“Clever, but still nae convincin’ me to stick around,” Leah said as Killian stood taller. He mulled over his words, choosing them carefully. "I fear me council is conspirin' against me."
Shock flashed across her face, and for a moment, Killian felt a pang of guilt for unburdening so much. He cleared his throat and pushed aside the feelings ebbing and flowing within him.
"How can ye be so certain? And why would that affect ye bein' married?" Leah asked as confusion riddled her face.
Killian pulled in a long, deep breath to steady his nerves. He had already taken a chance on Leah, giving away his fear. But, without her on his side, he wasn't sure what he would do.
"I ken ye have nay reason to believe me. But what if by agreein', ye end up savin' a poor wretched man's life?" Killian asked as he laid on the guilt as thick as he could.
"Ye really believe that ye have people after ye?" Leah asked as she glared at him. There was no masking the suspicion that tainted her expression.
"Aye, and I believe that they'll use the ceilidh to put a bride of their choosin' before me to poison me mind. And that is somethin' I cannae allow."
"Alright," Leah said as she stepped back. "But why two months? Why nae just proclaim it now and I prance around for a week then I leave? Ye could say that I was a swindler and stole yer heart before I left. That will let me leave a free woman."
"Arenae ye the funny one," Killian said sarcastically. "Live in a fantasy world, do ye? I cannae proclaim ye as me wife now. Nae after the way ye were presented to me. The councilmen… Sean, he brought ye as a gift and that is precisely what ye'll be. Ye'll be here on the behest of me brother. Ye're a healer after all. And as ye seen already, Mason isnae sufferin' from any mortal wound."
"I daenae ken," Leah said as Killian watched her mull the plan over as if she were kneading it like bread.
"Yer askin' price for two months," Killian said. "Me coffers are deep and I have the authority to disperse the coin as I see fit. What is yer askin' price?"
"Two months?"
Killian flashed her the biggest most cheesiest smile he could muster as he realized he'd hooked her into his plot. "Just two little months. Sixty days. Fifty-nine nights. What do ye say?"
"I daenae ken," she mumbled as she nibbled on the tip of her finger.
"Freedom and independence. Just two months and ye'll never have to be told what ye can do by a man again. Ye'll be free to set up a home or a little shop and live out the rest of yer days carefree. Just two little months."
"And ye swear there'll be nay weddin'?"
"Nay weddin', nay contract. Ye'll tend to me brother as best as ye can. I'll still have the resident healer comin' by, but I'm sure ye'll nae mind that. And then we'll announce our engagement at the ceilidh. Shortly after, the rat will be smoked out and ye'll be on yer way."
Leah stared at him, her eyes wide. Killian wished he could get into her head and hear what she was thinking. It would be so much easier than dealing with the anticipation of her answer.
"Fine," Leah finally stated. "Two months. Whether yer foes come out of the woodwork or nae, that's all I'm givin' ye."
Killian smiled as he glanced at her extended hand. Impressed with her, he slipped his hand into hers. The deal was struck, and the relief that came over him made it seem like he'd just won the biggest battle of his life.
"That will be more than enough time," Killian said. "And we have much to prepare."
5
Golden rays sliced through the shadow and sleep like a knife, forcing Leah to welcome the day. Blinking the room into view, she sat up. Confusion rippled through her as she glanced about the unfamiliar furniture. Panic shot through her as images of Lady O'Malley skipped through her thoughts.
Violent flashes of a bag being placed over her head and the rough ride through the country followed. She shot to the headboard, hunting for danger as the fear engulfed her. And just as quickly as the terror jabbed her, it subsided.
Pulling in sharp breaths, Leah's memory caught up to her reality. Bits slowly fell into place as she threw her legs over the side of the bed. Her heart fluttered with excitement as she whipped her head to the door, eager to get out of her room and even more to see Killian once again.
I'll bet my last pence that Killian was drunk yesterday. I bet he willnae even remember proposin'.
Leah pursed her lips together as her chest tightened. Had she really agreed to pretend to be such a person? The idea was preposterous. As she dressed, all she could think about was whether Killian was serious or if he'd succumbed to too much ale before she had arrived.
The moment she stepped out into the hallway, she wanted to slip back into her room and pretend she didn't exist. A brute of a man with broad shoulders and a round face arched his bushy eyebrow.
"Ye're to come with me," he said in a gravelly voice that reminded Leah of dogs digging in a pile of rocks. Leah arched an eyebrow as panic shot through her. Had Killian changed his mind yet again?
"Can ye tell me where I'm goin'?" Leah asked as he started down the hall. Leah scrambled to keep up with his pace as they marched through the deserted corridor. "Or maybe give me yer name? I'm Leah, tis nice to meet ye. Are ye a MacMillan? Or a Glenn?"
