“If ye saylike someone shat in me porridgeagain, I’m going to slap ye. With me bad hand, so ye end up with a bloody handprint on yer face.”
“Charming.”
Another silence.
Aiden shifted, waiting for Lucas to grow tired of the quiet. Surely, at any moment, he would get up and storm out. That was the fair thing to do.
Instead, he remained.
He sighed and began to carefully sweep the glass shards into a handkerchief, then tied up the ends once most of the glass was gone.
“Ye will want to use a brush for the rest,” he commented, sitting back. “Be careful. Bits of ground glass in a wound?—”
“Ach, spare me the lecture, Lucas.”
Lucas pursed his lips, narrowing his eyes. “I’ll tell ye what else I heard,” he said, crossing his arms across his chest.
“Do enlighten me.”
“I heard that Duncan was planning to propose to Hannah.”
Aiden went still. “What?”
Lucas shrugged carelessly. “It’s just what I heard. After what she’s been through, I daresay the woman wants some security and safety. The rumors about her and ye have been put to bed—no pun intended—but her reputation is on shaky ground. And that means the distillery is on shaky ground, too. Marrying a man like Duncan would be good for her.”
Aiden cleared his throat, shifting. “Well, I ken she doesnae care for him.”
“What, she hates him?”
“Nay.”
“I heard that they were friends.”
He ground his teeth. “They are friends.”
“Well, there are worse foundations for a marriage to be built on than friendship, aye? If I were her, I’d take him.”
Aiden rose to his feet and strode over to the window. That was useless, of course. It was dark outside, so all he could see in the glass was his own reflection, illuminated by the firelight behind him. His own sour face glared at nothing.
“Ye arenae her, though, are ye?” he grunted. “She willnae wed him.”
Lucas shrugged. “Well, if ye are sure. But the gossips seemed fairly certain. And if she’s just had her heart broken…”
“Oh, enough, Lucas. Enough!”
“Nay, it isnae enough,” Lucas shot back, rising to his feet. “Ye listen to me, Aiden. I daenae try to tell ye what to do. Ye ken yer own heart and mind, and I ken that ye can manage yer own life. But if ye sent her away with nay indication that anything more will come of what’s between ye, then why should she nae seek solace elsewhere? It’s a story that has played out over and over again.”
Aiden clenched his jaw until he could hear his teeth squeak. He balled his fists, jolting when a hot sting from his cut shot through his arm. Opening his palm, he eyed the fresh bloom of blood thoughtfully.
I had better be careful with that. Wounds can get infected. And there’s nay one to succeed me. I cannae let me people down. Best nae to die for a good long while yet.
Lucas stood before him, staring at him. Waiting expectantly.
Aiden drew in a breath and met his eyes. “Duncan cannae have Hannah,” he said, slowly and carefully.
“And why’s that?” Lucas scoffed
Aiden lifted his chin, lip curling. “Because she’s mine.”
