Page 10 of Married to her Kilted Enemy

“Now, let me see, ye’ve met Liam and Tadgh already,” Odhrán continued. “So, over there, tae Lady Kincaid’s left, is Angus Bowman, one of me most trusted advisors. And that’s his wife Maureen.” He paused while Maddison smiled stiffly and nodded a greeting to the old, whiskery faced man and his red cheeked, curly haired spouse who were beaming at her from further down the table.

“We wish ye and the laird every happiness, me lady,” Bowman said.

“Thank ye,” she murmured.

“And opposite them is our clan treasurer, Renley Cooper, and his wife Rhona.” Dutifully, Maddison smiled and thanked the middle-aged couple when they congratulated her on her forthcoming wedding. They seemed genuinely delighted to see her there. There were a few more introductions and many well wishes, which stuck in her craw, but she got through as politely as she could. Angry though she was with Odhrán, she refused to take it out on those who had no part in his dealings with her.

Relieved the introductions were over, having nothing better to do since Lillie and Diarmaid were engaged in animated conversation with other company, she drank all the wine in her glass. Odhrán chimed into the talk now and then, his mood frustratingly jovial, but she knew he was watching her when, as soon as she set the glass down, Odhrán refilled it.

By this time, ranks of smartly liveried servers appeared bearing large platters containing whole roast fishes on beds of steaming samphire, along with a selection of other light dishes. The Laird’s table was served first, of course, and Maddison soon found herself surrounded by the delicious aromas of the food as the dishes were laid out for the guests to help themselves. Her mouth watered, but she was determined not to eat.

“Can I make up a plate fer ye, Maddison? What would ye like? The salmon is from the loch nearby, and the mackerel is fresh from the coast this mornin’. I can recommend it,” Odhrán tried again. She acted as if he had not spoken. “Perhaps ye’re nae feelin’ too hungry after yer journey,” he said after a few moments of silence. She was mildly pleased to hear the slight note of disappointment in his voice.

“But I believe ladies are famous for their delicate appetites. Mayhap ye’re savin’ yersel’ for the next courses, eh? I have a sweet tooth, and I ken the cooks have made a syllabub. That’s me favorite puddin’, so I have tae leave some room fer it,” he admitted good-naturedly.

In any other lifetime, she would probably have found the boyish confession endearing. She too had a liking for sweet things. But in this lifetime, here and now, not wishing to have anything in common with Odhrán, she mercilessly crushed that tendency. She deliberately turned her head away from him, feeling she had scored a small triumph when she heard him sigh under his breath.

“Maddison,” he murmured, leaning and dropping his voice. She leaned away. “I ken ye’re upset with me—” Upset! Her head snapped back, and she stared into his eyes, blasting him with all her pent-up fury. If looks could kill, he would have been naught but a pile of cinders. “But since we’re tae be wed, d’ye nae think we could try tae get along?” he added, a hint of pleading in his voice.

Maddison looked away, picked up her glass, and drank the contents, still determined not to speak to him.

“Maddison, I ken ye hate me for lyin’ tae ye all that time ye were⁠—”

She rose suddenly, pushing back her chair abruptly. “I’m sorry, but ye’ll have tae excuse me. I feel a wee bit faint, and I must retire. Good night tae ye all,” she announced to the bewildered looking company. She could imagine them staring after her with expressions of puzzlement, as she sped away from the table as fast as decorum would allow and left the hall.

When the doors closed behind her and she saw the hallway was deserted, she picked up her skirts and ran straight down it, worried someone would come after her. She had not got very far when she heard the door open behind her. She paused and glanced back over her shoulder, to see her greatest fear realized.

Odhrán was striding down the hallway in pursuit of her, his face thunderous. Letting out a small squeak of terror, she turned and ran as fast as she could, hoping to make it back up the stairs and to her chamber before he could catch her.

“Maddison, stop!” he called after her, quickening his pace. “Will ye stop this madness and just talk tae me fer a moment?”

She could see the vestibule up ahead, and the staircase that would take her to safety. She lifted her skirts higher and picked up her pace, panting with exertion, her fear rising with every pounding footfall she heard coming from behind.

She could hear him getting closer, and she had almost got to the end of the hallway when she felt a large hand fall on her shoulder. A mixture of fear and fury gripped her as she was brought to an abrupt halt and spun about to face him.

CHAPTER SIX

“What dae ye mean by this, let me go!” Maddison cried, her bosom rapidly rising and falling in the low-cut gown in a very distracting manner. Her eyes flashed with fire as she glared up at him. As if scalded, Odhrán dropped his hand immediately.

“Am I nae tae be excused?”

“Of course, ye—” he began, only to be rudely cut off.

“Then why are ye followin’ me? Ye wish tae amuse yersel’ by stalkin’ me like some poor hunted animal now, I suppose!” she accused, fully rounding on him, hands on her hips now.

“Maddison, dinnae be ridiculous. I came tae see if ye’re all right,” Odhrán defended himself with the partial fib, trying to stay calm. His own emotions were in disarray, a flurry of annoyance, embarrassment, worry, and his deep attraction to her. He took a deep breath.

“All right?! Ye wish tae ken if I’m all right!?” she demanded with a sneer. “D’ye nae have enough sense in that thick head of yers tae ye ken how I feel, bein’ forced tae wed ye, ye monster?” she panted in her fury.

He made soothing gestures with his hands. “Maddison, please, listen tae me. I ken ye hate me just now⁠—”

“Nae just now, ye great fool, forever!”

“All right, all right, calm yersel’. Let me at least speak, will ye?” he tried to reason with her, and as she did not immediately snap his head off, he quickly went on, “We cannae go on like this, with ye nae even speakin’ a word tae me and refusin’ tae look at me.”

She drew herself up to her full height and glared at him with venom. “I have nae desire tae look at the brute who lied tae me fer a whole year while I was locked in yer faither’s dungeons, pretendin’ tae be me friend. Ye wormed yer way intae me affections, lyin’ tae gain me trust, and all the while ye were the one responsible fer kidnappin’ me,” she hissed.

Odhrán was deeply stung by the, admittedly accurate, accusation. He was about to defend himself once more when he noticed over Maddison’s shoulder that two maids had turned into the hallway. Mercifully, they were too deep in conversation to immediately notice them standing there. Not wishing to be seen arguing so viciously with his betrothed, thinking fast, he grabbed Maddison by the arm and pulled her sharply into a nearby window alcove, out of sight.