An Enchanted Spring: Mists of Fate - Book Two (25 page)

“The job offer was Colin’s doing, wasn’t it?” Reilly interjected. “Weren’t you scouting Emma for his PR position?”

“Perhaps we ought to take this to my solar,” Nioclas cut in.

“No one can understand us,” Reilly pointed out. “We’re also too far from any of the other tables to be overheard.”

“This seems like something my brother and the lady should discuss in private,” Nioclas tried again.

Emma didn’t hear him over her spinning mind. “Are you saying that you didn’t want me as your publicist?”

“That’s exactly what I’m saying,” Aidan affirmed. “I was scouting you for him. Your circumstances, unfortunate as they were, aligned perfectly with my goals. I got you to him.”

So the protection he offered her…it was to ensure that his cousin would have someone to fill a position?

She was ten times a fool. Of course it wasn’t about her. It was about what she could do for someone else. Like always.

“What about Ireland?” she asked, hating the catch in her voice.

Aidan turned cool eyes to her. “What about it?”

Bri’s look of miserable sympathy was almost more than Emma could take.

And just like that, Emma decided she’d had enough. No more teasing kisses, or holding hands. No more pretending that maybe she could have a relationship with Aidan MacWilliam. He was out of her league, sure. But he also was a first-rate jerk for allowing her to think there might be something between them. She always knew she wasn’t relationship material, but seeing as how she’d fallen right into his plans for her…Apparently, her taste in men hadn’t improved since she’d sworn them off after Ben.

In a low voice, she hissed, “I am so very grateful we never finished what was started back at Colin’s.”

“What, exactly, did you start at Colin’s?” Brianagh asked, her curiosity fully piqued.

“I tried to dissuade her,” Reilly said matter-of-factly.

“Perhaps you should save your speech for another time,” Brianagh said.

“But then you said you didn’t really mean it!” Emma exclaimed, ignoring her. “I am so grateful Cian interrupted us. Talk about a sign that sleeping with you is a bad idea!”

Aidan turned a cool gaze on her. “When I finally take you to bed, it will be the best night of your life. I vow it.”

Brianagh choked, and Nioclas clapped her on the back as he exclaimed, “Saints above, Aidan, she’s a lady!”

“And that seals it,” Reilly said with a sigh. “Tomorrow, in the lists. Choose, swords or joust.”

Emma glared at Aidan. “You will
never
get me in your bed.”

“Challenge accepted,” Aidan snarled.

Emma’s eyes narrowed.

“Joust,” Aidan answered Reilly, his gaze locked on hers. “And when I best him, you’ll marry me, here. Because you,” he leaned closer to her, “are,” their noses almost touched, “mine.”

The words felt different, coming from Aidan. The threat wasn’t one of violence…it was a sensual warning that made her lose her breath. And that made her even angrier.

“Then I will pray for your failure,” she snapped.

“The terms are set, then.”

Emma looked up in surprise. She hadn’t noticed Laird Monaghan and his son standing at the table in front of them.

Emma risked a glance at Bri, whose face was grim.

Nioclas stood and the hall quieted. He spoke in Gaelic, and the crowd broke out in cheers.

“Nioclas just announced that Aidan would be showing his prowess in the lists tomorrow, using the joust as his combat of choice,” Bri translated, squatting down next to Emma’s chair. Hands shot up, and Aidan sat back, crossing his arms with a deadly expression on his face, as men made their way to their table to have speech with him and declare their place in line for the morning’s activities.

“And those men are going to challenge him for your hand.”

“What?!” she nearly shrieked, then remembered herself. After determining no one was paying much attention to her at the moment, she hissed, “No!”

“Look at the bright side,” Bri offered. “Now that Aidan’s declared he wants you as his wife, Shane won’t. He’ll be expected to participate, as most of the eligible men will, but if he does it halfheartedly, the match with Brigit can be saved.”

Emma blinked. “I don’t think I understand your social rules as much as I thought I did.”

“They’re way more complicated than what is written,” Bri agreed. “But trust me. This fixes everything.”

“Except the whole me getting married part,” Emma replied flatly.

“Oh. Right.” Bri chewed her lip. “Well, let’s cross that bridge when we get to it. For now, Aidan may have just saved my behind.”

“Which, I might point out, he put in jeopardy in the first place,” Emma argued.

“Perhaps,” Brianagh agreed.

