Page 80 of An Enchanted Spring

A large, slightly overweight man with missing teeth, dressed in a dazzling shade of green, intercepted them before they were halfway across the large room. He said something to Brianagh, giving her a low bow. He continued on, shootinglooks of interest to Emma. As he spoke, small drops of spittle flew from his mouth, catching in his silver-and-black beard. The drops shone in a highly distracting manner; Emma kept sneaking glances at them as he conversed with Bri. She noticed the bits of food clinging to the beard as well. She suppressed a shiver of repulsion as he bowed to her, wafting his own special brand of body fragrance in her direction.

She choked, and Brianagh helpfully clapped her on the back, smiling and saying something that sounded explanatory in Gaelic.

She turned to Emma and, in perfect Middle English, said, “Lady Emma, may I present Laird Monaghan, of the illustrious Monaghan clan in the east of our fair isle.”

“A pleasure, my lady. You are the epitome of English beauty. I would be so honored for a dance tonight,” Monaghan said, again in Middle English, the words choppy.

Emma gave a false smile. “Um, that’s, um…”

Brianagh spoke in Gaelic again, and the man grinned. He bowed once more—Emma held her breath this time—and stepped back, so they could continue toward the front of the room.

“I told him you would be likewise honored, and explained that you were a lady of few words who spoke a language we’re not all that familiar with,” Bri said grimly. “Monaghan’s interest in you is not going to sit well with Aidan.”

“Why not? The man is old enough to be my father,” Emma said, unable to keep the distaste from her voice.

“He thinks you’re here as a potential match for his son. But he’s not above searching for a wife of his own.”

Emma choked. “Me?”

“You’re beautiful, you’re of child-bearing age, and you would ally him to our clan,” Brianagh replied tersely. Another man, older than Monaghan, came towards them. “Oh boy. I should’ve seen this coming.”

The man asked for a dance with the Lady Emma, and Bri granted it.

“Can’t you just tell them I don’t dance or something?” Emma hissed as yet another man gave a bow.

“Negative,” Bri responded through her teeth as she bestowed a smile upon the man before herding Emma onward. “That was a powerful ally. Nioclas would insist upon that even if you weremarriedto Aidan. He is going to be so mad at me.”

“Nioclas?”

“Nope. Aidan.”

Emma felt a fleeting sense of panic. “I’m sure it will be fine. He knows I wouldn’t lead anyone on. Especially not men who are decades older than me and have questionable hygiene practices.”

“What about younger, handsome men who are most definitely looking for a bride and have been guaranteed one by tomorrow evening?” Bri muttered. “Oh, Aidan is going to flip. Out.”

A man about Emma’s age, dressed in the same blazing shade of green Laird Monaghan wore, bent gracefully at the waist. When he stood at full height, he was nearly as tall as Aidan, and he smiled kindly down at Emma, his brown eyes soft. His face, classically beautiful, rivaled any Hollywood movie star, and his manner was relaxed, fully confident. He spoke in fluent Middle English, and Emma had no issues understanding him.

Unfortunately.

“Lady Emma, allow me to introduce you to Shane Monaghan, who resides to the east.” Brianagh gave a swift curtsy, and Emma hastily followed.

“My dear Lady Emma, your beauty and rumored wit have captured my attentions. I know you’ve so promised a dance with my father, but he and I have discussed it at length, andhe insisted that I also dance with you, so as to see if we may make a life together.”

Emma’s jaw dropped in surprise at his bluntness.

He continued, “As the generous lady of the castle has most likely explained, I am here to find a wife, so I can begin fully living as a man ought, with something to live and die for.”

Well, at least he was honest about his intentions.

“Sorry, Monaghan, but this lady is unavailable,” a familiar voice, undercut with steel, said cheerfully.

The younger Monaghan frowned. “Are we acquainted?”

Aidan said something in Gaelic, and the man’s entire countenance changed in an instant. He gave a cordial bow to Brianagh, then kissed Emma’s hand.

Shane glanced up at Aidan, gave a smile that Emma could only classify as competitive, and said something back in Gaelic before he headed back to where his father stood and began to talk in earnest.

“Aidan!” Brianagh hissed. She glanced nervously at Emma. “You better explain what you just did to her!”

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