Chapter 25
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
“If ye hold that cup any tighter, it will be the last time it holds yer whiskey.”
Aaron glanced sideways, his eyes narrowing. Caelan was the only man in the Highlands who could speak such words to him without fear, and he never hesitated to do so.
“O’Keif. What is it?”
Caelan moved closer. “Ye’ve been holding that whiskey for ten minutes, me Laird,” he said quietly. “Perhaps ye might want to sit.”
Aaron huffed, ignoring the suggestion. He did not need to sit. He was not distracted, either. He held on to the whiskey only because it pleased him to do so.
He raised the cup of amber liquid to his lips, taking a sip before casting another look at Caelan. “Ye alright now?”
A small smile touched Caelan’s lips, but he did not move. “Nay,” he teased. “Ye still look miserable. I fear ye might soon declare war.”
“I am nae declaring war.”
“I ken,” Caelan murmured from beside him. “I am still yer man-at-arms.”
Nae for long.
Aaron swirled the whiskey in his cup, taking another slow sip as his gaze darted around.
The Great Hall bustled with laughter and chatter as clansfolk and tenants prepared for the village fair. The air was warm as children ran about. And yet it did nothing to ease the tension that had settled behind his ribs.
Where is she?
Elders and councilmen greeted him as they moved in and out of the hall, and Aaron nodded each time, barely noting their faces. They had been trying to curry his favor for the past week.
The shift in their attitudes should have been enough proof that his fake betrothal to Edith was working as planned. And yet it did not feel that way.
His jaw clenched as he glanced toward the door.
Will she nae come down before the fair?
Aaron was in no way eager to see Edith. He only wondered where she was because they had to keep up appearances. Or at least, that was what he told himself.
The village fair was to be their third outing. He had chosen it because it was a great place to be seen together for most of the day. And yet here he stood, drinking whiskey near the hearth with no lass by his side.
He tightened his grip on the cup, his jaw flexing as he exhaled slowly through his nose.
To his left, Caelan was saying something he barely paid mind to. Perhaps about the fair, or the training yard, or some foolish tale that might have made him laugh on a different day. But he did not hear most of it.
Does she wish to avoid me today as well?
His thoughts drifted to Edith again. Things had been strange between them in the past few days.
He had honored the terms of their agreement and paid her. But not once had she acknowledged the handsome sum he had added atop her wage. And worse still, she acted as though he were a necessary evil, only showing herself before him during crowded suppers.
Perhaps it is because of the kiss.
A muscle ticked in his jaw, and he shook the thought out of his mind.
I shouldnae think of her.
He took a slow sip of his whiskey this time, allowing the liquid to burn its way down his throat. But it did nothing to ground him, because even now, his mind returned to Edith.
“Ye’re doin’ it again,” Caelan murmured from beside him.
Aaron turned sharply, shoving the nearly empty cup into his hand. “Here, ye have it,” he gritted out. “Drink.”
Caelan’s face broke into a mischievous smile. “Thank ye, me Laird,” he said, leaning closer so that no one but Aaron would hear him. “But as thoughtful as yer offer is, I shall have to keep a watchful eye.”
He signaled to a servant boy nearby and set the cup on his tray.
“Has me sister arrived?” Aaron hissed.
“I have yet to receive a report.”
“Clearly, ye havenae checked.” Aaron rolled his eyes. “Seeing as ye have paid more care to me whiskey than yer duty all mornin’.”
Just then, the doors opened, and Aaron turned, his eyes landing straight on his brother-in-law, Robert.
“Laird Hallow,” Robert greeted, walking up to them.
Aaron shook his hand firmly. “Laird McLaren. ’Tis a pleasant surprise.”
“Indeed,” Robert replied lightly. “Scarlett wouldnae stop talking about the fair, so I had little choice but to bring her here.”
Aaron nodded, looking around briefly. “And where is she now?”
“Ah.” Robert’s lips curled into what seemed to be a fond smile. “She went in through the kitchen. Pleaded to see her friend before anyone else.”
A faint scoff escaped Aaron. “How suiting.”
“I should congratulate ye,” Robert said, still smiling. “On yer betrothal to Edith. It is great news.”
Aaron nodded, giving him a tight smile. “Aye.”
“Scarlett tells me she’s every bit as stubborn as she was. Or perhaps more,” Robert added with a grin. “Are ye certain ye can manage her?”
Aaron huffed in mild irritation. “I have yet to win an argument against her. Surely that tells ye how stubborn she is.”
