Page 26 of Seduction in a Kilt

“Ach, I kent there must be a catch!” she said with disappointment bubbling up inside her. “What is it?”

“That ye agree tae grant me three wishes.”

“What?” She stared at him in disbelief.

“Aye, three wishes. The first is tae promise tae stay put and stop tryin’ tae escape. The second is tae tell me why ye’re so afraid tae go back tae yer braither. And the third is… well, I havenae decided what the third one is yet, but I’ll tell ye when I dae.”

“Ye’re nae jokin?” she asked, searching his face to see if he was.

“Nay. Ye must agree if ye wantae spar with me,” he insisted.

Ivy thought about what he was asking. It was hard to promise not to try to escape again. But ye tried yer best before, and he’s always caught ye out. Ye have naethin’ tae lose, so ye may as well promise, she told herself. Finally, she nodded. “All right, I agree. And I promise tae stay put.”

“Grand.” He nodded and gave a satisfied smile.

“But I’ll need me sword back,” she put in. “Only while we fight, of course.”

“I suppose that would be all right.” He looked at her curiously. “Why did ye decide tae train as a fighter? Ye havetae admit, ’tis rare fer a woman, especially fer a laird’s daughter.”

Ivy took a long sip of tea before saying bluntly, “I told ye me parents were killed in their beds in a raid on our castle when I was but ten years old.”

“Yes,” he nodded. “That’s terrible.”

She swallowed her mouthful. “Aye. It was terrible. Seein’ how they were slaughtered so easily made me determined tae be able tae defend mesel’ and me family, as well as fight fer me clan. It made me feel safer. So, I begged me faither’s war captain tae let me train as a soldier. I suppose he felt fer me because he agreed, and I’ve been trainin’ ever since.”

“Well, by the Wee Man, Ivy MacAlister, ye’re full of surprises,” he said, shaking his head wonderingly. For some unfathomable reason, his approval warmed her insides.

They finished their breakfast, and Ivy felt much better as she finished getting ready to train. Liam went to get her sword, and on his return, he presented it to her. “I want it back when we’ve finished our practice,” he warned.

“All right! Can we go now?” she burst out, her impatience getting the better of her.

“Just makin’ sure. Come on then.”