In that moment, Emma hated Aidan MacWilliam. She didn’t want to be a prize. She didn’t want to be bartered for. She didn’t want to owe anyone anything, ever.

Surely the laird of the castle wouldn’t force her to wed someone she didn’t know. She hoped, anyway. She also hoped that Reilly would be able to return her to the future sooner rather than later.

“You are the biggest kind of fool.”

Aidan wanted to ignore his brother, but he knew it would be fruitless. “I won’t argue the fact.”

“By the time you’re done tomorrow, your arms will fall off from exhaustion,” Nioclas continued in disgust. “Is she truly worth this?”

Aidan nodded.

“And you want this?”

“Aye.”

“Said with such certainty,” Nioclas mocked. “You understand that if Monaghan decides he wants her, you’ll have to fight him truly?”

“Aye.”

“Is that all you’re capable of saying?” Frustrated, Nioclas threw his hands in the air. “I vow, Aidan, you would try the patience of a saint!”

“I spoke with O’Malley earlier,” Aidan said heavily. “He isn’t certain he can get her back to the future.”

“You took a calculated risk in coming back,” Nioclas replied, “and it didn’t work out. So now she’s stuck here, as are you, and you think marriage is the only option for her?”

“It’s her only solution,” Aidan replied grimly.

“Oh, just what every woman wishes to hear from her lover,” Nioclas snapped. “Your lack of romance insults our clan.”

Aidan sighed. “I’ve changed, Nick. Romance isn’t as important as the facts right now. She thinks she understands our time—but she doesn’t, not really. If I don’t marry her, she’ll end up dragged to the altar against her will and I’ll have to go kill someone to rescue her.”

“No one will drag her anywhere. She’s under my protection.”

“Oh? And what if Monaghan decides that you’re not that much of a threat after all? Or if he decides to carry her away into the night? Once he forces her to marry him, you’ll have to get approval from the clan council to go to war for her. You know they’ll never agree to it, not for a lady who was under your protection for less time than it takes to blink.” Aidan flexed his hands, wishing he had something to punch. “Do you expect the clan to go to war for someone who has absolutely no impact on their lives, except for a bit of grief the lady of the castle might suffer?”

Nioclas looked as though he wanted to argue the point, but he blew out his breath. “Nay,” he admitted.

“Of course not. Do you not realize I’ve thought all this through?” Aidan asked, angered. “Because I have, in great depth. I’ve got a man after Emma’s head in the future, and quite a few men after her skirt right now. There’s no choice
but
to show my hand.”

Nioclas rubbed his hand over his face. “Couldn’t you have at least given the lass some sort of proposal that would make her more amenable to your suit?”

“I had hoped to, but then I lost my head a bit. O’Malley wouldn’t stop with his incessant chatter, Monaghan came rushing to Emma’s aid, and I saw how those men were staring at her during dinner. I don’t regret the action,” Aidan replied wearily. “I’ll make it up to her later. I’ll have the rest of our lives, after all.”

“If she accepts you,” Nioclas reminded him. “And if she is, in fact, unable to go back from whence she came.”

Aidan spun around. “What?”

“I’ve never forced anyone to marry another. I don’t intend to start now.”

“Are you in jest, or did you imbibe too much at supper tonight?”

Nioclas shook his head firmly. “Neither. You must woo her on your own, and she must go to the altar willingly.”

“She’ll go willingly,” Aidan growled.

“Oh, aye, that’s convincing,” Nioclas retorted. “She seemed so very amenable to you at dinner tonight.”

“She wants me,” Aidan retorted. “She’s just scared.”

“If you stopped growling like a wounded beast, perhaps you could show her some of our legendary charm,” Nioclas suggested.

“Not that it’s any of your concern—” Aidan started.

“Oh, brother mine, your happiness is my utmost concern,” Nioclas protested with a smirk.

“—but Emma has seen my more charming self. She’s had a rough time lately, and I
had
planned to give her time to work through her concerns.”

Nioclas chortled. “It didn’t seem as though your Lady Emma was as susceptible to your charms as you might think.”

“Oh, she’s susceptible,” Aidan snapped.

Nioclas finally released his laughter. Aidan crossed his arms, staring at him in exasperation as he wiped his eyes.

