Page 39 of A Kilted Marriage of Convenience

CHAPTERTWENTY-ONE

Aidan woke to the sound of birdsong outside the tower window. It was still dark outside, but he could see hints of sunrise on the horizon beyond. He felt the comfortable weight of Ciara pressing up against him and looked down at her. She was still sleeping innocently. She was so beautiful. He closed his eyes as he allowed himself to think of the events of the previous night.

He had been with her before, but something about last night made it very different. He had never had such a complete moment before. What was it that made last night so special to him? It felt distinctly different from every other intimate experience he had ever had.

It was the vulnerability. I have never been so open with anyone before. Ciara saw deep into my heart, and still she wanted all of me.

Aidan smiled. When last did he feel this good? Had he ever felt this good? He took a deep, satisfying breath, then gently got out of bed. He was careful not to wake her, wanting to let her rest as much as she could.

He felt his way quietly around the dark room, looking for his discarded clothes from the night before. This was the first time he would wake up somewhere that was not his bed or a cold hallway. The peace he felt with Ciara beside him was something he had never experienced, not since losing both his parents. How ironic that his peace should be returned by the daughter of the man who had first robbed him of it.

He eventually got into his clothes, quickly but quietly, and headed toward the door. He eased it open as noiselessly as he could and slipped out into the corridor, which was still empty at this hour. The sun was starting to rise, and he waited a few moments, looking at Ciara sleeping peacefully.

His entire being longed to head back into bed with her, but he had a long day ahead of him. He had to meet with Darragh and go over the reports from last night’s attack. He and the council would also have to meet and discuss their next steps. He fully anticipated subsequent attacks from Kier MacNeil.

But those were secondary to him at the moment. His primary focus was planning his wedding to Ciara, and he wanted to get it done as quickly as possible.

He shut the door softly and headed down toward the castle kitchens.

Aidan was used to the usual morning bustle of the castle kitchen’s servants, and he tried to stay out of their way as they went about their duties. There were greetings of “morning, my laird,” and “my laird”, as he made his way toward the table at the far end for a strong cup of tea.

He wasn’t surprised to see Darragh already seated, blowing into his own cup and humming to himself softly. Aidan and his brother had been early birds since their childhood. He would not be surprised if Darragh had already done a circuit around the keep and checked the castle walls before coming in for his morning drink.

“Oi, Darragh,” Aidan greeted, slapping him jovially on the back, causing his tea to spill on the tabletop. His brother muttered a curse under his breath, grabbing a rag from one of the counters in the kitchen.

“What has got ye singing like sunshine and rainbow this morning?” Darragh asked, raising a brow at Aidan as he wiped the spillage on the tabletop.

“One shouldnae have a reason to be happy.” Aidan settled into a seat across from his brother with a steaming cup of his own. “One should be happy for happiness’s sake.”

“Aye,” Darragh replied, swirling his tea. “And I am guessing that yer happiness has naething to dae with the fact that ye didnae sleep in yer bed last night, daes it?”

Aidan barked a deep laughter which startled his brother. The servants in the kitchen stopped moving as well as they looked toward the table, every one of them wearing the same expression of shock. Darragh glanced sharply in their direction, and it was enough to get them scrambling back into motion.

“How did ye ken that I was away from my bed last night?” Aidan asked after he managed to settle back down.

“Daesnae matter now, daes it?” his brother retorted, eyes dancing with amusement.

Aidan chuckled at that. Typical Darragh. He beckoned at a serving girl who passed close by, telling her to take a breakfast tray up to Ciara, who would be awakening any moment.

“So...” Aidan said as the maid departed with a bow. “Damage report, Darragh. Was anyone fatally hurt last night?”

“Nay,” Darragh replied, taking a bite from a bun he had picked up from one of the serving trays. “There were a few scrapes and minor injuries, but naething too major. Those with injuries were sent to Hannah and Maria last night, but other than that, there was nae serious damage. Keir’s men got the worst of it.”

Aidan nodded to himself absently, glad that no one had been lost and that the destruction was minimal.

“If we are to go ahead with yer marriage,” Darragh continued, “we best dae so as quickly as possible. It’s clear to us at this point that Keir kens his daughter is in our custody. Kenning the lout, he is likely to attempt more rescue missions.”

“Aye,” Aidan replied, draining the contents of his cup. “Ye are right. Seeing how I already have half the council in support of my plan to marry Ciara, I believe we can move forward with the wedding without delaying it any further.”

“Would ye like me to get the priest, then?”

“Aye, ye should. And quickly, brother.”

Darragh nodded, pushing his chair backward as he got up to leave. He wrapped his fingers on the table hesitatingly, drumming an uneven rhythm that made Aidan glance at him. He saw his brother was somewhat uncomfortable, shifting his weight from foot to foot.

“Out with it, brother,” Aidan said, leaning back on his chair, tilting it until it balanced on two legs only. He crossed his hands over his chest, giving Darragh a level stare. “There is something bothering ye. So go on, speak.”

“Damn ye, ye ken me too well,” his brother replied, letting out a deep sigh. “Whilst we were putting things in order in the aftermath of the attack, I found a letter addressed to ye. It had the MacNeil seal on it, so I suspect it came from the laird.”