Page 12 of In Bed with a Highland Liar

I hope he doesnae say anythin’ foolish.

CHAPTER SIX

Lilith ushered Freya towards the stairs but she didn’t follow her sister. Instead, she snuck back towards the great hall, standing right outside the door, hidden. Though she couldn’t see Aaden and Cameron, she could hear them as they conversed, the silence of the room now that everyone else was gone making it easy to eavesdrop on them.

She was curious. When she had first met Aaden that night at the inn, she would have never guessed he was a Chieftain, though perhaps she should have known better than to assume he was a mere soldier. Chieftains, after all, were not necessarily any nobler than a common soldier and Aaden was perfect proof of that.

He was handsome, that much was true. His blonde hair curled at the nape, his hazel eyes sparkled with mirth and mischief every time he looked at her, and that beard, neat and trimmed short, gave him a rugged appearance that contrasted curiously with his boyish charm. But none of that made him any more likeable in Lilith’s eyes. If anything, it made him more infuriating.

If he wasnae so handsome, it would be easier tae ignore him.

“Forgive me fer sayin’ this about yer cousin, but he doesnae ken how tae properly treat a lass,” Cameron said the words too mild for the venom that dripped from his tone. It didn’t surprise Lilith that he felt this way. What surprised her is how open he was about it with Aaden. Perhaps he felt more at ease with him because they had met before and Lilith couldn’t help but wonder if they had developed some sort of camaraderie.

Cameron had never spoken of Aaden, though. Surely, they were only acquaintances.

“Naething tae forgive,” Aaden said with a soft chuckle. “I agree. Me cousin can be… immature.”

“Immature,” Cameron hummed, clearly unconvinced by the term. “Aye, I suppose that’s it. Well, if he’s here fer Freya, that must mean that ye’re here fer Lilith?”

“Aye,” Aaden said. “I wouldnae compete with me cousin.”

Cameron laughed, the sound bright and amused. “I wish ye good luck with that. I am sure ye already ken what they say about her.”

“I dae,” Aaden confirmed. “But I think it’s all rumors.”

“It isnae,” Cameron assured him. “She has sent away every single suitor her faither has presented tae her. I would advise ye tae nae delude yerself that ye’re different or ye, too, will be sent away. Dae the best ye can if ye truly wish tae wed her.”

“Trust me, Cameron, I will give it me best efforts,” said Aaden.

So far, he isnae doin’ a very good job.

If that was the extent of his best efforts, then Lilith was hardly impressed by him. Some charming words and a sorry attempt at a bouquet were hardly enough to erase that filthy behavior of his, the memory of which had already stained their relationship. Had he not been so reckless and impudent when they had first met, perhaps Lilith could have at least been persuaded to hear him out, since she had little choice on the matter of her marriage. She preferred to have no husband at all, but if she had to choose, then she would choose brains over beauty, something that Aaden seemed to lack.

Aaden, however, didn’t only give her the impression that he was dull as a rusty blade. He was also a terrible flirt, and he had no regard for what was decent.

“What does Lilith like?” Aaden asked and Lilith found herself surprised that he would even ask. Most of her suitors didn’t try to get to know her. They preferred to talk about themselves or things they liked. “If I am tae court her, I should ken how.”

Lilith heard Cameron draw in a deep breath, the silence between them stretching for a few moments. “She likes tae read. She’s always in the library with a book in her hand. She likes music, archery. She’s a fine archer.”

“Is that so?” Aaden asked, sounding impressed. “I prefer the dirk meself. Does she have a favorite song?”

“A favorite song?” Cameron hummed, another silence stretching between them. “There is one she sings with Freya often.”

Softly, Cameron began to hum a familiar tune, one that Lilith knew well.

“Ach, I ken that song,” Aaden said, and Lilith could have sworn she could hear a smile in his voice. “I remember me maither singin’ it tae me when I was a bairn.”

“I dinnae ken if that will be enough tae endear ye tae her,” Cameron said. “In fact, I doubt anythin’ ye can dae will sway her.”

“Dinnae fash,” said Aaden. “I like a challenge. I willnae give up so easily.”

As they spoke, along with their words, Lilith also heard their footsteps approaching. Hastily, she hid behind the nearest alcove, watching them as they walked out of the great hall and towards the main entrance, before stepping out into the courtyard. It was riskier to follow them out there, since there weren’t many places to hide, but she was too curious to abandon her task now. Aaden was a small mystery, but a mystery nonetheless. It was more than she could say about her other suitors, who were like open books, their thoughts and intentions easy to read.

Determined to figure him out, Lilith followed them outside unseen and found them standing in the shade of a large oak near the south wall. Slowly, she approached and hid behind a row of tall bushes, close enough to listen to them over the bustle of activity in the courtyard, but also far enough to remain unnoticed.

“But I’m tellin’ ye, she is naething like other lasses,” she heard Cameron say. “What they say about her isnae all true. She’s nae a cruel lass nor is she incapable o’ love. She is just stubborn an’ has decided that she doesnae wish tae wed. Who can change her mind?”

Though it warmed her heart to know that Cameron didn’t see her the way most other men did, she still wished he hadn’t revealed that to Aaden. It would be more convenient for her if he did, in fact, think of her as cruel and cold, with no trace of love in her heart. She didn’t want him to be encouraged to pursue her. Already, he seemed to be determined enough.