“The Aidan of yore had females falling at his feet. By the saints, you had lasses claiming you’d been in their beds just for the chance at the glory of it all! Yet here you are, insulting a woman, thinking it would win her heart. Apologies if I find the situation more than amusing.”

“I have never seen you laugh so hard before,” Aidan observed dryly. He forced a smile. “’Tis good to see you so happy, after so many years of melancholy.”

“A good woman does that to a man,” Nioclas admitted. “Truly, I am fortunate. And I’d like nothing better than for your own fortune to be as strong as mine.”

“It will be,” Aidan replied with a confidence he didn’t feel.

“Susceptibility,” Nioclas agreed. He clapped him on the back. “Chin up, brother. You’re a brilliant strategist. I’ve no doubt you can overcome this battle to win the war.”

• • •

Emma was out of breath by the time Shane returned her to her seat. He signaled for more wine.

“You are a good dancer,” she said, gratefully accepting the cup.

He flashed white teeth at her. “For not knowing the dance, you kept up very well yourself.”

Emma avoided his eyes, although she couldn’t help but smile. His eyes crinkled at the corners endearingly. Her heart should’ve been thumping with excitement from his attention, but the only thumping she felt was from the dance steps that echoed through the floor. Emma had no idea how to direct his attentions elsewhere, but luckily Brianagh joined them.

“I do believe Brigit of Muskerry would love a dance, while Lady Emma recuperates,” Brianagh noted, taking the seat next to Emma. She turned imploring eyes on Shane. “Perhaps you’ll oblige her?”

“Of course, my lady.” He bowed, then winked at Emma before sauntering off.

“What I don’t understand is why he would need your services,” Emma said, her eyes following him across the room. “He’s handsome, charming, intelligent, and the son of the clan leader. All in all, quite a catch.”

“His father wants to secure an alliance,” Brianagh replied, also tracking Shane’s movements. When he reached Brigit, she relaxed slightly. “He wants to ally with the Muskerry clan, but Laird Muskerry has no daughter and the women of that clan are…um…” She paused, trying to find the right words. “Well, they’re not as attractive as other women,” she finished. She cringed. “I hate even saying that.”

“Brigit is very pretty,” Emma said, watching the raven-haired beauty dancing with Shane.

“That she is. She’s a Muskerry cousin, who hails from Scotland. She’s here on an extended visit, and if we can get them married, it’ll be a wonderful match for all parties.”

“I don’t want to encourage him,” Emma sighed. “I don’t know what to do to turn his attentions away, though. I don’t know what to do to turn
any
of their attentions away.”

“You could go along with Aidan’s plan,” Bri suggested. “Pretend you’re excited to be engaged, and pretend you’re in love.”

Emma raised an eyebrow. “Aidan told me how you and Nioclas fell in love. I smell a matchmaker at work here.”

Bri grinned. “Well, it
did
work for us. And it would be so nice to see Aidan settled and happy. But I’m suggesting it out of purely personal reasons. I want Shane and Brigit married.”

“To keep your successful reputation?”

“The businesswoman in me says yes, but the romantic in me says it’s for a happy life.” Bri’s eyes misted a little. “I do love a happy ending.”

“How can he not get a happy ending?” Emma asked. “Add to the good looks and charm, he’s just plain
nice
.
”

“They’re all nice when they’re trying to win a lady’s heart,” Brianagh said with a small laugh. “And I believe Shane to be a good man.”

“Any ideas as to how I can aid in the match?” Emma asked.

Brianagh smiled blandly at a laird who passed by their table, then replied, “Well, you gave him the obligatory dance that his father secured. So, the next dance he asks of you, kindly inform him you’re waiting for your betrothed. Then ask him how his dance with Brigit went.”

Emma nodded her assent, and when he approached her again, she did exactly that. His enthusiasm dimmed, but he remained cordial and pleasant before excusing himself.

“Works like a charm every time,” Bri noted with satisfaction. “The language of love is the same no matter the century.”

Emma snorted. “At least I’m learning a lot about medieval matchmaking.”

“There is that,” Bri agreed, and they dissolved into giggles.

“I wonder what you ladies find so humorous,” a masculine voice asked from behind them.

Brianagh dropped her head back and gazed adoringly at her husband. “Girl talk. Where did you go for so long? Lairds have been asking for you.”

“We went to his solar, to weep over the expense of your little event,” Aidan said as he approached them. “Saints, Bri, there must be at least a hundred people here, eating through your larder!”