Robert’s smile widened. “’Tis great to hear,” he said as a servant poured him a cup of whiskey. “When will the fair begin?”
“Before noon,” Caelan answered.
Robert turned, acknowledging him with a nod. “I see we came sooner than needed. Scarlett swore we would miss it if we waited a moment longer.”
Caelan’s lips twitched. “She surely is passionate about the village fair.”
“Aye,” Aaron drawled. “’Tis a wonder she isnae here right now.”
Robert laughed softly, before taking a sip of his whiskey.
“’Tis no wonder,” he said. “Why are ye fine men nae drinking?”
Caelan exchanged a mischievous look with Aaron, and before either could respond, Robert called for a round for both of them.
“Please.”
Aaron took a sip from his new cup, the amber liquid burning his chest sharper than the first had.
“Ye daenae drink?” Robert asked Caelan after a moment.
Aaron scoffed lightly.
“Nay, me Laird,” Caelan replied. “I only allow meself whiskey when I am alone.”
A confused look crossed Robert’s face, and Aaron held back a smile.
“And for what reason would that be?”
“Me man-at-arms is quite the…” Aaron hesitated. “Open book.” He turned to face Robert. “How do ye think he conducts himself when the liquor gets in his blood?”
Both of them burst into loud laughter.
Caelan frowned slightly, though it was only a fool’s anger.
“I should like to think of meself as a workin’ man, me Lairds,” he said. “’Tis why I cannae drink before the fair.”
Robert waved his hand. “Ah, O’Keif,” he teased. “Surely a cup of whiskey willnae dull yer senses. Yer Laird and I remain sharp as could be. Drink.”
Caelan looked to Aaron for help, but Aaron only smirked and shook his head.
Only a few people could hold their liquor better than the man, but he swore by this public performance, firm in the belief that it somehow always gave him the upper hand.
“I insist,” Robert added.
“Very well then,” Caelan relented at last. “I shall allow meself a single sip.”
He lifted the cup to his lips, his eyes widening over the rim as they caught something or someone that obviously interested him.
Aaron followed his gaze, his eyes falling on Violet.
Surely nae.
Caelan swallowed more than a sip, his entire demeanor changing as his gaze followed the lass across the Great Hall.
“Who is she?” Robert asked.
Aaron laughed lightly. “Edith’s maid.”
“Perhaps she’ll ken where our ladies are,” Robert said, beckoning the maid over before Aaron could stop him.
She walked toward them, curtsying to Aaron and Robert before glancing at Caelan.
“Mr. O’Keif.” She smiled softly.
Caelan nearly spilled his drink.
“Good day, lass.” His voice was strained.
Violet’s eyes widened slightly in surprise. She straightened, turning to face Aaron and Robert. “Ye called?”
“Aye,” Robert responded. “Have ye seen me wife?”
“Aye, but—”
“Tell Lady Edith and me sister that I request their presence,” Aaron cut in.
Violet nodded, hesitating briefly in front of Caelan before walking away briskly.
“Damn me,” Caelan mumbled.
The two Lairds turned to face him.
“What is wrong?” Robert asked.
Aaron shrugged lightly. “Perhaps it is the whiskey.”
“Or perhaps I have found me woman,” Caelan said. “Perhaps it is her.”
Aaron shook his head, taking a sip from his cup.
Robert laughed. “How can ye ken it?”
“I daenae,” Caelan responded. “But I have seen her around the castle, and I ken a sign when I see one.”
He stared at the door through which Violet had just disappeared, and Robert patted his shoulder lightly.
Aaron rolled his eyes at them.
“Ye have me best wishes,” Robert said, his words causing something to stir in Aaron’s chest. “I had a feeling with Scarlett too. But I spent a month convincing meself I was imagining it.”
Aaron huffed silently. His ears ached at the pretentiousness in those words.
Scarlett had only married for the sake of an alliance with Clan McLaren. But now, here was her husband, speaking of feelings as though he knew the first thing about them.
Surely, some fool would believe it.
“Thank ye, Laird McLaren,” Caelan said, smiling as though he had struck gold. “I shall go after her at the fair today.”
Hopeless man.
He had exchanged fewer than ten words with the lass. Way less than Aaron had said to Edith at a single supper. And yet he could hardly hold back around her.
How could a man allow himself to ache so openly over a lass?
Aaron could not imagine a time he would ever allow himself to do such a thing. He cast an irritated glance at his man-at-arms before moving away.
Strange what a woman could do to even the steadiest of men.