Page 21 of Seduction in a Kilt

CHAPTER NINE

“Aye, ye’re right,” she replied through gritted teeth, glaring over at him. “Ye’re as bad as all the others. I looked on ye as me only friend in this place, but now I see I was a fool. Ye’re nae really any different tae me braither, prepared tae use innocent women tae further yer own causes.”

She turned away from him to gaze into the flames. But it seemed she had not finished berating him, for just as suddenly she turned back, her eyes blazing. “I suppose ye’d like me tae beg ye and play the weak little woman. Is that what ye like?” She made her eyes large and sad and put on a high falsetto as she said, “Och, Liam, I’m just a defenseless woman at yer mercy, I’m beggin’ ye fer yer help!” The pantomime abruptly ceased, and she went back to staring at the fire.

He went over to the hearth and stood near her to watch the show, leaning his arm on the mantel.

“But really, I’m worried about bein’ sent back tae Carson and Gael, I think I’m goin’ mad. I hardly ken what I’m doin’. It stings tae ken I was so close tae gettin’ away from them, only tae be caught and sent back.”

“Aye, I can imagine it must be soul destroyin’,” he put in.

“Aye, it is. I cannae sleep, I cannae eat because of the worry goin’ around and around in me mind.”

“It sounds awful.”

“Ye cannae imagine how awful.” She suddenly raised her head and looked at him beseechingly. Her incredible beauty cut him to his soul.

He sighed and sat down in the chair opposite her, stretching out his long legs.

“Well, that was a fine performance, if I may say so. That was worthy of the finest playhouse,” he said, shaking his head at her and smiling.

Her eyebrows met in a sweet little frown. “What d’ye ye mean by that exactly?”

“I mean that ye’ve been tryin’ tae play me for a fool since I walked in here.”

To his amusement, she pretended to be shocked, her eyes flying wide. “I have nae!”

“Aye, ye have. Ye reckoned that when I saw ye in that dress, ye’d be able tae win me over by the power of attraction.”

“And are ye attracted?” She leaned forward, letting the shawl slip a little.

“Ach, stop yer messin’, Ivy. Ye look lovely in the dress, all right? Ye look beautiful. But tryin’ tae get round me like that willnae work. I’m nay fool. Ye didnae think I’d notice how nice ye were bein’ tae me all of a sudden? Did ye nae think the change would make me a wee bit suspicious? And when ye kissed me like that, well, that’s when ye really gave yersel’ away.”

She slumped in the chair and sighed, not bothering to deny any of what he had said.

“Damn ye, Liam.”

“There’s nay plan ye could come up with that could outfox me,” he told her. “If ye think a few fine feminine curves in a pretty dress is all it takes tae make me betray me friends, then ye dinnae ken me at all.”

She jumped up out of her chair, letting the shawl fall to the floor, her eyes blazing. “Ach, ye think ye’re so clever!” she shouted, her hands clenched at her sides. “The big man with the wee defenseless lassie all locked up, tae use as he sees fit. Mock me all ye like, but if ye were in the same boat as me, ye’d try anythin’ tae get free as well. D’ye really think I like bein’ nice tae ye? I hate ye and yer friend fer what ye’re trying tae dae. I had tae force mesel’ tae dae all this. When I kissed ye, I had tae stop mesel’ from feelin’ sick.”

Liam stared at her, fascinated by how her fury made her even more desirable, lighting up her eyes and cheeks. He felt bad for mocking her attempt to play him, strangely excited by her courage in facing him down and telling him exactly what she thought of him. He admired her more than ever. But regrettably, it did not change a thing.

“I’m sorry for laughin’ at ye, Ivy. Just dinnae think me so easily fooled, eh? Ye ken I’m sorry for what’s happenin’ tae ye. I ken ye must feel powerless⁠—”

“I am powerless, ye brute!”

“Aye, that’s what I meant. But ye must see that if Knox daesnae make this deal with yer braither, then a lot of innocent folks are gonnae get killed when him and his ally Hamilton decide tae launch an attack on us. He wants tae kill Knox and take his lairdship. Now, I dinnae expect ye tae be happy about it, but I’m sure ye can understand that Knox is prepared tae dae just about anythin’ to avoid that.”

“Of course I understand! I dinnae want innocent folks tae die. But that disnae make it any easier fer me. I never asked fer any of this, yet here I am, stuck in the middle of it all, a game played by men fer men. Nay one’s interested in what I think or want.”

Liam saw her point, but his argument still stood as far as he was concerned. “I’m interested, but I cannae dae anythin’ tae change things fer ye. I wish I could.”

“Aye, of course ye dae,” she said, her anger starting to subside, to be replaced

with bitterness. “I can see yer heart bleedin’ fer me from here.”

“Ivy, please try tae understand, I dinnae like this anymore than ye dae⁠—”