The Accidental Highland Hero (30 page)

Eilis didn’t hesitate to reply. “James had seen me visiting Fia in Glen Affric. Some of Fia’s kin married into the MacNeill line—you know, his seneschal, Eanruig’s. After James saw me, he wished to consider me as a bride choice.”

James offered a small smile. Eilis was perfect in her role. She would make a bonny wife.

Catriona tilted her chin up, her blue eyes growing as dark as the sky. “And Fia?”

“Aye. If it were not for Fia, James would never have noticed me.”

Catriona frowned at James. “I am sorry for delaying my journey to be with you. My favorite horse had become lame.”

James noted the tone of her voice, as sweet as the honeyed mead he drank and the definite intimation was she wished to be with him, alone. Aye, a romp in his bed, to renew old acquaintances?  To prove she still had what he desired?

“I see.” James didn’t believe she had a favorite horse that was lame. Nevertheless, he realized just how much her delay had bothered him, more than he’d wanted to allow himself to believe. And he realized just how much she was not the one for him. Would she smile at others that visited his abode like she did Keary after she and James were wed?  Most likely. Just like his da fawned over other lassies while he was married to his mother.

None of it mattered now.

“When we return to Craigly, will you walk with me in the gardens, James?” Catriona asked.

“He has already asked me,” Eilis said. “Although if it rains, he and I will have to find some other means to entertain ourselves.”

The lass was quick. “A game, Eilis,” James responded. “I have a Norman’s chess game. Have you ever played chess?” Although why he offered was beyond his comprehension. He’d never known a woman who knew how to play.

“
I
have,” Catriona said, looking hopeful that he’d ask her instead.

Eilis frowned, and he assumed she didn’t know the rudiments of the game.

“Eilis?”

Although he preferred to best someone who could challenge him, James wished to find any means that he could to spend more time with Eilis before they exchanged vows. “I can teach you, if you have never played, Eilis.” If the word reached his clansmen that he was teaching the lass the game, he’d never live it down.

“Mayhap I could watch you and Catriona,” Eilis said.

Catriona gave a smug smile.

“Nay, I insist.” He just hoped Eilis would catch on quickly as he didn’t wish to embarrass her should she not be able to master the rules.

When they rode into the inner bailey, most of his people had already taken refuge inside the keep, except for a few stalwart men, speaking to each other in the blustery wind. James helped Eilis down from her mount while one of his men helped Catriona.

Eilis gave him an odd look, but she didn’t say a word.

Fia and his mother joined them as soon as they walked inside the keep. Servants scurried to close the shutters over the windows.

“I have asked Father Rivers to stay with us the night. Did you have a nice ride?” his mother asked, looking from Eilis to Catriona then settling her gaze on James.

He knew she intended he and Eilis wed on the morrow. He had every intention of doing so also. “Cut short by the impending storm, my mother. But Eilis and I shall play a game of chess.”

The strange expression Eilis and Fia shared made him again wonder what the matter was.

“Do you play well?” his mother asked Eilis while they walked to the solar. “James usually only engages the very best in the game. Niall and Ian tend to challenge him the most. Although Dougald is the only other I know who has bested him.”

James’s stomach tightened.

Eilis’s expression made her appear as though she was concerned. She looked at James as if waiting for him to release her from her nightmare but didn’t say a word in reply to his mother.

He gave Eilis’s hand a reassuring squeeze. “I am teaching the lady the rudiments.”

His mother failed to hide a smile. Fia still looked as worried as Eilis.

As if the walls had ears, Niall appeared out of nowhere and grinned at James. “You are teaching the lass chess?  This I have got to see.”

James was certain the word would soon spread throughout the keep.

Once he and Eilis were seated at the gaming table in his solar, James carefully explained the rules of the game to her. As they played, he surmised she was either really adept at chess or she already knew it beforehand. Every move he made, she countered with speed and decisiveness.

Before long, several of James’s men joined them and a few ladies also, but everyone watched in silence. Eilis captured a significant number of James’s more important chess pieces, and every time she acquired another, several of his men studying their moves nodded. The room stayed quiet, until she grabbed another of his pieces in triumph. Then a murmur of comments rippled through his men.

Either in absolute awe or dumbfounded, the ladies remained silent. He assumed Fia already knew something of Eilis’s skill. Twice he caught Eilis looking up at him with the most woeful of expressions. Did she fear he’d be angry with her for doing so well?

He loved competing with those who had the ability and competitiveness to wish to beat him. Niall and Eanruig came close, but James had never played a lass before, and, therefore, he’d never thought one could come near to besting him. The idea was so novel he wondered if other lasses were just as gifted. But what puzzled him was whether Eilis had picked up the game that quickly or if she’d known all along how to play.

Yet when he was showing her the rules, not once had she told him she already knew the rudiments of the game. Did she not wish to embarrass him?

