Page 23 of Highland Queen

The door at the back of the hall opened and three maids carrying trays heaped with food—cheese, bread, and meat—and tankards of ale entered. My stomach growled hungrily.

“Come, Moray,” I called to the men. “It was a long ride to hear news on an empty stomach.”

“Aye, let’s see if the ale tastes any different under a new king,” one of the soldiers said.

“Under a new queen,” another corrected.

“Sirs,” one of the maids said, passing the drinks around. “Help yourselves. There’s plenty more.”

“Suppose they’d try to poison us?” one of the soldiers asked, sniffing the drink.

I looked at the maid who had gone absolutely pale at the suggestion. “No. Of course not. I poured it with my own hand and…and had a drink myself to steady my nerves.”

I chuckled. “And she looks quite well. I think we’re safe.” I lifted one of the tankards. “What shall we toast?” I asked the others.

“You, my lady,” Killian said, taking a tankard. “To our new queen, who will be a fair and just ruler.”

I inclined my head to him.

“To Queen Gruoch,” Killian called.

“To Queen Gruoch,” the men answered.

I lifted the tankard and took a sip. When I did so, I felt eyes on me. I lifted my gaze for just a moment to see Killian studying me, his dark blue eyes resting on my face. He smiled softly, raised his cup in toast, and took a drink.

Surprising even myself, my stomach twinged with girlish softness in response to his heavy gaze. He was handsome, but I was married three times over. It hardly mattered how attractive he was.

My cheeks flushed red.

Really, Gruoch. How absurd, I chided myself.

But the thought lingered nonetheless.

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