Page 30 of Wicked Highland Wishes
The derision in her voice didn’t bother him. She was not the first person not to believe the Fairy Flag was blessed.
“We believe it because it’strue.”
When she simply shrugged, he continued, telling her of many of the different great battles. After a spell, he was finished. “’Tis it, Helena.”
She picked up a goblet of wine and pressed it to his lips. “Drink, Lachlan.”
He frowned. Was she trying to make him muddleheaded in the hopes that he would not watch his words as much? He saw an opportunity and seized it. Perchance if she thought he was muddleheaded it would behercaution that slipped. He could drink this wine all night and still think as clearly as a cloudless day, as he’d been partaking in the wine since he was a wee lad.
He took the goblet from her and tipped it up until it was empty and then caught her watchful gaze. “Shall we get some air?” He’d rather not spend another moment in her company, but there was no helping that, and he certainly didn’t want to go back to his bedchamber yet.
“Nae yet,” she replied. “I’d like a goblet of wine so we may partake together.”
Oh, aye, she was most definitely trying to muddle his thoughts. He raised his hand, caught the servant girl Lillias’s eye, and motioned for her to bring more wine. She scampered over and poured a full glass for Helena and then one for him.
“Will that be all, Lachlan?” Lillias inquired as she leaned against the dais, he suspected to show him her charms.
Beside him, Helena stiffened. “That’s all, girl,” she snapped, showing a distinct crack in the sweet facade that she had worn so carefully since leaving her home.
Lillias’s mouth parted in shock, and Lachlan winked at her in an effort to take some of the hurt out of Helena’s sting. Lillias blushed, batted her eyelashes at Lachlan, and then flounced away.
“That woman lusts after ye,” Helena snarled and shoved another goblet of wine at him.
“I dunnae lust after her,” he answered honestly. He lusted after Bridgette, but Helena did not need to know that.
“She dunnae know her place,” she growled.
He cocked an eyebrow. “What place is that, Helena?”
He studied her as she transformed before him. The nasty curve of her lip became a smile and her face softened. She was frighteningly good at pretending to be someone she was not.
She leaned toward him and pressed her lips to his cheek. “Let us toast our future,” she said, trying to avoid answering his question.
He let her, as he was fully aware of what she was doing. He raised his glass. “To learning each other,” he offered, wishing to see what she’d say and do.
She pressed her fingertips to the end of his tilted goblet as he drank to cleverly ensure he would drink it all. “Aye,” she agreed. “I wish to learn all about ye.” She set her own goblet down without having actually taken a sip of wine.
He took up the heavy goblet, tipped it up, and purposely drank her wine, then set it down with a noisy thud. “Let us get some air now. My head is muddled,” he lied.
She fairly scrambled to her feet, displaying her eagerness at getting him alone in a dull state.
As they strolled into the courtyard, he made a show of stumbling several times. Blessedly, no one else was about. He’d rather his clansmen not think he’d imbibed so much that he was unable to properly walk. When they stopped, she faced him, twined her arms around his neck, and stared up into his eyes. “How do you fare?”
“Quite well,” he replied on a purposeful hiccup.
“Lachlan, I want to believe in the history of yer clan as strongly as ye do since it’s to be my clan, as well.”
He grunted. What sort of foolish ruse was this?
“Perchance if I see the Fairy Flag,” she said in an offhanded, innocent manner that sent every part of his body twitching to sudden awareness.
The Fairy Flag!Of course! She was here for the flag? Did she mean to steal it? Did her father think if they took the flag the MacLeods would fall because the flag was a symbol of such belief and strength? Or did the Campbells intend to invade and they feared the flag’s power and wanted it gone? Fierce anger burned through his veins. He wanted to throttle Helena, but he could not. She may well be here for the flag, but she may well be here for even more. He had to keep up the farce until he knew for certain, but he did not intend to join with her.
Her little ruse to get him muddleheaded gave him an idea. He wondered if Marion, with her skills in healing, could mix a potion that would make Helena more eager to talk. That would mean revealing the truth to Marion, however, so Lachlan first needed to speak to Iain, and then Iain may wish to speak to the king and gain his permission.
“I will feel its power and believe,” she continued, staring into his face expectantly. “Will ye show it to me?”
“Aye,” he lied.
