Chapter Seven
Aidam was thoroughlysickof hearing Ellie’s name everywhere in the keep he dared to venture. A week had barely passed, and they had found a cordial sort of politeness since he brought her and Jemina to a truce—and indeed, Ellie was making even quicker progress with the lassie than Aidam had expected, but that didn’t make her presence in the keep any easier on him. It was torture.
But God forbid anything’s ever straightforward.
As it turned out, Aidam was not the only person in the castle who had noticed the virtues of the Laird’s wife-to-be. Men around every corner spoke in hushed whispers of her beauty. Drunken men in the taverns laughed, retelling wanton dreams of her body and curves. Women spoke of her talents and her kindness—some with envy and some with praise.
In the kitchens, they talked about Heloise’s favorite meals. In the gardens, they talked about what plants the future Lady would like. In the town, they discussed the new clanswoman and the effect she’d have on the politics of the land.
Aidam didn’t want to be bitter. He really didn’t. But he had to wonder what it would be like if he could simply disappear— or at least, not hear about Lady Heloise for five minutes.
Maybe then she’d get out of me bloody head.
It was really exercise he needed. With his duties in the keep, he had not had any time to run his horses or spar with any of the lads. He needed a break. And practice with his sword in the sparring yard, alone, was the perfect escape. He knew his uncle was across the grounds drilling the men. He would not be disturbed.
The day was warm, warmer than he thought, and after thirty or so minutes of attacking the straw training dummy, he had his shirt off, and sweat glistened on his skin. The dummy was the perfect distraction. Some days he preferred to duel. He could have easily had a stable hand stand in, or even one of the lads not yet old enough for true battle from the village, but today he wanted to be alone, and he wanted to be ruthless—he wouldn’t allow another man to suffer for his moods.
“Aidam?”
He glanced up, surprised. Aidam lowered his sword and wiped his brow, squinting in the sun. He’d thought himself mistaken—but no, itwashis uncle approaching. When was the last time that Laird Sinclair had entered the sparring area?
“My Laird,” he said, trying to catch his breath. He gave a quick bow of his head but did not reach for his shirt. “I thought ye were with the men? What can I do for ye?”
“First, ye can call me ‘Uncle,’” Laird Sinclair said, raising an eyebrow. “The men finished early. I came tae look for ye, lad.”
“Of course, Uncle. Sorry, Uncle. What can I do for ye?”
Laird Sinclair gave him a faint smile. “I have a job for ye, lad,” he said. Aidam tried not to bristle.
“Of course. I’m at yer service,” he replied, trying not to let any of his annoyance show.
“We’ve got Laird Treddich and his family arriving on Saturday as our first wedding guests. More will come on Sunday and more after that. I want to assign ye tae Lady Heloise’s rooms. Ye’ll be on guard duty,” Laird Sinclair replied. “I think—”
“I’d rather not,” Aidam said quickly, then caught himself as his uncle looked at him with a questioning gaze. “Er, what I mean is that…well, I think another soldier might be better-suited tae the job.”
“Ye’re me own nephew,” the Laird replied, tilting his head as though genuinely confused. “Who else but ye could I trust with such a thing?”
A sliver of guilt ran through Aidam’s gut. He thought for sure after the travel inn his uncle had more than an idea of what Aidam really thought of Ellie. Had his uncle not guessed at Aidam’s desires? On the one hand, he hoped not—but on another, at least being kept from Ellie was a way to be free of her.
“I…I know we discussed this before, Uncle, but there are only two weeks now until yer wedding, and I still dinnae ken the answer,” Aidam said. “Do ye…do ye love her? Do ye desire her? What is it that ye’re getting from this marriage, Uncle? I ken ye’re nae a man to make an alliance based on just a pretty face.”
There’re the brothels to please that particular urge. He doesnae need Ellie.
Laird Sinclair fixed him with a thoughtful, piercing gaze. He knew the man wasn’t angry, but the part of Aidam that this man had raised wanted to flinch away from the stare anyway. The stronger part—the man he was now—stood tall and confident, waiting for an answer.
Laird Sinclair shrugged carelessly. If Aidam didn’t know him so well, he’d have believed that his uncle didn’t care about what he said next. “I want her, is all. I dinnae need any more questions an’ I owe ye nay answers. Are we clear?" the Laird asked.
"We are," Aidam replied.
Sinclair smiled again, though it seemed a little less broad than before. “Excellent. In that case, I’ll see ye outside Heloise’s rooms in two hours once ye’ve had some time tae clean yerself up.”
Aidam wanted to argue but could only nod. “Aye, Uncle,” he said, trying to hide the reluctance from his voice. He’d asked the question to make himself feel better, but somehow his uncle’s words had made him feel worse. He had his orders. He knew he would be foolish to push against his uncle any harder. There was more to the story, and he would have to figure another way to find out. In the meantime, it would serve no good purpose to argue. His uncle wanted him to guard Ellie. Then it was his duty to follow his Laird’s orders. “I’ll be there.”
* * *
“Aidam is tae be assigned to yer guard,” Jemina said, giving Ellie a look of pride, as if she was being bestowed a high honor. And she supposed as the heir and only nephew of the Laird, having Aidam assigned to her was a great honor. But to Ellie, the news was a shock. She did not know how she was supposed to feel about it. After all, hadn’t his guard of her been the whole reason she lashed out and caused the embarrassing events in the forest on their travels to the keep? That one still stung. Aidam had no self-control. How could the Laird not see that? Yet, worse still was her lack of self-control when Aidam was around. And she prayed no one noticed that. It would be disastrous.
Despite what she argued, she knew that Aidam’s actions in the forest had not been his fault alone. Had she not stripped off her clothing, knowing he was watching? Had she not, if she was honest with herself, been thrilled at the very prospect?
