Page 37 of Kilted Seduction
There was another reason for her nervousness as well. She knew the sensation ofthatparticular, formless fear well, even if she wasn’t yet sure of the cause. Her foresight was trying to give her some warning. Not a vision this time, just a sense of unease and uncertainty.
Something was going to happen. Something that might have terrible consequences. What it was, she had no idea. It was frustrating, especially after the clarity of the warning she’d received the night before. And yet, that was the way her Gift worked. One moment the warnings would be clear, easy-to-interpret visions, the next they would be vague premonitions that might be attributed to a simple attack of nerves.
She had to think of a way to warn Aedan, without letting anyone else know of her Gift. It was imperative that no hint of her power ever reach Lachlan Ross’s ears. Not only would he want to take it for himself, but he might have heard enough of her family’s powers to guess her true identity, no matter how hard they tried to keep them a secret.
“Ye may want tae have yer wits about ye afore we enter.” Aedan’s quiet admonishment startled her from her thoughts. She realized they’d arrived at the Great Hall. His voice was pitched low to avoid being overheard as he continued. “Shall we act the part o’ quarreling lovers, or have we mended our grievances?”
Thora considered. “Mayhap… mended our grievances, after the embarrassment o’ being caught arguing by the servants? Slightly strained, but nae longer angered with each other?”
“Aye.” Aedan nodded.
For a moment, she wanted to tell him about the warning from her Gift. In the end, however, she couldn’t bring herself to do so, not when it was so vague and she’d no idea what the warning wasin regard to. Instead, she considered the picture they made, then took a half step away from him, leaving her arm linked in his.
A married couple presenting a united front, though with more difficult than usual. That was the image they wanted to present. And as they’d hinted she was the reason for the quarrel, she adopted a slightly troubled, slightly abashed look.
She knew they’d made the right decision when everyone turned to look at them as they entered. Word had indeed spread, and she could see the speculative gleam in Lachlan Ross’s eye. “Laird Cameron. I wasnae sure ye and yer lady would be joining us this morn.”
“And why nae?” Aedan adopted a relaxed air as he pulled out her seat, then took his own. “What purpose would allowing a single quarrel tae disrupt our attendance in the festivities serve? Especially as I believe ye said we’ll be goin’ out tae seek the Yule log after the morning meal?”
“Ye have that correct. But I was wonderin’...” Ross was interrupted by the approach of a guard. With a start, Thora recognized him as the one who’d run up to greet them at the gate. The lad Keevan’s father. At the same time, a woman from the kitchens approached, her hands uncharacteristically empty. “What is the meanin’ o’ this?”
“Forgive us, me laird.” The guard bowed and the woman - she must be his wife - dipped herself into a deep curtsy, almost to the floor. “Me wife and I would beg the indulgence o’ a quick word with Laird and Lady Cameron.”
“Laird Cameron?” Lachlan Ross turned his head. “Ye ken me guards?”
It was a dangerous question. And yet, they couldn’t pretend ignorance. Word of what they’d done in saving the boy would be all around the castle. It was surprising that Laird Ross hadn’t heard that rumor - though perhaps he’d counted it as less important than the one about their supposed argument.
Aedan spoke before she could think of what to say. “A brief encounter, last night.” He turned to the guard. “How is yer son?”
“Well enough. He’ll be confined tae the kitchens or our cottage for a seven-day, save fer visitin’ the healer. But I’d nae have a son, were it nae fer ye and yer lady.” The guard bowed again, the depth of it just shy of the extent of his bow to his liege laird. “Thank ye, me laird. Ye and yer lady… I havenae much, and neither has me wife, but if there’s aught in our power tae give, ye have it, savin’ that it might go against our laird.”
That was a weighty pledge, and not lightly given. Thora caught a flash of anger on Lachlan Ross’s face before he resumed his bland expression. The laird of Clan Ross was not happy that any man should have a secondary claim on one of his own.
She was tempted to release the guard and wife from such a pledge, if only to protect them from the possibility of Lachlan’s anger. However, her intuition warned her that it might be valuable. There were limits to the guard’s promise, but whatever he could offer might yet be helpful.
Aedan seemed to thinking along the same lines. “I dinnae ken what we might need, when yer laird is such an excellent host, but I will keep yer words in mind.”
That was enough, apparently. Both of the Ross clan-folk excused themselves. As soon as they were gone, one of the guests spoke up. “Now, here’s a tale I havenae heard. What on earth were ye doin’, and when?”
“Aye. I must confess, I am curious meself.” Lachlan’s voice was smooth, almost toneless save for an air of mild curiosity, but Thora felt instantly wary all the same. “It sounds as if… were ye outside, in the weather we’ve been havin’? And… ye couldnae have been out after dark, surely?”
He was looking for a hole in their stories. Anything he could use to catch them in a falsehood. Thora thought quickly, then dropped her eyes. “Och, well in truth I was a little irritable about some rumors I’d heard,” she looked pointedly at Aedan, “so, I went out tae cool me temper. Aedan followed tae scold me fer bein’ so foolish as tae go out. We were… well… discussin’ the matter, when we heard someone cry out, and a splash. A young lad had fallen intae the river. I had the light, so I saw him first, and then Aedan went in tae rescue him. We thought… well, he could have been anyone’s lad…”
“Ye went in the river? ‘Tis near frozen!”
“Aye. I ken.” Aedan grimaced. “We came back and were warmin’ up and the argument resumed over me foolishness in goin’ in the river an’ went from there.”
“I see. Well, I commend ye fer yer action. Though tae go walking by the river after dark…”
“Aye. I ken. ‘Tis just… there’s a rill near me home. I’m so used tae walking along the bank when I’m nae in the best mood. Me family’s too large tae get any peace any other way.” Thora deliberately brought to mind how she’d reacted to Aedan seeing her undressed and allowed the blush to paint her cheeks. “I… now… I dae realize Aedan was right tae fuss… I just…”
“Aye, aye.” One of the other men - the one she recognized as having been drunk the day before - made a gesture. “A woman’s whims are foolish, and Laird Cameron is noble enough tae both indulge them and save a child in the bargain. But if we dinnae finish eating, we’ll be out after dark taenight, searchin’ the Yule log. Laird Cameron may be fine with freezin’ his bollocks off, especially if he had nay other use fer ‘em, but I’m nae so noble nor so subject tae a woman’s fancy, thank ye.”
Laughter echoed around the table, and Thora’s flush deepened without any effort on her part. Still, the outburst seemed to have distracted Lachlan, so that was all to the good. She could bear a bit of public embarrassment for the sake of keeping his suspicions dormant.
Something about the man’s words, though, sparked her uneasiness once more. The premonition tingled in the back of her thoughts, insistent but stubbornly elusive. Thora forced herself to go back over the man’s words, trying to pinpoint the feeling.
It had nothing to do with saving the child, or with comments about womanly behavior. Nor did her concern increase when she thought about Aedan ‘freezing his bollocks off’.
