The Highlander's Folly (The Novels of Loch Moigh Book 3) (17 page)

“I dinna suppose you could at least
try
to speak in a manner that I might understand.” Despite his foul mood, a grin tugged at the corners of his mouth. “Do I want to ken what
boxers
might be?”

“Probably not.” She rolled her eyes at him. “Have you the need to unburden your sorry self of whatever it is that ails you this eve, Sir Hunter?”

A laugh broke free, and he could no longer hold on to his scowl.
“
’Tis naught.”

“Hmm.” She scrutinized him. “Methinks it is aught.”

He arched an eyebrow at her, but he couldn’t prevent another grin from breaking free. “Tieren told you a half-truth, and he did so to serve himself.”

“Oh?” Her brow creased, and the teasing tone disappeared. “How so?”

“The day Sky Elizabeth was born, I vowed to wed her. There is no contract or betrothal between us, and her father wishes her to marry the grandson of an earl—her equal in rank.” His jaw tightened. “Malcolm said the choice is hers, and he willna stand in the way of her happiness. This is the first I have spoken to her of my wishes.”

“How old were you when you made this vow?”

“It matters no’ how old I was.” He scowled. “I meant it then, and I mean it now.”

“OK. Just asking.” She shrugged. “I take it your discussion with Sky didn’t go so well.”

He shot her a wry look. “Nay, it did no’ go well at all.”

“What now?”

“I must learn how to woo the lass.” Was that disappointment he glimpsed in her eyes before she averted her gaze? Or hurt? His heart wrenched at the sight.

“Well.” Meghan turned and set her foot upon the stairs to the great hall. “Good luck with that.”

He couldn’t prevent himself from watching the way her hips swayed as she climbed the steps. What an arse he was. He hadn’t even bothered to ask how she fared. He hadn’t looked after her welfare in days, and what had she said about Cecil? He’d best be about his duty toward her. At least he could keep Cecil at bay.

In the meantime, he’d plot ways to win Sky. Such a thing could not be any more difficult than planning battle strategy, and he’d never suffered defeat in battle. He was not about to be defeated now.

C
HAPTER EIGHT

H
er heart aching, Meghan strode back into the great hall.
Damn this stupid attraction to Hunter
. Her ultimate goal was to get home. But man, his answer to her
what now
question about Sky really stung.

Hunter must be blind not to notice she cared about him. After all, she’d been the one to kiss him, not the other way around. Or maybe he was just incredibly insensitive, and telling her he intended to find a way to woo Sky was his way of letting her know she was barking up the wrong Scottish pine.

“My lady.” David, the oldest of True’s twins, came to her side. “May I escort you to the dais?” He held out his arm for her.
“
’Tis near time to take our seats.”

“Yes, thank you.” She hooked her arm through his, grateful for the distraction. “Did Robley put you up to this?”

“Nay, my da.” Color rose to his cheeks. “He says I must practice my courtly manners as oft as possible.” He steered her around a man who backed up without looking first. “Owain and I shall be called upon to make an appearance at court soon. We are to be knighted by autumn next.”

“Are you looking forward to going to court?”

“No’ in the least,” he huffed.
“
’Tis a nest of vipers, I’m told. I’m heir to an earldom though, and I canna shirk my responsibilities.” He threw back his shoulders a bit at that statement. “I’m to share a trencher with you this eve, my lady. Owain will take the chair to your right.” He shot her a sheepish look. “
That
request did come from Robley. He’s quite protective of you.”

She laughed. “That’s putting it mildly.”

“He means well.” He helped her up to the raised platform where the earl’s table stood. “We are to sit here,” he said, pulling out the chair at the corner for her. His attention went to the stairs. “Ah, here comes my grandsire now.” Affection and amusement filled his tone. “Grandda likes to make an entrance, you ken.”

William and his wife descended the stairs in a regal manner, trailed by Lady Rosemary and Sky. A pang of jealousy squeezed Meghan’s heart at the sight of Malcolm’s oldest daughter. She did her best to ignore it, focusing instead on the milling crowd as they began to move as one. Everyone scrambled to find a place at the plank-and-barrel tables filling the hall. Tieren caught her eye and winked. She smiled in return. Even though she’d only known him for a short while, she’d already come to rely on his support and friendship.

Tieren took a spot in front of the dais where the other knights sat, and the earl’s family began taking their places at the high table. Owain, all gangly limbs and affable nature, made his way to her end.

David’s stomach growled. “Och, I’m so hungry,” he grumbled. “My pardon, Lady Meghan.”

“No need to apologize. I’m hungry too.”