He couldn’t figure her out. In fact, everything about the lass intrigued him more. He found his desire to learn everything there was about her growing every minute of every day. Catriona no longer garnered his attention in the least.

He tore his gaze away from Eilis, as she concentrated steadily on her next move, her red-gold curls dangling over her shoulders, which were hunched forward. She made her move.

“Checkmate,” Niall said, almost as giddy as a wee lad catching his first fish in the loch.

Eilis looked up slowly at James as if she were afraid he’d be angry.

He smiled at his good fortune to find so skillful an adversary, and he had every intention of besting her the next time. He bowed his head in acknowledgement of her prowess. “‘Tis not oft anyone can beat me, Eilis.”

“‘Tis luck, my laird,” she quickly said.

“Aye, luck.” But he didn’t believe it at all.

Niall laughed. “If only I had that kind of beginner’s luck.”

Blinking her hardened blue eyes, Catriona crossed her arms. “I thought you did not know how to play.”

Fia stood taller. “She beats all of our clansmen.”

Aye, the truth of the matter then. “Why did you let me think you could not play, Eilis?” James asked, his voice gentle.

Fia supplied the answer. “The men do not like it that she can best them.” She shrugged. “But they insist she play again and again when she visits Glen Affric just to see who can until my da makes them stop.”

“I want to match my wits against you next, Eilis,” Niall said, grinning broadly.

“The lady needs her rest; ‘tis late,” James countermanded.

Eilis relaxed her tense shoulders. It seemed James had rescued her from his cousin. Besides, James had it in mind that he, not his cousin, would play the nymph again. His pride would not allow otherwise.

James signaled to his people. “Please, leave us. I wish a moment alone with the lady.”

The rest of his people took their leave while his mother said, “Remember the priest.” She gave him a pointed look then quit the solar.

Catriona glowered at Eilis, turned on her heel, and stalked out of the chamber.

“Think you I would be angry, Eilis, if you beat me at the game?” James asked.

“All the men I have ever played, except for my da, became angry with me.”

“You played with your da?”

“Aye, he taught me the game.”

“Did you beat him also?”

“Once, but—”

“You could have feigned the inability to play.” James leaned back in his chair.

“No more than you could, my laird.” She sighed. “In all seriousness, I see not how your actions will capture Catriona’s heart. You should pursue her instead of me.”

“Nay. You heard my mother. She has invited the priest to stay. We will be wed on the morrow.”

“I must leave here. When my uncle learns I am here—”

“Do not speak further on the subject.”

“I will, my laird. You do not seem to understand how dangerous my uncle can be.”

“He has not promised you but Agnes to Dunbarton.” James waved aside her concern. “He does not frighten me, lass.”

Eilis’s eyes were round and her voice soft when she spoke. “He frightens me.”

James reached over and took Eilis’s hand, wishing she could understand he would let no harm come to her. “You are safe with me.”

She jerked her hand away. “Catriona is not here to see this, and I must insist you make some effort to court her.”

Unable to fathom why the lass could not see that he would protect her and she had naught to worry about, he narrowed his eyes. “You insist.”

She clenched her hands and glowered back at him. “Aye.”

“You will not dictate to me, lass. You will be mine on the morrow.”

“Your stubbornness will earn you a battle on two fronts, my laird.”

“So be it, Eilis. I would not be honorable if I were to turn you over to either Dunbarton or your uncle. We have an agreement, you and I. And that is what I will honor.”

Eilis eyes filled with tears, and she gave her head a little shake. Without another word, she stood, whipped around, and stormed out of the solar.

Wondering how it happened, James had the distinct impression he’d lost more than a chess game with the lady this eve.

****

Mulling over the conversation he’d had with Eilis during the evening meal, James sat with Eanruig before the fire in his solar following the chess game.

James took a swig of his mead. “If Eilis was offered to Dunbarton as his betrothed, it seems the precious cargo that went down with the ship Dunbarton was waiting on was our very own Lady Eilis.”

“Aye. And as your seneschal, I must advise that offering the lady for your brother and Gunnolf’s release may be enough to earn their freedom.”

James downed the rest of his drink and shook his head. “The lady is not truly Dunbarton’s betrothed. So no, I will not give her up in exchange for my brother. If Dunbarton learned her uncle had deceived him, no telling what he might do to her.” On the other hand, James was concerned Dunbarton would want the lass anyway, as lovely as she was. But more so than that, because James wanted her also. Would Dunbarton demand concessions from her uncle—for his attempted swindle—in regards to allying against the MacNeills in battle?  Most likely. The question then: would her uncle agree to Dunbarton’s terms?

“We have not have time to hear back from the messenger. Think you Dunbarton will want his son back?” Eanruig asked, breaking into James’s grim ruminations.