Emily rose as well, smoothing down her skirt with her hand. She worried her lip between her teeth as the men filed out of the room, wondering if she had displeased Adair.
Her heart flipped when the door closed behind the last councilman.
“I am sorry I have displeased ye, me Laird,” she said quickly.
Adair looked down at her with a raised brow. “How so?” he asked.
“I let me discomfort show,” she mumbled, lowering her eyes.
“There is no need to worry about that,” he said. “I should have allowed ye to leave earlier.”
She lifted her eyes to see if he was jesting, but he only nodded at her, his warm hazel eyes looking tired as well.
“Alright, me Laird.” She nodded. “I thank ye.”
“Ye may return to yer chambers if ye wish,” he allowed. “I will go oversee me men’s training.”
“Alright, me Laird,” she said, curtsying.
She stepped out into the corridor and heaved a sigh.
“Was it truly so dreadful a meeting?” a voice asked from beside her.
Her head snapped up in surprise, but her heart settled when she saw it was Fergus. He glanced down at her with the faintest hint of a smile.
“Nay,” she answered. “I only worry I may have failed.”
“Ye did well, me Lady.”
“I am nay lady, Fergus,” she corrected with a gentle smile.
“For one month ye will have to be,” he says quietly, “me Lady.”
5
Emily had resumed her duties after the meeting ended, but when a maid informed her hours later that the Laird had summoned her again, she sprang to her feet.
She didn’t think he would summon her again until the evening meal and had wiped the powder from her face. Even her artfully styled hair had been taken down and pinned into a simple chignon, and she had been quick to change out of the dress she felt out of place in.
Adair watched her from behind his desk with a curious look that made her squirm.
“Why were ye so quick to change?” he asked, pointedly eyeing her dress.
“I didnae think ye would send for me so quickly,” she answered, wringing her hands. “I didnae want to ruin the lovely dress while I went about me chores.”
“I already told ye ye daenae have to work anymore,” he reminded her. “Ye’re me betrothed now.”
Her cheeks reddened at his firm tone, and her heart thudded, even though she knew he didn’t mean the last part literally.
“I only wanted to keep busy,” she explained. “I am nae used to staying idle. Forgive me if this offends ye.”
He was silent for a long moment, but then nodded.
“We’re going to the village; it is customary to introduce the villagers to the future lady of the clan,” he said softly, closing the binder atop his desk. His lips quirked up. “Think of it as a date to sell our romance.”
“But our engagement wasnae founded on romance. What use then is the pretense?”
He regarded her with a furrowed brow, but she did not falter. In fact, she puffed out her chest, shedding off the weighted cloak his scrutiny had demanded, and confidently continued.
