Page 56 of The Groom Wore Plaid
“I’m embarrassed by his terrible behavior in a place I want to call home . . .” Kathleen’s voice trailed off as she stared at Maggie. “Ye didn’t know, did ye?” the maid whispered. “Och, his lordship was sparin’ yer feelin’s and I made a mess of things.”
Maggie put a hand on Kathleen’s shoulder. “I already knew your brother was not fond of a McCallum marrying a Duff. Think nothing of it.” She almost wished Owen had heeded Gregor’s words. Then it would be over, and she wouldn’t have to see Owen’s dead face in her dreams.
She thought of the fires that had been set, the talisman in her bed, the rocks in the way of her descent. Could Gregor have been the one who raced up the slopes to hurt her? He was younger and fitter than Martin.
She changed the subject to chatter about her family, finding herself describing Hugh, Brendan, and her mother to the interested maid.
Before supper, she found Owen standing on the landing outside the great hall, looking across the battlements and into the distant hills. Below them, the courtyard was a hum of activities, with booths being set up for the peddlers to sell their wares. Owenglanced down at her with a faint smile, and put an arm around her waist.
“Ye look lovely today,” he said dryly, glancing pointedly at her gown.
She answered primly. “Thank you.”
His look became sober as he returned to the view.
“Are ye worried about the reception of my family during the festival?” she asked. “Kathleen told me her brother tried to talk ye out of marrying me. Ye should have listened.”
He shrugged. “His words meant little to me. There will always be people unable to accept change. They have to learn that McCallums and Duffs aren’t so very different.”
For a strange moment, she almost thought he was telling himself that.
His mouth tilted up. “And besides, I believe Gregor was only hoping to make me miss my next shot.”
And then he put his arm around her waist, right there in public, and she had no choice but to allow it, short of embarrassing him.
To her surprise, he squeezed her padded waist a little tighter and leaned down to whisper into her ear, “I like that you’re rounded in all the right places.”
She stiffened.
“It makes me think of the pleasures of exploring your womanly softness in my bed.”
Frowning with annoyance, she elbowed him, and he chuckled but didn’t let her go. He was pointing outthat he knew the truth of her deception and teasing her about it at the same time.
But his familiarity reminded her of other places his hands had been, and once she’d remembered such intimacy, she couldn’t forget it. She wanted to . . . squirm as if she couldn’t get comfortable; she wanted to press closer to him; she wanted—
She wanted to find a replacement wife and leave, before her treacherous thoughts made her even more miserable.
“I believe I see your family in the distance,” Owen said.
She gasped and stood on tiptoe, as if that would help.
“I see a glint of light off metal,” he added.
“They have to be armed for the journey,” she hastened to assure him.
Amusement crinkled his eyes. “I have traveled roads before and understand the necessities. I know they don’t mean to invade.”
She felt a blush stealing over her but kept her gaze focused in the distance. Several clansmen came up the stairs, nodding respectfully as they moved past through the open doors to the great hall.
“Everyone we care about will be here,” he said quietly. “We could marry. The banns have been read once so far, and I could pay a stipend to speed up the process.”
Surprise gave way to tiredness. “I will not marryye, Owen. But I won’t embarrass ye by talking about it with my brother—at least not in public.”
Owen gritted his teeth. “He’s the one man who’ll understand the stubbornness I have to put up with.”
“He’s used to stubbornness, because he’s full of it himself. I’ll be curious to see if his relationship with our mother is improving. Unlike him, I ken what it’s like to feel powerless against a chief, against a father, against a strong, violent man. My mother suffered for many years. Hugh can’t truly understand that. My prayers were answered when my mother and Hugh reconciled, but there’s still a wariness there. Speaking of mothers,” she added, changing the topic, “yourswas not happy about our marriage. Such a shame ye’ll still have to marry a McCallum, though it won’t be me.”
“These last weeks with your family will surely change her mind aboutyou,” he said pointedly.
