The Accidental Highland Hero (28 page)

“You cannot be seeking his Lairdship’s hand also. You are betrothed to Dunbarton, the old cantankerous fool. Buried two wives already, and I suspect you will be the next.”

Catriona thought her to be Agnes then. Eilis’s heart sank.

James’s eyes darkened to nearly black, his jaw tightening. Lady Akira’s eyes rounded. Eilis opened her mouth to speak, to contradict the spoiled clan chief’s daughter’s claim before James called one of his men to cast Eilis beyond the castle walls to seek the arms of her betrothed, who was
not
her betrothed. Although, she would have her freedom then, if he did not decide to turn her over to Dunbarton in payment of ransom for Dougald.

She caught a glimpse of Keary listening with interest as the hall was so deathly quiet. Not good. If he thought she was truly betrothed to his father, and he could somehow smuggle the news out…

Fia stole Eilis’s words before she could speak them. “Agnes died of a fever before Eilis sailed from Ireland. This is Eilis. Agnes was betrothed to Dunbarton, as well you know. Alas, Eilis has nearly won Laird MacNeill’s hand.” She wrapped her arm around Eilis’s waist and gave her a comforting hug. “You and I, dear lady, are both a wee bit too late, Catriona.”

Eilis closed her gaping mouth. Hadn’t her cousin refused to tell anyone Eilis was not Agnes, fearing their uncle’s wrath?

Lady Akira’s gaze switched from Fia to Eilis, waiting for her to respond. James looked as angry as when he pulled Eilis from his horse when she’d tried to steal away.

Glowering at Fia, Catriona’s lips thinned to an angry line. “You lie.”

“Nay.” Fia took Eilis’s hand. “You know we are like two halves of a clam shell, inseparable until she had to return to her uncle’s castle. I never could abide cousin Agnes and her haughty ways, being that she was the clan chief’s daughter. Reminded me of you, come to think of it. Truth be told, even when Eilis’s da had been the clan chief, she never put on airs.”

Catriona’s face reddened.

“Come, let us sit at the head table, ladies,” Lady Akira said, the color in her face returning, her lips curved up.

When she led them to the table, Fia whispered to Eilis, “We will have to run away together when the time comes or both have to face our uncle’s harsh punishment.”

“I did not want to get you in trouble, Fia,” Eilis whispered back.

“Nay, we were always bound together. Come, let us take James’s arms and escort him to the table. Give Catriona something to really scowl about.”

Though she felt awkward in doing so, considering how intimately Nesta had already found her with James and the later incident as well when even his mother had discovered him naked in bed with Eilis…  She took a deep breath, which did nothing to settle her nerves. With Fia’s encouragement, Eilis looped her arm around James’s right arm and Fia his left, leaving Catriona to trail behind.

Lady Akira gave Eilis a supporting smile, but Eilis didn’t think His Lairdship was pleased with her the way his expression remained hard. Did he presume she was Agnes and betrothed to Dunbarton, his enemy, after all?

Or was he considering offering her for ransom to free his kin?

When they reached the table, Catriona was seated on the other side of Fia, while James sat between Eilis and her cousin.

After saying grace, James leaned over to Eilis. “Tell me the whole story, or I will send word at once to your uncle that you are here.”

Chapter Fifteen

James would turn her over to her uncle? Not Dunbarton?  Eilis sat taller at the head table. Still, her heart shriveled to think she might be returned to her uncle and have to face his anger. “I thought Fia explained everything, although she will be in as much trouble as me for telling the truth.”

James glowered at Eilis.

Trying to smooth the situation over between James and her, she leaned over and kissed his cheek. The volume of talking in the hall ceased at once. Catriona choked on her mead. Fia grinned at Eilis.

“Think you that I will wed you?” James asked harshly under his breath.

She drew closer and looked up at him with the most adoring eyes she could muster, her voice lowered for his ears only. “I am supposed to be here for Catriona’s benefit. Aye, my laird?”

Scowling at her, he steeled his back against his chair. “Tell me what this is all about with your uncle.”

She sighed. “Agnes, my cousin, was betrothed to Dunbarton, but she died the day she was to sail to meet him. My uncle said I would take her place and pretend to be her. But I will not live a falsehood.” Eilis snatched a piece of cheese from James’s trencher and waved it at him. “How long do you think I would survive if Dunbarton discovers the truth? And if he did not dispense with me at once, he might still decide to do battle with my uncle because of the deceit.”

James’s eyes bored into hers as if he was trying to force her to tell the truth. She refused to drop her gaze, to submit to his coercion.

“Nor did you want to marry Dunbarton,” he reminded her.

“Do you blame me?  Agnes did not wish to marry him, either, but she would have done so for the sake of the clan. The marriage contract was for his marriage to Agnes, never to me. Fearing Dunbarton would refuse me in Agnes’s place, my uncle remains dishonest with him about what has befallen my cousin. But worse—if it could be considered worse—my uncle warned our clan that if any should reveal the truth about my identity, he would take care of them. And he means in his harsh way of dealing with dissent.”

The muscle in James’s jaw ticked, but it was impossible to tell what he was thinking.

A girl spoke to Lady Akira seated on the other side of James, and she heard some of the conversation. Apparently, the servant had somehow overheard the talk Fia and Eilis had in the bedchamber and confirmed what was said.

