “I’ve come to ask… May I count on your hospitality this eve?’Tis been a long day o’ travel from Perth, and I fear my audience with thekinghas quite exhausted me.”
There was a soft gasp from the men.
The laird’s reply was rough with surprise.“The king?Indeed?”He gave her another long look of appraisal.“O’ course ye’re welcome here.Stay as long as ye like.”He called out to a maidservant.“Tilda, ready the rose chamber.”
“Oh, m’laird, how generous!”Eve exclaimed, gracefully slipping her hand away.“We are so grateful.”
He blinked.“We?”
“Ah, if I didn’t have my head attached…” she said, clucking her tongue.Then she turned toward Adam.“This is Ronan, my—”
“Husband.”
Chapter 9
Adam hadn’t meant to blurt the word out like that.He hadn’t meant to say it at all.They’d agreed he would pretend to be Aillenn’s brother.
But when he saw the way Pitcairn was looking at the lass, as if he planned to feast on her for supper, he couldn’t help himself.He wasn’t about to leave her to the wolf.And he figured claiming her as his own was the best way to protect her.
Aillenn clearly didn’t approve of that decision.She shot him such a look of horrified outrage that he almost recoiled from the impact.
He knew how she felt.It was aggravating as hell to have an accomplice destroy your best laid plans.But desperate times called for desperate measures.Flexibility.Improvisation.Now that he’d made that bold introduction, she’d have to follow his lead.
He dropped the satchels, stepped forward and offered his hand.“M’laird.”
Pitcairn looked as if he’d like to refuse it.But though he was a bit of a knave with the ladies, he was obliged to follow the code of chivalry.Noblemen were expected to be civil to one another.He flashed Adam a quick smirk and briefly squeezed his hand, then didn’t give him a second glance.Which was good.If he’d studied Adam as thoroughly as he’d done the lass, he’d surely have recognized him as the warrior of Rivenloch he’d met before.
The laird was probably wondering how long they intended to stay and regretting his carelessly generous offer.Adam decided to ease the man’s fears.
