Chapter 24
A s the day wore on and afternoon darkened slowly into evening, Comgall began to feel more and more uncomfortable with Eithne. Exactly what made him so uncomfortable, though, was impossible to pinpoint. She was charming and enthusiastic, and apparently interested in everything he had to say. He’d smiled at her wit and admired the ease with which she addressed all the greatest Dal Riada lords, despite their arrogance. And, of course, she was certainly pleasant to look at. Stunning, he’d overheard one man whisper. All in all, he should be glad that he would soon marry her, regardless of her family.
But something didn’t feel right.
The feeling only got stronger as they sat beside each other at dinner. She began to shift closer towards him as the meal went on, until there was barely a hairs’ breadth between his arm and hers. Her voice lowered, until he was forced to lean in close just to hear what she said. Her wide eyes and breathy whispers seemed genuine enough, but he couldn’t help but doubt her. Was she really that attracted to him?
He tried to focus on what Tomás was saying, at the other end of the table. It would have been easier if his brother were not such an idiot. And Eithne seemed determined not to give up, no matter how hard he tried to resist her.
She twisted a little in her chair, so that her breast brushed his arm and her lips came up to his ear.
“Perhaps I should come to your room tonight,” she whispered, her tone perfectly husky. Seductive.
Comgall bit his lip and tried to make some space between them.
“I think we should wait until we are married,” he said.
Hypocritical, perhaps, after what had happened with Bethany. After all, she still hadn’t told him the truth. But he felt like he knew her in a way he didn’t know Eithne.
It seemed like one refusal was not about to put Eithne off. She slipped her hand under the table to caress his thigh, running her fingers up and down.
“There’s no need to wait,” she whispered, letting her lips touch the curve of his ear.
Comgall tried not to let anything out of the ordinary show on his face as he reached down and gently removed her hand from his thigh.
Unfortunately, it was at that moment that he made eye contact with Bethany on the other side of the hall. He froze, staring at her. She stared back, and he had the uncanny feeling that she knew exactly what was going on, exactly where Eithne’s hand was. And, although he’d done nothing wrong, he felt a little bit guilty. Soiled, as if Eithne’s touch left dirty marks that he could never quite rub off.
“Shall I come to you tonight?” Eithne breathed .
Comgall had taken all he could manage.
“No, not tonight,” he said brusquely, shaking her off. He turned to his mother, seated on his other side, and tried to ignore Eithne. It was difficult, though, when she kept pressing herself against him and teasing her fingers over his hip and thigh.
At the far end of the table, Ciaran stood guard. He scanned the entire hall, watching for trouble, but for a moment he looked straight at Comgall.
And, as Comgall sat there, King of Dal Riada, with a beautiful woman throwing herself at him, he saw a flash of sympathy in his friend’s eyes.