Page 28 of The Winter Laird

She bit her lip to keep from smiling. “No, I think the men have catching up to do. They’ll join us when they’re ready, I’m sure.”

“I have a new opinion of you, Bri. I’m going to truly, truly like you,” Erin declared with a grin. “You are just what Nick needs.”

Bri beamed at her. She really needed a girlfriend right about now.

* * *

Nioclas watchedhis new wife saunter to the high table arm-in-arm with Erin, and inwardly groaned. Erin was one of the very few who knew him well, like a sister. She usually couldn’t keep her opinions to herself and was the most outspoken lass he knew, although most of the women in his clan took no issue airing their grievances. He didn’t care to know how other clans worked, but in his, he found out early that the women knew what they were about. His mother was a prime example. Although his sire thought her useless, she had taught both him and Aidan how to read and write when that sire banished each tutor for one reason or another. His mother had taught them sums, too, and how to manage a large clan and the castle he currently resided in while navigating the delicate feelings of many people at once.

Women also tended to know everything that was happening in and around the castle, and on more than one occasion he’d heeded the warnings of feuding clans from his clanswomen.

Nioclas well understood the value of a good woman.

“Is Kildare angry?”

Nioclas rubbed the back of his neck. “I don’t know, Donovan. I sent the lass home yesterday. She probably hasn’t arrived yet. But I did send a messenger on one of the faster mounts in the stables.” He shook his head in disgust. “His daughter is but twelve. I couldn’t marry a child.”

“It would do you well to remember that at that same age, you had mounted a battle against your sire for killing your mother,” Donovan said quietly. “And, if you recall, you won. Your clan—well, most of them, anyway—stayed true to you and accepted you as a laird at that age.”

“’Twas not me who won, despite them calling me laird. I had strong clan leaders,” Nioclas felt compelled to point out.

“Aye, you did. And still do. But these men and women here.” Donovan nodded to the clan as they began pouring into the great hall. “They believed in a child.”

“Nay,” Nioclas said quietly. “They believed in my mother.”

* * *

Donovan hoppedup to the table and gave Bri a quick kiss on the lips. “That’s Irish luck, there!”

She blinked in surprise.

Erin rolled her eyes. “Bri, this is my husband, Donovan. Donovan, try not to upset Nick today.”

“I make no vows,” he replied jauntily. He winked at Bri. “MacWilliam’s a moody sort. If I can get some sort of reaction out of him, it’s a good day.”

“Is that why you left him to the mercy of all those people?” Bri asked, watching in fascination as members of the clan continued to congratulate him. She felt a twinge of regret for fooling them into believing the marriage was a real one, but quickly reminded herself it was Nioclas who was doing that. She was just trying to get home.

“He’s a fair laird,” Erin said thoughtfully. “His people respect him, and other clans fear him.”

“His battles are legendary,” Donovan noted, “and I’d want no other at my back.”

“Save me?” Aidan asked, leaning over and giving Bri a smacking kiss on the mouth before making himself comfortable on the other side of Donovan. “I’m a helpful sort in a fight.”

Taken aback, Brianagh didn’t reply. She’d never been kissed by so many men in one day, and she wondered if this was a clan custom, or if everyone enjoyed teasing her new husband.

Would every man in the room expect to kiss her by the day’s end?

“Aye,” Donovan agreed, serving his wife some of the food from the large trencher on the table. “But your name doesn’t inspire the same kind of fear in other clansmen’s hearts.”

“’Tis true.” Aidan sighed, then smirked. “But it does inspire all manner of other emotions from the women of those clans.”

“You’re incorrigible!” Erin laughed, swatting Aidan’s arm. “You should be looking for a wife. You’re next, you know.”

Aidan’s horror showed on his face. “Lass, I will tie your braids into knots if you ever so much as mention such a thing again!”

“I don’t wear braids anymore,” Erin replied, supremely unconcerned, as one of the servants filled her cup with wine. “Besides, you’ll have a slew of daughters as payback for all the lasses whom you’ve left heartbroken.”

Bri looked at the feast laid out in front of her and took a sip of the wine. She had a wooden trencher, big enough for two, and she wasn’t quite sure where to begin. She wasn’t even sure what some of the offerings were; she’d never seen most of what was served. It looked like meat in a whole lot of unidentifiable sauces.

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