Chapter 11
Leah's breath caught in her throat as she stepped into the Great Hall. The air was rich with roasted meats and tension. Out of the corner of her eyes, she noticed the flickering candlelight dancing across the stone walls.
The low buzz of chatter and laughter faded into the background, creating a cocoon of sound that wrapped around her, while her heart pounded against her rib cage like a drum echoing in a cavern.
Rolling her shoulders back, Leah summoned every ounce of courage swirling within her.
Each step forward felt monumental, as if she were crossing an invisible threshold into a world where she was both an observer and the centerpiece.
But a creeping unease settled over her, a sensation that every gaze in the hall was fixated on her, scrutinizing her every move.
In her periphery, she sensed the crowd shifting, eyes narrowing and widening as they took her in.
Swallowing hard, Leah scanned the sea of faces, searching desperately for a familiar smile or a welcoming nod amidst the throng of clan members, all of whom seemed to whisper behind their hands.
It was as if they were tracking her, their stares a weight upon her shoulders.
Her fingers brushed against the fabric of her deep emerald dress, the rich color a stark contrast to the stone surroundings.
Although she was acutely aware of the gown's beauty, it felt as if she were standing there naked, exposed, and vulnerable.
She fought against the urge to turn and flee, forcing herself to walk through the hall with an air of confidence she didn't truly feel.
"There ye are," came a familiar voice, breaking through the haze of her anxiety. Leah spun around. Relief flooded her as she noticed Elsie weaving her way through the crowd. An odd sense of urgency about her made Leah want to turn around and walk out.
"Is there somethin' wrong?" Leah asked as the panic surged to her chest. Elsie paused the moment she broke free from the crowd and folded her arms over her chest. There was a spark in Elsie's gaze that made Leah want to blush.
Elsie's eyebrow arched with playful scrutiny as she took in Leah's attire.
"A wee bit overdressed for dinner, are ye nae? Or was this somethin' Killian requested of ye? Ye ken what, daenae answer that. Just be on yer guard tonight." The warning in Elsie's tone could not be ignored.
"What is there to be on guard about? The castle is secure; guards are posted about every corner.
.. and anyone foolish to come here lookin' for a fight is sure to get one," Leah said as she noticed the strong men surrounding them.
Despite the fact that she had been brought to the castle against her will, Leah had become fond of the men around her.
Many of whom she had treated in the short time she's been there.
And each one was starting to grow on her.
"All I'm sayin' is there's a reason he gave ye that dress.
Or maybe it has somethin' to do with the fact that Killian now wants ye to start givin' him the reports on his brother," Elsie replied, her smirk tinged with something deeper, a hint of mischief that made Leah's stomach churn.
Elsie's eyes narrowed as they bore into Leah's own.
"Thought ye said there was nothin' goin' on between the two of ye. "
"There's nae," Leah insisted, her voice more forceful than she as she scanned the hall for Killian, anxiety prickling at her like a rose bush with thorns.
How could she possibly explain the complexities of her role here?
The secrecy, the unspoken tension—a labyrinth too intricate to lay bare to Elsie.
Killian's instructions echoed in her mind: tell no one, trust no one.
"Sure there isnae," Elsie grumbled, her tone teasing yet laced with concern. "Have yer secrets. But mark me, the truth comes out one way or another. It always does."
"Elsie," Leah said, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear, feeling the familiar tightness in her chest at the sight of Killian across the room.
His presence was magnetic, drawing her in even as it sent her heart racing in a tumultuous rhythm.
"I promise, nay matter what ye hear, there is nothin' between me and Killian. "
"Aye," Elsie replied, her disappointment palpable. "Either way, he's wantin' ye to give the daily reports for Mason."
"Did he say why?" Leah inquired, trying to mask the anxiety creeping back in.
"Oh aye, because the laird always includes me on his decisions and affairs," Elsie said, the sarcasm in her tone evident as Leah felt Killian's gaze pierce through the crowd to find her.
The moment she turned, Killian was nowhere to be found.
She hunted the faces of the crowd only to find the same curious gazes on her.
The moment Leah started to question where Killian went, a sudden pinch at her elbow startled her, and she gasped.
