Page 11 of A Kilted Marriage of Convenience

“She will calm down eventually. We can always appease her later even if she dinnae see sense.” Aidan got to his feet again. “Ye said ye have called the council, did ye nae?”

“Aye.” Darragh headed to the door alongside Aidan.

“We shouldnae keep them waiting.”

* * *

After Ciara had bathed and changed into the simple dress that had been left for her, Maria returned with a few maids who cleaned the entire room while she ate.

“Hurry up and finish yer meal, lass. Ye nae longer need my care, so I would like it if ye leave my quarters soon,” Maria said gruffly as she went to begin plucking the leaves from some herbs on her desk.

Ciara rushed through her meal. When she was finished, her plates were cleared away, and a maid led her to a different room. It was prepared simply, but it was clean and warm, with a fire already burning. While the other maid showed her the collection of simple clothes they had prepared for her 'stay,' another girl brought in some wood and placed it beside the fireplace.

Then she was left alone, and the maid locked the door. She looked around the room. It seemed like anything that might have helped her escape had been removed. There was a large window, but it was too high to even consider escaping out of it. She threw herself on the bed contentedly. It was not as though she planned to escape anyway.

Now that she thought about it, she had lost her bag. It had what little she had saved, and everything she needed if she was going to run away again. She sighed and lifted her legs so that she was fully on the bed.

Ciara had learned the hard way to be careful of what she said. She had been taught to believe in God, so it seemed more than a frightening coincidence that she had nearly been killed by the sea after challenging him.

She touched her fingers to her lips again. Did he really kiss me? Aidan had saved her, so it made sense that he had to kiss her to wake her up. Still, the thought of a man kissing her—of him kissing her—with the same passion he had brushed his thumb over her lips made her blush. Her attraction to him was completely irrational, but she had no way to forget those intense gray eyes of his.

A sudden knock on the door startled her, and then a female voice sounded from behind the door. “Hello? Lady Ciara? I’m sorry to disturb ye. May I come in?”

“Ach… Aye, ye may, of course.”

Ciara brushed her hair out of her face as the door opened, and her eyes widened at the sight. Blonde hair and gorgeous gray eyes. It was Lillie MacDonald! Ciara had never seen her clean and without bruises before, but even when she had been in captivity, she had been a gorgeous woman. Now her hair was clean, and her face was unblemished. She looked like an angel.

“Hello, my lady. I am Lady Lillie MacDonald,” the girl said, seeming nervous as she twisted her fingers around the door.

Ciara recovered from her surprise and gave Lillie a wide smile. “Hello… It is nice to meet ye,” she responded.

Gaining some confidence, Lillie stepped into the room. “I am sorry for this situation. I hope ye are nae uncomfortable here. Is there anything ye daenae like? I can have it changed for ye—even if it is the color of curtains.”

Ciara raised an eyebrow. It seemed that Lillie felt guilty that her brothers had taken her captive. She smiled lightly. Such a kind woman… better than me, I must admit. Lillie had been the one kidnapped and mistreated, yet she truly cared about her being comfortable.

“I am alright. Thank ye for yer concern. Ye are too kind.”

Ciara wasn’t sure what else to say. With Aidan, it was easier for her to put on an act since he was abrasive with her, when he wasn’t teasing her. In the face of Lillie’s innocent kindness, her opportunistic lying made her burn with guilt.