Chapter 15
Melissa glanced at herself in the mirror one last time, adjusting her dress and ensuring that everything was in place.
Isla had made sure that the tendrils of her blonde hair were neatly tucked into a bun for the fancy dinner Daniel was hosting.
She hated the fact that they hadn’t had a minute to themselves before dinner, but she knew that her presence was expected.
“Ye ready?” Daniel asked as he popped his head around the door that Isla had left ajar.
“Yes,” Melissa replied, walking over and taking his arm. “I’m ready.” She had felt a shyness toward him since they had been intimate, but she reminded herself that their guests were waiting and that there would be plenty of time later on for her to think over everything else.
Melissa followed Daniel’s lead as they made their way to the banquet hall. She secretly marveled at the handsome picture he cut in his plaid kilt and black coat.
The aromas of venison that wafted from the hall quickly filled her nostrils and made her stomach rumble. They walked through the doors and took their seat with the rest of the guests as Daniel made the introductions, paying special attention to a man named Hamish McTavish.
“You remember me sister,” Hamish said, gesturing toward a raven-haired, green-eyed woman who was beaming at Daniel with the enthusiasm and longing of someone who had missed his company and charm.
“Fiona…” Daniel said, taking the woman’s hand and greeting her courteously. “How long has it been? Of course, I could never forget ye.”
“Feels like yesterday to me,” Fiona replied in a seductive tone that made Melissa’s stomach burn with anger.
Melissa took an instant dislike to the raven-haired beauty and the way she devoured Daniel with her eyes. It dawned on her that Fiona must have been one of Daniel’s many conquests and very possibly the woman that Isla had been referring to.
“This is me beautiful wife, Melissa,” Daniel said, stepping aside and introducing his wife to Fiona.
“Pleased to meet you,” Hamish said, kissing Melissa’s hand. “Beautiful, indeed.”
Melissa took note of the shiny bald spot on the top of the man’s head as he bowed to kiss her hand. He was a short squat man that seemed to be in his late forties with a belly that jiggled whenever he spoke.
“Pleased to meet you…” Fiona purred as she shot Melissa a challenging glance. “I’m so surprised to see that the most eligible rake of Scotland has now been tamed.” She glanced at Daniel as she spoke.
“Oh, he’s anything but tame,” Melissa retorted, not wanting to back down from the challenge that the woman was clearly presenting to her. Grabbing Daniel’s hand, she squeezed it once before addressing Fiona again. “Just exclusively wild now.”
There was laughter all around the table, and Melissa could feel Daniel gently squeezing her hand in approval.
“I hope everyone is hungry,” Daniel said as he looked at his guests and gestured toward the feast that had been spread out over the table. “We can begin.”
Melissa was grateful that he tried to put a stop to the ever-escalating battle of wits between her and Fiona, but she had a feeling that their dinner was going to be a long one.
Daniel took his seat by her side and offered her a glass of wine before pouring a mug of ale for himself. It touched her heart that he’d remembered her aversion to ale since the last time they had drunk together.
She couldn’t help but notice the way Fiona glanced at him with every opportunity that she got. She made note of the way the woman’s face would change whenever Daniel paid her a compliment or touched her hand.
“Daniel…” Fiona reached out across the table and subtly ran her fingers over his hand. “Do you remember that one summer up at the loch where we all went fishing and I fell into the water, and ye saved me?” She gave him a sultry smile while batting her eyelashes.
“Aye, I remember,” Daniel replied with a polite smile, trying to turn toward Melissa as he removed his hand and placed it on his knee.
Fiona seemed unperturbed by his lack of interest and gave a laugh that made the men turn and glance at her. “I was so wet that I had to remove most of me clothes an’ let them dry ‘afore we could go home again.”
“That’s my husband, always helping those who cannot help themselves.” Melissa turned toward Daniel and lovingly placed her hand on his shoulder. “Do you remember the time you saved me before our wedding?” she whispered in his ear, but loud enough for Fiona to hear.
“Aye,” Daniel responded, taking her hand and kissing it. “I cannae forget that.”
She felt her stomach flutter at his attentions despite the fact that she knew she was trying to win a battle against one of his possible former lovers.
“Always the gentleman, our good Laird.” Hamish laughed and raised his mug in the air.
“Well—” Fiona laughed while shooting Melissa a deadly glare.
