Page 19 of Married to the Icy Highlander
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Breakfast the following morning was a somber affair. Ceana had been dressed in almost total silence, which followed her as she entered the hall. She was keenly aware of the way Neil’s eyes tracked her every movement as she rounded the head table to sit at his right-hand side. However, even when she took her seat, he didn’t so much as utter a word of greeting.
“Morning, M’Laird,” she said, but he merely took a sip from his goblet instead of answering her. “Did ye sleep well?”
Nothing.
To her right sat Jeanie and a maid. The young lass was happily kicking her feet under the chair as she picked at the food on her plate. She was certainly a happy enough child as she hummed softly to herself. Her maid looked exhausted, judging by the purple bags under her eyes.
It was very obvious that Jeanie, despite her charming appearance, was a high-spirited lass. She and Ceana certainly had that in common.
“Ye must try the sugar plum pastry, Lady Ceana,” Jeanie murmured without even looking in her direction.
But Ceana was more than happy to seize any opportunity to distract herself. She needed it, with how cold her husband was toward her.
“Have a bit of a sweet tooth, do ye?” she asked as she reached for a sugar plum pastry.
“Aye! But I’m nae supposed to. Me maid says that it’ll stunt me growth and cause all of me pretty teeth to rot out,” Jeanie said with such openness that Ceana’s heart swelled.
“Which maid? This one?” Ceana asked. “I’m sorry, I didnae catch yer name…”
“Ailsa, M’Lady,” the maid answered and then muffled a yawn with the back of her hand. “Beggin’ yer pardon, M’Lady.”
“Dinnae worry about it. I can imagine that lookin’ after a child is tiring work in the late hours.”
“I can introduce ye to all of the maids now that ye’re goin’ to live here!” Jeanie interjected, seemingly oblivious to the conversation they were having.
“That would be a great idea—I certainly could use the help. It takes me a while to learn names,” Ceana answered, doing everything in her power to focus on the little girl and not the intense eyes burning holes into the back of her head. She had never felt so scrutinized before. “But yer faither and I need to have a very important discussion this morning.”
“And after? I have so many things to show ye!” Jeanie pressed as she shoved the rest of her pastry into her mouth with a wry grin.
“Smaller bites, Jeanie!” Ailsa chastised with a sigh.
Somehow, Ceana had the feeling that there was very little that Jeanie listened to unless she was of a mind to do it.
Strong-willed and headstrong. Must have gotten it from her faither.
“Aye, after. I’ll send me maid to fetch ye, all right?” Ceana offered more formally.
Jeanie held out her hand for Ceana to shake. “Agreed! Then we must prepare!” Then, she scrambled out of her chair without asking for permission and pulled her maid along with her.
Ceana had her work cut out for her, indeed.
But, with Jeanie gone, she no longer had the buffer of conversation to rely on… and had to pick uncomfortably at her food.
“Would it kill ye to look a touch more satisfied? Me men are goin’ to talk,” Neil grumbled.
He must have had enough of her silence.
“Well, if I had been satisfied properly, then I wouldnae have to pretend, would I?” Ceana muttered under her breath.
Neil pushed back his chair so quickly that she almost flinched. The sound of wood scraping across stone seemed to echo off the walls as he grabbed her by the forearm and nearly dragged her out of the main hall.
“Unhand me!” she demanded, unsure if they were being watched or if this was just the sort of treatment that she had to expect when she did or said something that the Laird didn’t like. If he thought he was going to get away with it, he was sorely mistaken.
Neil didn’t loosen his grip until they were out in the gardens. He glanced around once to make sure they were alone before releasing her abruptly.
Ceana had leaned a touch too far into the gesture and nearly stumbled, but she managed to catch herself at the very last minute.
