Page 55 of The Winter Laird

“Although she hasn’t found the right one yet, you just watch. There will be a wedding soon,” Reilly was saying, an unholy light of mischief in his eyes. They sat at supper, Reilly to her right and Nioclas to her left, leaving her in the middle of two men keen on discussing her matchmaking abilities.

“You are an ass,” she hissed at Reilly.

“I’ll agree with that,” Nioclas said, “but I still want you to promise that if you find her a suitable mate, she won’t leave this castle.” As the serving women refilled their platter with another helping of beef, he added, “Ever.”

“I don’t have anyone in mind for her!” Brianagh exclaimed.

“Pfft,” Reilly replied, adding more meat to his trencher. “You always have a plan.”

“Always?” Nioclas asked.

“I think she’d be great for Aidan,” Erin piped up from a bit farther down the table, causing Aidan to choke on his wine.

“Absolutely not,” Aidan replied firmly. “She’s a maiden. I don’t want anything to do with a maiden. I’m not looking for a wife.”

Donovan laughed into his cup but didn’t say anything at Aidan’s dark look.

“I’m certain that statement will turn on you,” Erin replied sweetly. “Fate is, after all, a woman. Anexperiencedwoman.”

Brianagh snorted and tried to smother her laugh.

“Perhaps Brian? He’s usually up on the battlements during the wee hours of the morning,” Erin suggested. “At least, he used to be.”

“He still is,” Nioclas confirmed.

“He might be a bit rough for our sweet cook,” Aidan replied thoughtfully.

“Our sweet cook?” Brianagh snorted. “How do you know she’s sweet?”

Aidan spread his hands across the table. “She has to be sweet. All angels are, and this food is certainly sent from above.”

“Here,” Reilly said, holding out a small dirk, hilt-first, to Aidan.

“What’s this?” He raised a brow.

“It’s your manhood. I’m returning it to you in hopes that you can find a way to silence the drivel that just spouted from your lips,” Reilly replied dryly.

Erin sprayed her wine all over the table in front of her as Donovan and Nioclas leaned back and laughed heartily, drawing stares from the rest of the clan, who crowded around various tables set throughout the great hall.

“See?” Brianagh said, leaning over Reilly to meet Aidan’s eyes. “An ass.”

Aidan nodded in agreement.

“I wonder if she could do it,” Reilly mused aloud.

“Do what?” Erin asked.

Brianagh, however, was alarmed. The look on Reilly’s face was a cross between thoughtful and sly, and Bri’s experience with it told her she should not, under any circumstances, agree to whatever Reilly said next.

“Match the cook.”

“Reilly,” Brianagh said, a warning note in her voice.

“I wager she can’t,” Reilly said with a nod. “She did a fair job of it before on the continent, but she’s in new territory now.”

“I think she could,” Erin replied loyally. “She’s changed things here already, and I, for one, believe this castle is better off for it.” She, Aidan, and Donovan began discussing what the wager terms would be, as Brianagh vehemently shook her head.

“Let’s not wager,” Brianagh suggested helplessly. “I don’t think this is a good idea.”

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