Spinning around, Leah found Killian standing before her with a mischievous glint in his stoic eyes.
The look sent a tingling sensation rippling through her arm, and the room seemed to shrink as the noise faded.
She found herself enveloped in the intensity of his presence.
"Leah," he murmured, the warmth of his voice wrapping around her like a warm blanket. A mixture of dread and excitement intertwined within her chest.
Killian's presence was electric, sending shivers up Leah's spine despite her best efforts to maintain composure.
The way he looked at her, with those dark, piercing eyes filled with a mix of challenge and warmth, made her heart race in a way she could hardly comprehend.
How was it he had so much influence over her?
She wished she could turn her back to him, that she didn't have the feelings brewing and festering within her.
But she did, and the longer she stared at Killian, the harder it would be for her to leave.
"Leah," he said, his voice low and seductive, as if they were the only two souls in the bustling Great Hall. "Would ye care to join me for supper? I'd like to speak to ye… privately."
Every nerve in her body screamed at her to say yes, to surrender to the magnetic pull he had over her. But Leah clamped down on her emotions, reminding herself of the tangled web of secrets that separated them. "I—" she began, but the words faltered on her lips.
Before she could respond, she glanced at Elsie, who stood nearby, arms crossed and a knowing smirk playing on her lips. Leah sought confirmation, a sign that this was not some elaborate trap or jest. Elsie met her gaze, and the look she shot back was a mix of amusement and exasperation.
"Well now, daenae let me stop ye from givin' the reports," Elsie said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "I'm sure there's absolutely nothin' goin' on between ye and our esteemed laird. Ye ken, aside from the fact that he seems to be able to make ye weak in the knees just by existin'."
Leah felt her face flush, the heat creeping up her neck at the truth in Elsie's words.
It was infuriating how easily Killian disarmed her, how his mere presence could unravel her resolve.
Of course, it didn't help that Elsie could read her like a book.
It was infuriating not to say a word yet have all her secrets laid bare for all to see.
"It's not like that," Leah insisted through clenched teeth despite the lack of conviction in her tone. Embarrassment didn't begin to cover the sensation rippling through her. How Leah wished Elsie would just shut her mouth and go away.
"Of course it's nae," Elsie replied, rolling her eyes dramatically.
"Elsie, daenae ye have somethin' ye need to be doin' right now? Ye ken, other than bein' here," Leah said, wishing she could run and hide. But what was the point? Killian was already a witness to her absolute horror.
"I'm sure I do, but this is far more entertainin'," Elsie teased as Leah dared to steal a peek at Killian through her long lashes.
Killian stood watching their exchange with an amused smile tugging at the corners of his mouth, breaking his stern expression.
He leaned slightly closer; the scent of woodsmoke and something uniquely him swirled around her like a cloak.
"What do ye say, Leah? Will ye join me? Tis' only supper, after all. "
She hesitated, her heart fluttering as she weighed her options.
The thought of sitting beside him, sharing a meal, and perhaps even a few stolen moments of intimacy was tantalizing.
But the shadows of their circumstances loomed large.
What would he want to discuss? Would he push her for information she wasn't ready to give?
With a deep breath, Leah steeled herself.
The truth was, she was drawn to Killian in a way that felt both exhilarating and terrifying.
It was his pull that made her agree to the ruse, to begin with.
Leah realized she could either continue to fight the feelings lingering within her or succumb to them.
Letting out the air she had trapped in her lungs, Leah stared in wonder at Killian.
"Alright," she said, the word escaping her lips as a whisper, laden with all the unspoken emotions swirling inside her. "I'll join ye."
Killian's smile widened, a triumphant spark lighting up his features.
He extended his arm to her without saying a word.
Leah felt a flutter of nervous excitement in her stomach as she slipped her hand into the crook of his elbow, allowing him to guide her through the throng of clan members to the terrace.
As they walked, Leah could feel the weight of the hall's curious gazes, but she tried to push those thoughts aside. Instead, she focused on the warmth radiating from Killian's arm, the way his presence felt both comforting and thrilling.
"Do ye ken," he said, glancing down at her, "that this dress suits ye perfectly? It brings out the color of yer eyes."
Leah's heart skipped a beat at the compliment as his words lured a smile out of her.