“We all have a past,” Daniel said quickly, cutting her off before she could start another round of remarks. “But what matters is the future.” He took Melissa’s hand and kissed it again.
Melissa was getting more and more impatient with Fiona’s constant flirting with her husband, but she was maintaining her composure and enjoying her meal.
There was at least a sense of one-upmanship in the way that Daniel seemed to deflect Fiona’s advances and make sure that Melissa remained in his gaze.
Daniel recommenced discussions of business with Hamish while Melissa kept a close eye on her opponent, who was doing her utmost to draw Daniel’s attention.
“So, Melissa,” Fiona asked. “How did ye and Daniel meet?” She glanced at Melissa over the rim of her glass. “That must be a fascinating story. It isnae every day that a rake settles down with an English lass, nonetheless.”
“Daniel was a friend of my brother-in-law—” Melissa began, wondering how she was going to explain that their marriage had been one of convenience and nothing more.
“Daniel,” Fiona said, interrupting Melissa’s story as if she hadn’t spoken at all. “Remember how ye and I met?” She rested her chin on her hand and shot Daniel a seductive smile.
“It happened such a long time ago that I must say I cannae remember,” Daniel lied, sipping his ale and clearing his throat.
Melissa felt a sense of pride and joy that Daniel was not falling into any of Fiona’s flirtatious traps.
“I had gone out with friends and had gotten lost on me way home,” Fiona continued, unperturbed, fixing her eyes on him.
“Then you came riding by on yer horse, and like a perfect gentleman, offered to take me home. I remember being so cold and you offered me your coat, and that was the start of a very special bond between us.” She winked at him.
“It wasnae until later that I learned ye were friends with Hamish ‘afore we met.”
“It was indeed the start of a very special friendship.” Daniel smiled politely at her once again. “I shall never forget the friend that ye were to me.”
Melissa was grateful that Daniel seemed to be recognizing the game Fiona was trying to play, and she appreciated how he wasn’t participating in any way. It made her hopes rise again that Daniel had changed his mind about the agreement they made before their wedding.
“I guess,” Fiona said irritably but quickly plastered a smile on her face as more of the men glanced her way. “We can call it that if ye like.” She winked at Daniel again.
Melissa’s patience was wearing ever so thin, as she was on the verge of pulling Fiona by the hair and dragging her out of the castle. She wished Daniel would just get the business discussions over and done with, so they could put an end to the dinner and go their separate ways.
“So, Fiona,” she began when she noticed how the woman had once again smiled at her husband. “A beautiful young lady like yourself surely must have a long line of suitors at her doorstep?”
“We’re not all so lucky to have a laird sweeping us off our feet,” Fiona retorted. “I still haven’t found the right lad… Or should I say, all the right men are already taken…” she said almost bitterly.
“Och, I am certain that the right man is out there for ye,” Daniel reassured. “Sometimes, we have to let go of what we kent so we can embrace what life wants to show us. Dinnae hold onto things that arenae meant for you. Otherwise, you might lose what is meant for ye in the process.”
“I’ve never thought of ye as a philosophical person,” Fiona remarked, her demeanor instantly changing.
“Well then, you don’t recognize the best parts of him,” Melissa replied, smiling. Her heart suddenly skipped a beat when she noticed the proud look that Daniel was giving her as she held her own against Fiona.
“So, Daniel,” Hamish chimed in, changing the subject. “Where are we standing with our business proposal?”
“Just so we are clear on the proposal.” Daniel cleared his throat and glanced at Melissa.
“Yer offering to pay double the price of whatever I am getting for me armor an’ shields going forward for the next three years, provided I refuse to do business with anyone else who approaches me during that time. ”
“That is correct,” Hamish responded with a smile. “Ye have the most skilled blacksmiths in all of the land, and the finest iron is sourced on your property. So, it wouldnae make sense for me to reinforce me arsenal anywhere else.”
“Thank ye for the vote of confidence,” Daniel said. “Assuming I agree to this proposal, how often do ye need weapons, and who would be delivering the payments?”
“Well,” Hamish began. “Fiona had offered to make the payments once a month when she comes to visit ye here at the castle,” he said fondly as he looked at his sister. “She’s always willing to lend a hand wherever necessary for the clan.”
Fiona lifted her glass once again and smirked as she looked at Melissa, finally feeling as if she had gained the upper hand.