“My lady.” Owain bowed to her before taking his place.
“
’Tis an honor to be your table companion this eve.”

“You must be practicing your courtly manners too.” She snorted. “Robley ordered you to sit with me, didn’t he?”

“Aye, for certes,” he said with a grin. “But I would gladly have done so even without his command. I have questions about our training.”

Hunter strode toward the dais, and her breath caught. Lord, she loved the way he moved. He exuded dominance, confidence and masculine prowess to the extreme. Tonight he wore his golden-brown hair tied back, and it made his strong features even more prominent. His sexy gray eyes met hers, and one side of his mouth quirked up as he took in the twins sitting on either side of her. She bit her lip and tried to squelch the flutter-fest going on inside her.

The chair beside David remained empty. Would Hunter take it? She hoped so.
No, don’t think like that.
He didn’t want her; he wanted Sky, and it didn’t do her any good to spend any more time with him than necessary. In fact, she’d been avoiding him since their last conversation.

Glancing down the length of the table, she noticed Sky had taken the spot between Lady Rosemary and True.
Hmm. Had she done that on purpose? Was Sky avoiding Hunter too?
What difference did it make? It would only strengthen his determination to learn how to woo the lass.
Gag.

Cecil had his eye on the empty chair beside David as he made his way toward the dais.
Oh yay.
Pages began filling goblets with wine or ale, and servants carried platters of steaming food into the hall from the kitchen. She kept her attention fixed on the twins. “What are your questions about martial arts, Owain?”
Do not look at the empty chair. Do not make eye contact with Cecil.

“How long did it take you to master your skills in the mixed martial arts?” Owain’s voice rang with enthusiasm.

“Years. I started taking karate when I was seven or eight, and I switched to mixed martial arts once I turned fifteen.”

“Och, that long?”

“You’re doing really well.” Meghan gave his shoulder a playful punch. “Be patient.”

“Aye, but who will continue the training once you return home?” He frowned. “I find I quite enjoy the martial arts. I dinna wish to cease the training.”

“Take advantage of what Meghan has to offer for as long as she’s with us, lad.” Hunter slid into the empty place next to David. “But dinna neglect the rest of your training.”

His deep voice rumbled, sending pleasurable shock waves through her. “He’s right. I kept up with improving my skills with the sword and quintain while I learned martial arts.” A healthy dose of relief flooded through her. At least she didn’t have to try and make nice with Cecil. Risking a peek the visiting knight’s way, she caught his disgruntled look as he took the seat at the opposite end of the table.

The earl stood and pounded the handle of his dagger on the table. Voices stilled, and all eyes turned toward him. “Our good Father Paul has been called away to Castle Rait, and so it falls to me to lead us in giving thanks for the bounty before us this eve.

“
’Tis true we have much to be thankful for”—William’s voice reverberated through the hall—“kin and clan, good health and food to fill our bellies. We are gathered together to celebrate . . . and to remember those who have gone on before us. I ken well we are all gladdened by Hunter’s safe return and heartened by his appointment as commander of our garrison, aye?” William raised his goblet and nodded toward Hunter. Cheers erupted, and the earl waited until the sound subsided before continuing. “Let us no’ forget his predecessor. We are deeply grateful to Angus for his many years of loyal service to our clan. We have been most fortunate indeed to have one so skilled and canny to lead our warriors in keeping our clan safe.” He nodded to Angus as another swell of cheers rose, and the warriors pounded their fists on the table.

William held up his hand, and the noise stopped.
“
’Tis good to have the twins and Sky Elizabeth home as well, though our hearts are heavy with grief for the loss of my dear brother, Robert. May he rest in peace.”

The earl bowed his head, clasped his wife’s hand on his right side and his son Malcolm’s to his left. He paused, waiting as the clan did likewise. Owain and David took her hands, and a lump formed in her throat. Her family held hands and said grace during their family dinners after church. Her mom and dad had always insisted the entire family gather on Sundays no matter what. Sometimes they’d go to her grandparents’ farm, and other times her grandparents would join them in town. Making an effort to gather together at least once a week had kept them close, and she remembered how hard it had been on all of them when her brothers were away at college. What was her family doing right now?

“Let us give thanks to God for all that he has bestowed upon us and pray for the souls of those we’ve lost,” William said, his voice breaking. “We sup this night in the good company of our clan, kin and friends. May it always be thus. Amen.” Amens filled the hall, and hands were released.

David’s stomach growled again. “Finally,” he muttered, carving into the roasted leg of lamb in front of them. He loaded their shared trencher with chunks of the savory meat. “What would you prefer, my lady?” He gestured toward the various loaves of bread and vegetables.

