Page 19 of Scot of Desire
“I shall come with ye,” Laird Gilroy said and stood too. Bran gave one look to Catreena that sent her scuttling to her feet.
“Very well, perhaps a brief walk in the snow is just what a lass needs after dinner,” she said mockingly. Tad took her arm fast and led her out of the room, with Laird Gilroy moving at their side.
“Well, perhaps it gives us chance tae talk more,” Cillian said with ease, seeming to forget that Bran existed at all on her other side. “I have a great love fer horses, me lady. Indeed, I am a fond rider.”
“Then ye’ll have yer match in Lady Ilyssa,” Brand spoke suddenly. Ilyssa realized that he had not spoken for the entire dinner up until this point. “She beats us all in a race.”
“Is that true, me lady?” Cillian smiled though pointedly did not glance Bran’s way as he spoke.
“Aye, I am a fair enough rider.”
“Ye dae yerself a disservice,” Bran said, taking what was a rather large gulp of his whisky. “Ye are the fairest rider I ken.”
“Am I?” Ilyssa turned to face him, quite forgetting for a minute that she was supposed to be paying Cillian attention, not Bran.
“Aye,” Bran said plainly, as if the answer was obvious.
“Ahem.” Cillian cleared his throat, pulling her attention back toward him. “Perhaps we could go fer a ride someday soon, me lady?”
“Aye. I’d like that.”
Bran muttered something under his breath, something so quiet that she could not hear the words. She suddenly felt heated and ill at ease sitting between these two men and was desperate to escape.
I need tae get out of here!
“If ye would excuse me,” she stood, and to her surprise, both men stood too, turning to face her. “Nay need tae stand.” She waved a hand at the pair of them. “I need tae visit the privy. I shall return soon.”
“I shall escort ye.” Cillian showed signs of following her, but Bran stepped in the way.
“Lady Ilyssa is quite capable of walking tae a privy alone… sir.” Bran paused a long time before he added the nicety.
Ilyssa glanced back at the doorway to what appeared to be a distinctly frosty atmosphere as the two men sat down again, neither of them saying anything to one another. Ilyssa hurried into the corridor, hastening to find the privy.
What am I daeing?
She turned to stare into a looking glass as she lowered the skirts of her gown.
I cannaekeep thinking of Bran. I need tae create an illusion that I am considering Cillian.
Yet no amount of talking to herself could stop her thinking of the night before, when they were alone in his chamber.
I just wish tae speak tae him, tae be alone again.
Angered to have such a thought, she flung the door open and hastened along the corridor, praying that by the time she returned to the great hall, Catreena and Tad would have hopefully returned too. She was still ambling down the corridor when a shadow moved before her, wandering between the torchlights burning on the castle walls.
“Oh!” She yelped in surprise, a hand on her chest as she leapt back.
“Fear nae, me lady,” Cillian’s easy voice suddenly came from the shadow.
Ilyssa still moved back in alarm, sinking near one of the burning torches so that Cillian was forced to step more into the light. The glow of the orange fire fell on his handsome features, andshe thought how curious it was that in this light, those dark eyes looked almost black.
“Forgive me, I didnae mean tae alarm ye. I just wanted tae come and see ye were well, as ye have been a while.” He stepped toward her, that permanent smile back in his face. “Are ye well, me lady?”
She had no intention of telling him that she had wasted time talking to her reflection in the looking glass.
“Quite well, thank ye. Has me braither returned tae the table yet?” She did her best to walk past Cillian, but he blocked her way.
Fear jolted in her chest again. She knew it was mad to be afraid. Cillian had said nothing fearful, and he had not once tried to touch her in their meetings that day, or even make an illusion to their betrothal, but there was something about him that frightened her.
