Page 18 of Scot of Desire
“Dae ye reckon he has put his chair on a little platform tae seem so tall?” Ilyssa whispered to Bran. He smiled a little at her, and they shared a look, before Bran led her further into the room.
Beside Laird Gilroy on one side sat Tad who was quiet, barely saying anything at all as Laird Gilroy tried to tell him of thegreat wonders of the Grant clan. On Laird Gilroy’s other side sat Cillian Grant. As Ilyssa neared him, he stood at once in greeting and bowed.
She supposed he was handsome in his own sort of way, but the face inspired no warmth in her. All she could think of was the fact this man was prepared to marry her, a woman he did not know, because her grandfather long dead had decreed so.
He can have nay heart at all.
“Please, join me, Lady Ilyssa.” He reached for the chair to draw it out so they could sit together, but before he could lay a hand on the seat, Bran had beaten him to it.
Bran drew the seat out, allowing Ilyssa to sit.
“Thank ye,” she whispered to him. Bran sat on her other side as Cillian leaned forward. Ilyssa caught sight of the barest glance Cillian made in Bran’s direction. She rather suspected he was doing his best to try and ignore the fact Bran was there at all.
Ilyssa exchanged a wide-eyed look with Catreena who sat beside Tad. Catreena seemed to find it greatly amusing and hastily snatched up a glass of mead.
“What can I pour ye tae drink, me lady?” Cillian asked Ilyssa with a kind voice. “We have the finest claret imported from France, or perhaps yer taste is more…” He trailed off and his eyes flicked away.
It took Ilyssa only a second to realize why. Her goblet was already being topped up by Bran, who had reached for her favorite drink above all others – mead.
“Thank ye,” she said again, taking the mead.
“Ah, well how about I help ye tae the food instead. Would ye like pork? Or perhaps salmon?”
Before Cillian could say anymore, Bran had put the salmon Ilyssa loved so much down on her plate. It was only when she turned back to Cillian to speak to him that she noticed he was not the only one watching their behavior with interest. Laird Gilroy was watching them too, as was Tad.
Ilyssa bristled under their gazes and subtly kicked Tad under the table, urging him to say something and dispel the awkward air.
“Ye have a pleasant home here, me laird,” Tad said, not even flinching. “Have ye made many changes tae it?” He gestured to Cillian, trying to get him involved in the conversation, but Cillian did not reply.
“Ah, I have made many changes. The armory in particular I have added tae,” Laird Gilroy exclaimed with a proud smile. “Ye should see some of the pieces in me collection…” As he droned on, Ilyssa felt Cillian lean toward her. She shifted, trying to get away from him.
“I would be glad of the chance tae ken ye better, Lady Ilyssa, without yer…” he glanced toward Bran, “guard dog.”
Across the table, Catreena made a strange snorting sound into her own cup. Ilyssa presumed it was Catreena’s attempt to hide her laughter. Fortunately, Tad had seen it too. He quite expertly shoved a plate of onions and carrots into Catreena’s grasp so she could busy herself doing something else.
“Bran and I ken each other well,” Ilyssa explained. “We have been close friends, almost like siblings, since childhood.”
“So I see.” Cillian shifted his focus to Ilyssa and suddenly smiled. “Come, talk with me, and tell me about yerself.” He spoke with a charming smile but out of the corner of her eye, she saw Bran’s expression darkened. For a second, she thought he would rise from his seat and make some threat, as he had attacked the man in the tavern the night before, but he didn’t move another muscle. He didn’t even bother to eat his food.
Ilyssa shifted her focus on Cillian, catching Tad’s eye as she did so. There was a warning glint in his eyes that made her recall what he had said to her that morning when they had left the inn.
“Remember, Ilyssa, it’s about creating an illusion. Make Cillian Grant believe ye are open tae marriage, and they will nae be so unnerved by me attempts tae get ye out of this. The less we raise their suspicions that I am merely buying time, the better.”
With this in mind, Ilyssa smiled at Cillian, an idea occurring to her.
“First, tell me about yerself, Cillian,” she said, trying to appear as warm and as friendly as she possibly could. “Tell me about yer life here in the castle.” He smiled and leaned toward her once again.
Ilyssa hid her yawn behind her tankard as best as she could. She had eaten her dinner and her dessert, all with Cillian waffling on about life in the castle and his clan. She admired his dedication to his clan, though it had also struck her that he happily talked about himself for the entire evening, seemingly forgetting to ask her anything about herself again.
So much fer wanting tae get tae ken me, his future wife.
“Ye have fascinating conversation, sir,” Ilyssa said as best as she could when Cillian paused and was clearly waiting for her to say something.
Across the table, Catreena snorted into her wine once again. Tad must have been the one to kick her under the table to stop her, for she jumped so much she nearly fell out of her seat and looked at him with an accusatory glare.
“Ye must have something wrong with yer throat this evening, Catreena.” Tad dropped his napkin to the table. “Come, let us take a turn in the fresh air so ye may clear yer breathing.”
“I’m quite content where I am, thank ye,” she said with a forced smile. Tad hovered by the back of her chair, clearly not giving up.
