Page 13 of Kilted Seduction
“Tell her tae blame it on me bonny lass, fer giving me so little time tae prepare.” Aedan’s smile filled Thora with foreboding.
“I didnae…”
“Come along now, Lady Cameron.” The man-at-arms offered her a sweeping bow. “If we’re tae get ye an entire wardrobe ready afore we depart, then best we seek out Miss Rhiannon at once. And apologies, me lady. I’ve nae yet introduced meself yet. Mac Sinclair, Laird Aedan’s second-in-command. I’ll be travelin’ with ye tae Ross Castle.” He gestured to the corridor.
Thora followed him with a great deal of trepidation. She had a feeling that Aedan Cameron was about to get his revenge for the way she’d ambushed him about the necessity of posing as a married couple for Yule.
Aedan smirked as he watched Mac escort Thora toward Rhiannon’s work rooms. He loved the seamstress - she had a friendly personality and a true gift for making anything and everything into something presentable, as well as reusing fabrics in a way that made them look as if they were all new - but when she was focused on her work, she could be terrifying.
And with so much to do, she’d be focused on Thora for most, if not all, of the next seven days, until they departed for Ross Castle. Which meant he would have some peace, and time to devote to other matters.
In other circumstances, he might have felt a bit guilty about sending Thora into a wolf’s den. Considering the situation she’d forced him into, however, he felt entirely justified. That it alsomade his mood somewhat lighter as he made his way toward his office to begin working on the thousand and one details he needed to take care of before leaving was an extra benefit he appreciated.
Usually, when he planned a trip beyond scouting the borders of his lands or visiting a village to inspect a reported problem that needed his attention, he had weeks - if not months - of prior warning. With only a few days before he had to depart, everything he would usually spend a fortnight or more arranging took on more urgency.
It didn’t help that it all had to be done in the midst of Yule preparations for his own clan, and that he now had to find someone to fulfill his usual duties for the season, such as appointing a Laird of Misrule, traditional blessings for the season, leading the Winterfest Hunt, and lighting the Yule Log. It wasn’t as if he could simply appoint his steward to those tasks, and any choices he made were bound to spark controversy.
The best thing to do, he decided, was divide the duties among his Council. Each could have some ceremonial role in his stead. Hopefully, that would be enough to keep any of them from taking offense - he knew quite well that if he appointed any one man toallhis duties, there would be complaints of favoritism.
The younger members of the Council could take over the more active duties, such as the Hunt and the Laird of Misrule. The Elders could take on the less taxing responsibilities, such as the blessings and lighting the Yule Log. The Council as a whole could decide among themselves who would manage the smallermatters, such as opening the feast, and ordering the Yuletide candles lit for Midwinter Eve.
He was just writing out his thoughts on the matter when the door to his study opened and Mac slipped inside. Aedan finished the sentence he was writing, then looked up at his second in command. “Ye’ve delivered the lass tae Rhiannon?”
“Aye. When I left Rhiannon was already workin’ herself intae a frenzy. I’ve nay doubt she’ll get everythin’ done that needs doing, but ye can expect a scolding when next she sees ye.”
Aedan sighed, but his heart wasn’t in it. Rhiannon was too lively and personable for her scolds to have much force behind them. Besides, a plate of honey cakes would soothe her mood quickly enough.
Mac stepped closer to the desk, then settled into the chair across from Aedan with the air of a man steeling himself for an uncomfortable discussion. “We need tae speak about the lass - Thora.”
“If this is about her taking me away last night…”
“’Tis nae. Though I’m still fair furious the guards didnae stop her. I’ll be havin’ words with them later. But there are more urgent concerns tae be addressed.”
Aedan raised an eyebrow. “More urgent concerns than the fact I was kidnapped from me own rooms by a woman?”
“Since she returned ye, and ye’ve already made a public statement that ye were complicit in the matter?” Mac’s smooth retort made Aedan tip his head in acknowledgment. “Aye. Fer example, the fact ye said she’s tae be attending Laird Ross’s Yule with ye asLady Cameron.”
Mac’s heavy emphasis on the last two words was enough to make Aedan set aside the quill he was writing with. “Aye. She suggested it as a ruse tae prevent Lachlan Ross from kenning that we suspect him o’ plotting again’ his neighboring clans, and I had nae better suggestion tae counter it.”
“All well and good, but ‘tis nae the issue I wish tae raise with ye.” Mac leaned forward in his seat, his eyes earnest. “How dae ye plan tae make sure Ross believes ye? And how dae ye plan tae keep the clan and Council from descending intae confusion on the matter? Wouldnae it be best that ye create a story around what ye have already mentioned tae the Council?”
Aedan blinked. “How dae ye mean?”
Mac snorted. “The rumors will be thicker than goose feathers in a pillow round the castle within a candlemark. ‘Twill be twice as bad if - or when - ye return without a Lady Cameron at yer side. If Laird Ross doesnae suspect yer ruse when ye arrive, he will afore the festivities are over.”
Aedan frowned. “Thora suggested we have it whispered about that we wished tae have a small, rushed wedding because her mother was very ill. As far as the council kens, we started caring fer each other when we scouted the land and it is developingintae something more now. So the idea of marriage will not come as much as surprise anymore.”
“Well enough fer soothing curiosity about the wedding, but ‘twillnae serve if ye dinnae begin acting the part afore ye leave.” Mac’s words were blunt and hit home like strikes from a practice blade.
“What are ye saying? That I should be keepin’ the lass in me chambers - or in me bed?”
“Neither, though if ye’re both agreeable tae it and decide tae make that part o’ the ruse, I’ll have naething tae say about it.” Mac’s response made Aedan’s ears burn. He’d meant his own statement as a quip.
Now his mind was filled with the image of Thora, standing in his bedroom in her simple linen shift, her skin soft under his hands. He recalled the sweetness of her lips, the way she’d leaned into his kiss…
“Ye like her well enough tae bed her.” Mac observed. Aedan flushed and hurriedly shoved thoughts of Thora’s delicate porcelain skin and luminous blue eyes out of his head.
“I did afore she drugged me. She’s a bonny looking lass, fer all her strangeness.”
