Their eyes locked, and Killian held her gaze for a long time before he pressed another kiss to her cheek. “Come, let me show ye another paintin’. I got this one in Rome.”
They spent the rest of the night going through most of his collection. It was like an opening into his soul.
Lily enjoyed listening to him talk and show her the things that helped her understand his sense of adventure, and realize that they shared that one thing in common.
She let herself enjoy the moment, even though she knew it would not last.
26
Killian tried not to think of the possibility of Lily leaving once all of this was over. When she had mentioned it the previous night, it had left him with a sense of loss.
She’s not yours, to begin with.
Fletcher would arrive with Richard Easton soon, and once Killian spoke with the Englishman, he would finally satisfy his doubts.
What will happen next?Would Lily side with me and my people if Laird McLennan really killed my brother?
Killian didn’t know what to assume, but he knew he would not blame her if she chose to fight for her family.
I can’t blame her.
Lily was fiercely loyal. He liked that about her, and faulting her for those same principles he admired would be unfair.
He was still lost in his thoughts and completely uninterested in the village reports before him when a soft knock sounded at his door.
“Brother,” Niamh called as she poked her head through the door. Her radiant smile made him sigh and look up from his report. “Are ye interested in all of those reports?” she asked as she came into his study.
Killian realized she was wearing breeches and was holding a sword to her left side.
“What are ye doin’?” he questioned with an amused smile, rising from his seat just before his door opened wider and Lily came in.
She was dressed the same way, but she still stole his breath away. His eyes drifted over the full length of her body, then landed on her bosom.
“Lily is trainin’ me on the fields, and I thought ye could come join us. Ye have many more skills to learn.”
Killian felt heat rush through him as he tore his gaze away from Lily’s figure and met her eyes. Her cheeks were tinted red.
Like she knows what I was staring at.
He could not help himself, though. After seeing her in an earasaid yesterday, all he had thought of was her feminine form. Her petite body had fit right into those silk fabrics, and even though Killian knew she preferred her breeches and riding habit, he wished he could see her dress in an earasaid again.
Just so I can admire her better.
“Will you join us?” Lily asked, her round eyes blinking rapidly as the color in her cheeks deepened.
“Aye, please,” Niamh added.
Killian shoved his fingers through his hair, knowing he couldn’t say no to both women. “All right,” he agreed before walking towards them. “Let us all go to the fields.”
Niamh led the way, and Killian hastened his pace to catch up to Lily so he could whisper in her ear while they hurried down the stairway.
“Ye teachin’ my sister sword fightin’ at her request? I dinnae want her to get hurt, Lily… She is my family.”
Lily’s smile drove him mad when she glanced over her shoulder at him and shrugged. “She should learn to defend herself. That way, she can protect herself and have you worry less about her.”
“I can protect her,” he insisted when they exited the keep.
Niamh bounced on her feet happily as she continued walking ahead of them, oblivious to the conversation they were having.
