Page 34 of The Groom Wore Plaid
Cursing her impulsiveness, Maggie straightened the bedclothes and reluctantly climbed in. Someone hateful had invaded her room, touched her bed, threatened her. It was a long time before sleep claimed her, and even then, she awoke several times in the night, fearing that someone was trying to enter her room. She slept better only when she pushed a chest in front of the door.
TWOdays later, Owen rode home through the gates of Castle Kinlochard with the hunting party and searched the crowd for Maggie’s lovely face. He’d been unnaturally concerned about her in his absence, even though he knew his uncle had the castle’s safety wellunder control. She wasn’t with the servants crowded around to deal with the carcasses of partridges, duck, and deer being unloaded from packhorses. And then he spotted her at the top of the stairs, at the double doors leading into the great hall. She wore a dark gown that had been altered to downplay her figure, just as she’d done to her other gowns. The skirt was parted, showing off an underskirt made of different colors that clashed garishly, and the neckline was sewn with uneven edges. He could only imagine how appalled her lady’s maid must be.
The new attempt to make herself unpresentable reluctantly amused him. He’d countered by trying to show her that there was nothing she could do to make him break their betrothal, that he wanted her regardless. Could this all be part of a plan with her brother? The man he’d sent to investigate the McCallums had yet to return.
Owen was far too preoccupied with Maggie, he thought with resignation. On the nights he’d lain across the hillside heather, wrapped in his plaid, he imagined what her hair would look like when he removed all the pins and let it fall about her shoulders. He wanted her eyes hot with wanting him, like he’d only glimpsed once or twice until she shuttered her thoughts from him, hid behind her stubbornness.
Now in the courtyard, he lifted his arm in a salute to her where she stood on the landing high above, and she nodded. He saw people looking from him to her,and that was good. Those who were against peace between the clans had to see that this marriage was a foregone conclusion.
He dismounted into the muddy courtyard, and a groom came to lead his horse away. Taking the stairs two at a time, he saw Maggie’s eyes widen, even as he reached to take both of her hands in his, a deliberately romantic gesture. He pressed her warm hands to his cool lips, then looked up at her.
She eyed him speculatively. “Who are ye trying to impress? ’Tis certainly not me. Ye’ve only been gone two nights.”
He studied her closely. “You are well and safe?”
“And why wouldn’t I be?”
But she didn’t quite meet his gaze, and he frowned his concern.
“Your uncle was practically my bodyguard,” she rushed on, “and I could swear there were several other ‘shadows’ near me, too. Remind me next time, so I don’t think a villain has me in his sights.”
“I will remember.”
Her words were lighthearted, but he sensed a . . . falseness about her, as if there was more she could be saying.
Taking her arm, he led her into the great hall, where servants were feeding the hunting party.
“I assume the hunt was successful?” she asked.
“In more ways than one.”
“And what does that mean?”
He lowered his voice. “My uncle organized the hunt, but assumed I wouldn’t go.”
Her brows knit with puzzlement. “But ye’re the chief.”
“Harold believes I consider myself an earl before a chief. He only knows my father’s example, of course.”
She seated herself in the chair he pulled out for her. “So . . . this was a test?”
“Perhaps. He subtly implied the rough trip across mountain might be too much for me.” He took a deep sip of his wine.
“And ye’re not offended.”
“It was a challenge I appreciated, one that was necessary to my men.”
“And ye think challenges are simply for men?”
He eyed her. “I didn’t say that.”
“Nay, but ye’ve implied it, especially by the way ye had your uncle traipsing around like my nursemaid.”
“I wouldn’t let him hear you say that,” he said dryly.
“I am able to take care of myself,” she said. “Next time tell him that I once went toe-to-toe with a British soldier.”
“Of course you did.”