Tucking her loose hair behind her ear, Leah couldn't help but steal glimpses of Killian.
Although she enjoyed his attention, something unsettling was shifting within her.
It was as if she were on a ship lost at sea with no provisions.
"Alright, what is with the compliments and the dress, and well, everythin'?" Leah asked the second they were out of earshot. She didn't like feeling like she was being put up to something, but she just couldn't figure out what.
"Can a man nae give ye a complement when and where one is due?" he insisted, his tone earnest.
"Aye, as long as it is given in kindness, but for some reason, I get the impression that this is all for show," Leah said.
"How observant of ye," Killian said, his tone clipped and a tad too icy for Leah's liking. How could one man be so hot one minute and icy the next? "But ye can rest assured kennin' that I mean it. There's a fire in ye, Leah that I find truly captivatin'."
Her breath caught in her throat again, and for a moment, the world around them became crystal clear, but her head began to fog. Was this all part of his plan? Or was he really giving her a compliment?
Turning the corner, Leah let out a gasp as she spotted the elegantly set table draped in white linen.
The flickering candles cast a warm glow over the exquisite silver dishes laid out like a feast for the gods.
The aroma of roasted lamb mingled with fresh herbs, while delicate flowers adorned each place setting.
It was a scene pulled straight from a dream, yet the reality of it sent a shiver down her spine.
"What is all this about, Killian?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper, as she took in the enchanting atmosphere he had crafted.
He turned to her. A dark shadow passed over his rugged features as she noticed his gaze shifting to the large bay windows.
Leah's gaze followed his as little tingles raced from the nap of her neck down her arm as Killian's hot breath caressed her skin.
"Daenae be fooled. This is all part of the plan. "
His words were like a jagged blade cutting through the illusion.
She let out a heavy sigh as he gestured subtly toward the window where a few familiar faces lingered about, watching them with keen interest. The weight of their gaze pressed against her, making her feel dizzy.
It was bad enough that Killian affected her the way he did, but to have an audience watch how she fumbled around him only added to her frazzled nerves.
"We're still in the spotlight," Leah grumbled as she pulled the napkin from her plate and sat. She knew she had no right to complain, but still, seeing the lengths Killian was willing to go for someone he cared for made her wish he cared for her.
"Aye, and we will be for a while still," Killian said, taking his seat across from her. "But, I thought we might as well put on a show for all to see."
Leah bobbed her head as the disappointment settled in her bones.
A part of her wished for the fairytale—the stolen moments, the secret glances, the intimacy of two souls entwined away from prying eyes.
And for the first time in her life, she realized that was precisely what she wanted.
The fact she couldn't have it stung more than she was ready for.
"Why are ye doin' this?" she asked, frustration bubbling up. "Ye said ye'd be flauntin' over me after the ceilidh, nae before."
"Must keep up appearances," Killian answered as he took a bite of his lamb. "Right now I have ye bring me reports of me brother. They'll see us together and when the time comes for the proposal, it'll all look far more believable."
"A little warnin' would be nice," Leah grumbled. "I daenae like findin' strange packages in me room."
"Nae even ones that bring out the color of yer eyes?"
"See," Leah snapped as she put her napkin back on the table. "It's things like that. Ye say such things that make me…"
"What?" Killian asked as he leaned in closer.
"Confused," Leah answered. "Ye confuse me and I daenae like it."
"Why does it nae surprise me?" Killian chuckled darkly as he leaned back in his seat. From what Leah could tell, hardly any emotions were lingering behind his steadfast gaze. "Ye’re used to bein' the one in control, arenae ye?"
"Ye learn fast when ye have nay to depend on," Leah answered.
"I cannae say I'm sorry life has dealt ye the hand it did," Killian said, his tone a bit softer, but the words stung nonetheless.
"If ye’re tryin' to cheer me up, tis nae workin'," Leah said as she found herself looking at everything but Killian. She couldn't stand the idea of him seeing her so fragile, with tears pooling in her eyes.
"Wasnae tryin' to," he answered. "But if the path ye were on didnae go down the way it did, we would have never met. And despite the circumstances we find ourselves in… I'm glad that ye’re here with me."