Page 57 of The Winter Laird

“Oh,” Keela sighed, interrupting them as she placed a satchel on the table in front of Nioclas. “I do envy your happiness, my lady.”

“We are indeed happy,” Nioclas murmured.

Suddenly, she realized Nioclas was playing the game. This was one more move to convince his clan he loved her.

Hollowly, Bri nodded with a smile. Despite the fact that she agreed to the entire sham, the realization stung. She didn’t understand why; she had no interest in staying.

Right?

No.No interest. But it would be nice if someone, just once, looked at her like he was and actually meant it. Matthew certainly never had, although his eyes had been adoring when the cameras were trained on them. But the intensity and even the raw lust Nioclas managed in his gaze, false as it was, had never been thrown her way.

The clan was Nioclas’s camera.The thought was sobering.

“Let’s be off,” Nioclas said, leading her out of the kitchens to the stables while handing her a cloak. “I thought it best if we took a journey to the sea before it becomes too cold to do so.”

As Brianagh’s usual state was just above freezing, she didn’t ask what he meant by “too cold.” She merely followed him dutifully and allowed him to help her onto the mare he’d readied for her, hoping he’d packed blankets.

Tightening the cloak, she followed him out the gates, and about twenty-five heavily armed men followed them both.

“Who are they?” she asked, pulling her mare alongside his mount.

“Our personal guard.” His face darkened momentarily. “The ones who should’ve been with you when you left the castle with Maguire.”

She angled a look back. “I recognize some of them,” she said suddenly. “They were in the village when I was there, although not on horseback.”

“Once I learned you’d left with only a handful of men, I ensured your safety. They”—he jerked his head back to indicate the troupe following them at a not-so-far distance—“protected you whilst you were securing our cook.”

Bri looked at him in surprise. “Truly? Were you there too, then?” Brianagh couldn’t be sure, but she thought he flushed.

“The dangers are great, especially for my wife,” Nioclas replied, sounding slightly embarrassed.

“Thank you.” She smiled softly at him. “I admit that I don’t know very much about the dangers here. I thought I’d be safe enough with Donovan and his men.”

“Not safe enough for my preference,” Nioclas replied, then snapped his mouth shut.

Brianagh looked back and noticed the guardsmen were doing everything they could not to listen, but it was obvious they could hear every word. Her heart plummeted farther. Nioclas reallywasskilled at his game.

She tried to stiffen her spine. She had no business letting her heart soften toward this man. In just a couple months, she’d never see him again.

The thought was more painful than she liked to admit.

* * *

“Tellme about your plans for Keela.”

Nioclas and Bri were sitting between two large rocks, somewhat protected from the winds off the Atlantic. Bri still had two blankets wrapped around herself and was struggling not to shiver, but it was still nice to be out of the castle.

Nioclas was funny. She’d seen flashes of it while spying on him in the lists and in conversations with Aidan, but he’d never truly directed it her way. He told her stories of his youth and the scrapes he and Aidan used to get into together. She was laughing so hard, she had tears running down her cheeks.

Poor Erin had figured into many of the boys’ adventures.

Bri dusted her hands off and snuggled farther into the blankets, considering. “Hmm. Keela. To start, she has to be willing to find someone. If she’s not willing, it won’t work.”

“Why not?” Nioclas asked. The wind tousled some of the strands free from the ever-present leather strap holding his hair back, but it didn’t seem to bother him. Brianagh tried to ignore the overwhelming urge to tuck it back into place and concentrated on his questions instead.

“You can’t force love,” she said with a shake of her head. “I’ve seen it done too many times. Some arranged marriages grow into respect and then eventually love. But so many don’t. The most successful relationships—marriages—come from two people who start with respect, admiration, and passion for the other. And if all that is present, it can, with work, develop into love. But once the passion cools, it’s the respect and admiration that keep the couple strong.”

“Passion doesn’t cool,” Nioclas replied. “I’ve caught many an elder in a corner kissing his wife senseless.” He smiled at the memory.

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