“A little of everything, thanks.” She cut off a bit of the lamb and popped it into her mouth, savoring the tender morsel. “Moigh Hall has an excellent cook.”

“Aye.” Hunter leaned around David to catch her eye. “Though the cuisine in France and Spain had much to commend it, I sorely missed the food from home whilst traveling abroad.”

Hunter’s comments elicited eager questions from the twins about his adventures while traveling, and Meghan relaxed. As the conversation went on around her, she couldn’t help noticing the deep affection shared between Hunter and the twins.

The feast continued until everyone had eaten their fill, and then the servants began clearing the tables. The men sitting below the dais, including Tieren, took the plank-and-barrel tables down and cleared the hall for dancing. Robley and his brother Liam moved to one of the hearths and took up the bodhran and pipes leaning against the wall. A young woman appeared with a small harp and handed the instrument to True. Chairs were put in place for the three musicians, and they conferred with each other with heads bowed.

Meghan stepped down from the dais and found an unobtrusive place to stand. Dancing had never been in her repertoire, and she wished to be an observer, not a participant. Clan members formed lines, and soon a lively reel began. She couldn’t prevent her foot from tapping, and the crowd’s enthusiasm brought a smile to her face.

Tieren came to stand by her side. “Why are you no’ dancing, Meghan?”

“Why aren’t you?” she teased.

“I did no’ see you amongst the lasses queuing up for the reel.” He cocked an eyebrow. “Will you no’ join me in the next set?”

“I don’t know the steps.” She watched the dancers making their intricate turns, switching partners as they did. “I’m not much of a dancer.”

“I find that difficult to credit, since you are so light upon your feet in the lists. ’Tis no’ difficult, and you are a clever lass.” He placed his hand at her elbow as the reel came to an end. “Come. None will notice a misstep or two on your part.”

“I don’t know . . .” she hedged.

“A stroll in the bailey then? ’Tis still daylight, and there will be many about, catching a breath of fresh air.”

She caught a glimpse of Hunter, holding his hand out to Sky for the next dance. Her chest tightened, making it a little harder to breathe. “Sure. A stroll would be nice.”

Tieren led her around the outer edge of the great hall. She could feel Hunter’s eyes following her all the way to the doors. What was it about the man that made her so tuned in to him? Risking a surreptitious glance, she found him scowling at her, even as he led Sky to her place in the circle for the next dance. She scowled right back. Once she and Tieren were outside, she heaved a sigh.

“
’Tis a lovely evening,” he murmured close to her ear. “Is it no’?”

“It is.” She inhaled the fresh spring air, detecting the telltale scents of human habitation along with the tang of pine and yew. “And so quiet.” The sky to the west held the deepening hues of the coming sunset, and the air carried a hint of the chill to come.

“Quiet?” His brow furrowed. “Can you no’ hear the noise from within the keep?”

“Of course I can, but where I’m from, we’d also be hearing airplanes overhead and freeway traffic. Sometimes,” she said, squeezing his arm, “far too often, in fact, we’d also hear sirens from fire engines or police cars. You and I would be walking down a street crowded with apartment buildings, people and houses. We’d be on a sidewalk next to a busy road or in a city park.”

“Fire engines and police cars? Och, I’ve no notion of such things.” Tieren placed his warm hand over hers. “Will you tell me about them?”

“I forget when and where I am sometimes.” She snorted. The next ten minutes she spent trying to describe twenty-first-century city life in a way he could wrap his fifteenth-century mind around. Tieren made incredulous noises, his attention riveted on her every word. Several other couples strolled the inner bailey, and a few groups of older clan members talked and laughed together.

“
’Tis difficult to fathom flying through the air or riding in a wagon no’ drawn by oxen or rouncies.” He shook his head. “The constant noise you speak of must be difficult to accustom yourself to, aye?”

“Not really. After a while, you don’t even notice.” She peered into his brilliant blue eyes. “Have you ever considered visiting the future like Robley did?”

“Nay, but if you ask me to follow you to your time, I will,” he said, his voice low and earnest.

Her eyes widened. “You would?”

“Aye, lass.” He stopped walking and took her hands in his. “Have you considered the possibility that you might no’ find a way to return to your time?”

“No.” Her eyes stung, and she studied the ground beneath her feet. “I don’t want to think about that possibility.”

“I have. Lady True was no’ able to return, and Erin made the choice to be with her husband. Indeed, I’ve given the matter a great deal of thought.” He cleared his throat. “Did Robley mention that I have asked him for your hand in marriage?”