Lady Akira cleared her throat to get Eilis’s attention. “You are the niece of Clan Chief MacBurness?”

“Aye, my lady.”

“We have no quarrel with them, thank the heavens,” Lady Akira said, sounding vastly relieved.

No, but circumstances would change if Eilis’s uncle learned she lived and found her staying with the MacNeill.

James rubbed his temple. “Then if that be the case, you are bound to wed no one.”

“Unless you see fit to wed me.” Eilis gave him a winsome smile then cast a look Catriona’s way. The woman’s blue eyes had hardened. After lifting James’s goblet off the table, Eilis sipped from it. “Then I would be much pleased.”

She only intended to do her part as far as baiting Catriona, but she had no intention of getting James in trouble with her uncle. And no desire to have to face his furor, either. Besides, James’s intention was only a ploy to get Catriona’s acquiescence. The other matter, having been caught in James’s bed, seemed to have gone no further than his chamber. So the notion of marrying her for her honor seemed no longer necessary.

Although Eilis would like to stop the marriage so he could find someone more suitable than the witch.

As he watched Eilis’s actions, James’s brooding look changed subtly from anger to fascination. The sparkle in his dark eyes returned, and his lips rose in a devilish smirk. “You are lighting a wildfire, lady, and I am certain you have not the ability to control it.”

She set his goblet down, unsure as to the meaning of his words.

“We will take a walk in the gardens tonight, you and I, under the full moon and with torches lighting our way.”

She leaned closer to him, hoping to push Catriona into making a move for James, or more wickedly, that she would give him up. “Aye, my laird. ‘Twill be my greatest pleasure.”

His mouth turned up even more, and he looked every bit the rakish rogue. And for the briefest moments, she wished she truly could be James’s intended. If only circumstances were different.

Catriona squinted her eyes at Keary who was seated at one of the lower tables, James’s men surrounding him and his companions while they ate. “Is that Dunbarton’s son?”

“Aye.” James stabbed a chunk of cheese with his knife.

“Whatever is he doing here?”

“He is a guest, Catriona.”

“You would not treat him as a guest unless…has he finally turned against his father and joined you?”  Catriona didn’t wait for an explanation before she smiled broadly at Keary.

What was the wench’s game?

Keary caught her eye and grinned back.

“The years have been kind to him.”

“Do you know him well?” James asked, the ire building in his blood. Had Catriona bedded his enemy’s bastard son?

Catriona coiled a strand of dark hair around her finger and smiled at James. “I know him, aye. He hunted with my late husband.”

“And that is all?”

“He is an avid hunter.”

Aye of four-legged beasties and of the two-legged variety of the fairer sex. ‘Twas said the man preyed on widows left well of means, while playing to their need for pretty phrases and silky seduction, no matter their age. Catriona would more than fit the role. But she had to be mad, thinking she could act in thus a manner and not perturb James. ‘Twas providence Eilis had been delivered to him to save him from his folly in thinking Catriona was the one for him.

He reached over and took Eilis’s hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze. She would be his soon.

Eilis frowned at Catriona when the woman so blatantly showed interest in James’s enemy. What was the woman’s intent?  To make James jealous?  She was but a fool.

Eilis couldn’t understand how James had ever been interested in Catriona. Then she reconsidered. She was a beautiful creature, and when around James, she probably kept her claws well hidden, only using her purrs to seduce him.

Catriona turned her attention from Dunbarton’s son to Eilis. Catriona’s chilly glare could have frozen all the lochs in Scotland in the middle of summer.

Eilis gave her a satisfied smile. She was not one to act unkindly toward another, but in Catriona’s case, the woman deserved worse. Even as a young girl, Catriona made a play for Eilis’s father who she thought would be clan chief—and he was, for the briefest of times—until he died in battle. The woman hadn’t any real heart.

Eilis took a deep breath.

Did James not know what a deceitful woman Catriona was?  Mayhap he liked that she shared every man’s bed she could charm her way into—well, only if she thought it worthy of her time. Mayhap it made her as good a lover as James no doubt desired. Why would he be interested in an untried lass?

Fia gave Eilis a knowing nod as if telling Eilis she’d done her job well. Lady Akira chattered to another lady, more talkative than Eilis had ever seen her. The whole of James’s clan seemed to watch the goings on at the head table more than usual. Even Niall and Eanruig wore perpetual silly grins.

Eilis wished she could pretend to seduce the earl in front of Catriona and only the witch herself.

James stepped into the role way too readily. Wasn’t he supposed to act a wee bit interested in Eilis but much more so in Catriona?  Not once had he acted as though he desired Catriona’s attentions at the meal. And several times, Eilis caught him watching her as if attempting to figure her out. Well, mayhap she was difficult to understand. One moment, shy and retiring, wishing to flee at all costs. Now, brazenly flirtatious when she had barely been that way a day in her life—she didn’t think. She still could not remember all her past. She had to see someone or hear something to recall bits of it.

Except she remembered a cousin, six times removed that she had acted uncommonly silly over. Like James, dark-haired and eyed, he had the same kind of humor, a flaring temper, but a kind heart. Mayhap that’s why she had a soft spot in her heart for James. Her cousin wed another, which was to be expected, but he had been the only man she’d made a fool of herself over, swaying her hips a little too much when he was around. Fluttering her lashes at him, acting coyly. What did it get her?  Naught. He married another.