Page 12 of Highlander of Steel
Killian considered his answer. It wouldn’t go down well if the castle heard that there was an Ainsley in one of the nicer guest chambers, not after the devastation of last week’s battle.
I wasnae the only one who lost someone.
Indeed, the clan had barely begun to grieve the loss of his father. Beyond giving the man a dignified burial, Killian hadn’t started to grieve at all. He didn’t have the time or strength to spare on sorrow. Rather, he meant to honor his father by fulfilling the final promise he had made to him.
“Ye must promise to take care of these lands and these people. Ye must be the one to secure peace, whether ye do it by sword or by scheme. And keep yer braither safe.”
He had already failed to keep one part of that promise when Fraser had been kidnapped by Ainsley’s soldiers. But with Ailis secured in his castle, he fully intended to fix that mistake. And, perhaps, use Ailis to secure that peace, too.
“Lady Ailis Lyall,” he told the maid, choosing honesty.
The clan and castle might not like what he had done at first, but once he executed his plan, they would come to realize the benefit to them all.
One couldn’t fight a monster like Laird Ainsley the ordinary way. To deal with him, a man needed to stoop to his level, getting his hands just as dirty.
The maid clamped a hand over her mouth. “Laird Ainsley’s youngest?”
“Aye,” Killian replied, before walking away. He had made it no more than ten steps before he paused and glanced back. “Andtreat her as ye would any other guest. If I want that to change, I’ll tell ye.”
For he was notlike Laird Ainsley and Murdock Lyall. He would not blame their crimes on Ailis, punishing her in their stead. Not unless they gave him no other choice.
Stretching out like a cat before a fireplace, Ailis gave a contented squeak at the strange pleasure of unfurling muscles that were waking up for a new day. She hadn’t slept so well in years.
It’s so… peaceful.
Her mind wasn’t fully awake yet to remind her how ridiculous that sentiment was. She wasn’t on a lovely excursion somewhere; she was a prisoner in the enemy’s castle, regardless of how comfortable the bed was or how lulling the sound of distant surf might be or how… safe she might have felt.
Here, there was little chance of her brother or father hammering on her door to accuse her of something, or of walking to the door to find it locked. It certainly wouldn’t be a shock if she found the door here locked, for at least it was expected in her situation.
What time is it?
She searched the room for a clock, but found none. Judging by the hazy autumn light that spilled in through the drapes, it was late morning, the sun not at its peak yet.
A gasp escaped her lips. “What a lazy thing I am,” she murmured to herself with a small measure of delight.
At Castle Ainsley, she would have been dragged out of bed if she had dared to sleep past dawn. The next evening, rounded spikes would have been placed under her mattress so she could not sleep comfortably, as punishment for her slothfulness.
Covering her mouth as she yawned, she crawled to the edge of the large bed. When her hand touched the spot where Killian had sat the night before, she paused.
“Did that truly happen?” she muttered.
Why was he watchin’ me sleep? How did I nae hear him come in? What was his reason for comin’ into me chambers and just… sittin’ there?
She didn’t know which question unnerved her more.
Still, at the very least, she hoped she had not snored. Having never shared a bed or a room with anyone, she wasn’t sure if she was a graceful sleeper.
“Ye’ll stay mine for as long as I please…”
Her breath caught as she remembered his dark gaze taking in the diaphanous fabric of her nightdress. The rumble of his voice as he had said he had plenty to think about.
Heat flooded her face, prompting her to press the cool back of her hands to her feverish cheeks.
At that moment, someone cleared their throat.
Ailis started, her heart lurching as her eyes darted to the noise. Silly of her, really, to think she might be left alone in her new chambers.
A face appeared around the high back of one of the armchairs that sat by the fire. Pale cheeks were tinged with an equally embarrassed shade of pink, honey brown eyes squinted against the morning light, a grimace on freckled lips.
