Chapter 20
20
“ S tay close,” Neil warned as they arrived at Arthur’s castle.
The entire journey there had been nothing short of miserable. This tense silence was truly starting to wear him down. He understood that she was upset, but he had his reasons for being the way he was.
“Och, now ye want me to say close to ye?” Ceana snarked, her eyes narrowing as she glared at him.
Neil ran his tongue over the back of his teeth as he nodded. He understood her irritation. He couldn’t even blame her for being disappointed. But there was no excuse for her sass. At least she had the forethought to mutter under her breath.
“I just mean dinnae get carried away,” he offered, attempting to soften his voice.
“Me? Carried away?”
“Just in case,” he amended.
Ceana arched an eyebrow, that spark in her eyes challenging him in such a wonderful way. But this was neither the time nor the place to give in to such things. He took half a step toward her, closing the distance between them, and the effect was immediate. Her breath caught, and her pupils dilated as she looked up at him, her full lips parting slightly.
Did she have any idea how beautiful she truly was?
“There ye are!” Arthur’s voice cut through the crowd before he had a chance to say anything else to her, and she immediately capitalized on the situation.
She spun on her heel and disappeared into the crowd. He would have to find her later and explain why that just wasn’t acceptable behavior. He hoped that she fought him on it. He was dying to rile her just a little bit more.
“Oh, did I frighten off the little lass?”
Neil shook his head and accepted the goblet that his friend had offered him. Though, judging from his glassy eyes and ruddy cheeks, Arthur must have been enjoying the festivities by himself long before the guests had arrived.
“Nay, ye didnae frighten her. She just has a hot temper, that is all.” Neil couldn’t keep the admiration out of his voice even if he had wanted to.
“Is that right?” Arthur spun on his heel, eyeing the crowd.
They both seemed to spot Ceana at the same time. She was making the rounds, greeting the other guests, shaking hands when she needed to with a charming smile. It was obvious that she was far better with people than Neil could ever hope to be. No matter how much he tried, he just couldn’t feel at ease.
He tore his gaze away from her, lest flashes of his dream last night resurface again. That was the last thing he needed right now. But Arthur’s gaze lingered on her, and it made a very uncomfortable feeling coil in his gut.
Neil had never really had an issue with his friend focusing his attention on anyone before, but now he was ready to wallop him for the way he was eyeing his wife.
“Dinnae even think about it,” he warned in a low voice.
He had never had an issue with Arthur in that capacity before, but it was best to ensure that there wasn’t going to be a problem now either.
“Cannae blame a man for lookin’, can ye?” Arthur snorted into his goblet.
“If ye would settle down and take a wife, then ye wouldnae need to look at mine,” Neil said a touch more bitterly than he had intended.
“Aye, aye.” Arthur smirked and gestured to the main table.
The tables on either side of them were nearly overflowing with food. The feast was going to start at any moment, and Neil needed Ceana to head toward the main table like all of the distinguished guests were doing.
He nodded to his friend and then wove through the crowd, narrowly avoiding the servants as they brought more savory-smelling delicacies to the tables. When he was close enough to touch Ceana, he did just that.
He curled his fingers around the crook of her arm, pulling her closer to him as he whispered in her ear, “I thought I told ye to stay close.”
He was quickly becoming addicted to the way her breath caught and her cheeks flushed pink every time he managed to fluster her, there was certainly no denying that. She mumbled excuses to those she was speaking to, allowing herself to be guided to the front of the room.
“Have I done something wrong?” she asked coldly.
“Nae yet,” Neil answered.
He glanced at Arthur, who was far too focused on the woman on his arm. He furrowed his brow. This sort of competition just didn’t exist between them. He knew that Arthur was a ladies’ man, but their friendship had always had boundaries. It was all the more reason that he wanted Ceana to stay close for the rest of the feast. Whatever issues they might have, they would resolve them later.
“If nothing is wrong, then why do ye look as if ye sat on a pine cone?” Ceana asked softly, her voice dripping with false innocence.
Neil glanced down at her, confused. But all she did was blink up at him as if nothing was wrong.
What he wouldn’t give to take her over his knee right now. Among other things.
Arthur motioned for Ceana to sit next to him when they were at the table, but Neil deliberately put himself between the two of them. His wife didn’t question his actions out loud, but the curiosity was obvious enough in her gaze. He would have to make up an excuse for that one later.
Arthur chuckled to himself, but Neil didn’t have time to question it before his friend stood up, his goblet raised so that he could address the room.