Page 13 of In Bed with her Highland Foe

“I was reading.”

“Nay man goes to read in a woman’s company for that long without a reason.” The smile faded now as he shook his head. “Out with it, Captain. I ken ye are fond of her, whether ye say the words or nae.”

Gilchrist felt pinned to the spot as if Aaden had looked through his eyes and into his very soul. He walked away from the door, avoiding looking Aaden in the eye. He ended up sitting on the closed lid of his coffer, staring at the broken glass on the floor.

“She is lady of the clan,” Gilchrist said after some minutes of silence. “We are on opposite ends.”

Aaden moved to the window and looked out. Darkness was beginning to fall and through that bleakness a few stars were beginning to wink. He turned and perched on the windowsill. “What’s the alternative, eh? Tae leave Lady Kyven tae marry Laird Shay. I suppose she might like him; I overheard Helen and the other maids say he was a handsome man –”

“Dinnae speak so,” Gilchrist’s voice had deepened. “What he looks like hardly matters when he has a heart as black as dirt.”

“Aye, I agree with ye.” Aaden’s smile started to grow. “I’d rather see her happy and married tae a man that loves her.”

He didn’t relent in his gaze. Gilchrist knew he didn’t have to say the words. Aaden knew how he felt without that confirmation between them. Slowly, Gilchrist shook his head.

“She’d never marry me, Aaden.”

“Was that an admission? It sure sounded like one.”

“She wouldn’t,” he cut in again, determined to be heard. “In case all of what I have just said hasnae sunk in, I’m a Gregor. I come from the very clan that caused her father’s death. The two clans scuffled over a patch of land, and someone killed her father. Whoever raised that blade wasnae me, but that doesnae matter, does it? She blames me family fer his death, as dae many. She would nay sooner marry me than she would a stray dog.”

“Well, ye might be a little better than a stray dog,” Aaden said as his smile grew. “Dae I flatter ye?”

“Please, be serious.”

“Aye, aye, as ye wish, though there is little fun in it.” Aaden stood and moved toward the broken bottle, picking up the pieces.

“Leave it, I’ll pick it up later.”

“Nay, I broke it, I’ll remedy the matter.” He collected the pieces and put them on the table beside him. “It seems to me that if ye want tae save Lady Kyven from this marriage and marry her yerself, then ye must persuade her tae go against what she believes. That she must… break all the rules.” He gestured down to the broken pieces in his hand. “There is one motivator for such a thing. Women often talk of it, from what I hear.”

“What are ye going on about?” Gilchrist asked, losing his patience.

“Love, Captain. I speak of love.” Aaden picked up the last of the pieces and put them on the table. “It seems tae me that if ye can persuade Lady Kyven tae fall in love with ye, then she may marry ye fer love. Hang the fact ye’re a Gregor, or that another man is here tae marry her already. Love makes us all dae many a strange thing.”

Gilchrist stared at Aaden with raised eyebrows, silence falling between them.

“What?” Aaden asked, wiping his hands on his trews to dry them from the whisky.

“Didnae expect tae hear ye talking of love, is all. How many women in this castle have ye bedded?”

Aaden smiled a little, a mischievousness in their eyes.

“They all ken me heart isnae the thing I offer them.”

“Even the maid, Helen?”

“Aye, most especially Helen. She has made it clear she doesnae want me fer me mind or me heart, but something else entirely.”

“I cannae believe we are having this conversation.” Gilchrist shook his head and looked away.

“Then let us return tae the matter of Lady Kyven.” Aaden stepped forward with sudden purpose. “Captain, make her fall in love with ye. Ye want tae save her from Laird Shay? Then it is a way tae save her and make both of ye happy.”

“A plan that seems so simple in yer eyes, eh?” Gilchrist laughed for the first time though it was a dismissive laugh as he shook his head. “Making someone fall in love is nay easy thing.”

“But charming them is.” Aaden’s eyes lit up. “At least there, maybe I can offer ye a few tips.”

Gilchrist’s mind whirred fast. This was a mad idea, certainly foolish and perhaps the most absurd one he had ever committed himself to in his life, but Aaden had pointed out one true thing in all his arguments.