Page 29 of A Bride for the Kilted Beast

“Is it really necessary fer me tae have three guards following me about everywhere I go? I feel like a prisoner under watch,” she began, spearing a morsel of chicken.

“Aye, ye dae. It’s fer yer own protection.”

“Me own protection? How d’ye make that out?” She popped the chicken in her mouth and chewed.

“Well, ye’ve tried runnin’ before, and ye got stuck in that boar trap. Remember?” he asked. Her cheeks flared pink.

“It was dark. I couldnae see where I was going.”

“But ye still went anyway, did ye nae? And then, last night ye tried tae brain me with the poker. ‘Tis quite clear tae me that ye’re as mad as a march hare, and ye cannae be trusted nae tae run off intae the middle of nowhere and get yerself in tae trouble,” he said, sawing up a potato. He ate it while at the same time covertly watching her for any sign of the effects of the herbs. But she showed none.

She finished chewing a piece if chicken and swallowed. “I’m nae mad,” she said. “If ye’d been kidnapped, fer the second time by the way, what would ye dae?”

“Ach, I dinnae believe it.” He scoffed.

“Why nae. D’ye think I’m making that up too?” she asked, clearly offended. “Just like ye dinnae believe me name is Lily MacDonald, and that I’m the sister of Laird MacDonald?” She shook her head. “Ye believe what ye want tae believe. I ken the truth.” She set about her kale.

“Anyway, what if ye ran from here and someone else got hold of ye and kidnapped ye?” Diarmaid asked, dismissing her claims. Instead, he pictured Lennox kidnapping her and had to suppress a shiver at the thought. He shook his head and finished chewing his mouthful of food before saying, “Nay, lass. I’d never let such a thing happen tae ye, not now ye’re me wife. And that’s why ye have a guard.”

“But three men! Would one nae be enough?” She forked mashed turnip in her mouth but still did not seem to be affected by the herbs. But he noticed she was very tense, so he concluded that was what was keeping her so wide awake.

“Three is safer. I’m nae taking any chances. Now dinnae tax me further about it.”

She huffed and continued eating her dinner in silence, pretending not to look at him. He smiled inwardly to see that every now and then, she would peep at him under her eyelashes, clearly checking to see if the herbs were making him sleepy. If only she knew she was an open book to him.

But he wanted to placate her, not put her in a bad mood. If he wanted the night to go the way he wished, then he knew he needed to make her feel relaxed in his company.

“I saw ye in the dining hall today, with the children.”

She looked over at him, her light gray eyes wide with surprise. “Did ye?”

“Aye. I saw what ye did with the wee lassie. Ye saved her life.”

“Maybe.”

“Ye ken ye did. She would have died of choking if ye hadnae acted so quickly. I was impressed.”

“’T’was the least I could dae,” was all she said, putting a forkful of mashed turnip and potato in her mouth and eating it, watching him keenly.

“Will ye have some more ale?” she asked when she had finished.

“I’ll get it meself. Ye finish yer dinner.” He leaned over and refilled his tankard from the jug. Then, he opened a bottle of wine and poured Lily a generous glassful, setting it by her plate.

“Thank ye,” she told him, eating some bread before pushing the plate away.

“Feeling all right, are ye?” he asked.

“Perfectly fine, thank ye. How about yersel’? How are ye feelin’?”

“Och, fine, fine.” He yawned deliberately. “But I feel quite tired all of a sudden. I cannae think why.”

“Dae ye?” she asked, her expression brightening. He had to suppress his laughter, wondering when she would realize he was on to her and had switched plates.

“Aye. D’ye ken, I dinnae think I can eat any puddin’ just now. I think I’ll have a wee lie down on the bed.”

“All right.”

He crossed to the bed and lay down, propping his head on the pillow. He pretended to close his eyes but only narrowed them to slits, so he could keep watch on her. She helped herself to some of the pudding and sauce and began eating it very slowly, casting glances over at him now and then.