“Shut up, Ian!” the laird snapped. “I’m going to my room. When I come out for supper, I expect this mess to be cleaned up. And the vermin gone!”
He stalked off, his twisted walking stick adding an angry third beat to his paces.
“Sorry,” Niall said. “I hoped to prepare you a little better, though I didn’t expect him to bethatrude.”
“Why not? Since when has our father ever been gracious?” Ian asked. He looked over to Brenna, and added, “Seems like the engagement’s off then?”
Brenna just shook her head. “Let’s assume nothing.” She looked at Heather with narrowed eyes.
“Niall, where shall I be staying?” Heather asked then, trying to diffuse the awkwardness.
“This way,” he said. “Follow me.”
Niall led Heather to a room on the upper floor. “It’s not very big,” he apologized. “There used to be one long room, but we broke it into several over the years. Centuries, that is. More practical, since it’s less fashionable now to sleep with the whole household, not to mention the pigs and chickens.”
“It’s very pretty, thank you.” Heather could barely put two words together. She was woefully unprepared to be here. What a total naïf she’d been to think that this fake marriage could ever work. The family would kick her out before nightfall.
On the other hand, Carregness was definitelydefensible. When running away and hiding from one’s uncle, it’s a benefit to have a castle to hide in.
She looked out the window to the green blanket of forest and then the rise of one of the mountain ridges. She walked to a door and opened it, finding not a closet or passageway, but a whole other bedchamber. Aside from a massive bed that looked like it would never leave the room in one piece, there was little else in it, and yet the appearance was distinctly masculine.
“Er, that’s my room.” Niall said, crossing to where she stood. He closed the door hurriedly. “Don’t worry, there’s a lock. I mean, I think the lock works. It’s never been used, since it’s assumed…”
Heather bit her lip. Of course. Everyone thought they were married, so of course she’d be put in an adjoining room to the heir apparent. Suddenly Heather wondered what they’d have done if Niall didn’t live in a castle with dozens of rooms. Most married couples shared a chamber. To think that she might have been expected to sleep in the same bed with Niall for six weeks….
The idea failed to repel her. In fact, it stirred a rebellious little flare of interest. Ever since he’d kissed her at the blacksmith’s, Heather was aware of something under the surface, something in her body that woke up and refused to go back to sleep.
But it remained that the two of them had to put on the appearance of a marriage until her birthday, and that meant they’d be together more often than not.
“Niall,” she began, and then realized she had no idea what she wanted to say. “Niall…I’ll do my best.” The words came out in a rush.
“I will as well,” he returned. “It occurs to me that this all might have been a bit hasty.”
“Oh, do you think?” Heather laughed despite her concern.
“It will work out through,” he assured her. “We want the same thing, after all.”
She nodded, and watched him go. Did they want the same thing? It was a difficult question to answer, considering she barely knew Niall at all.
Chapter 8
Niall left Heather to getsettled in her room, but before he got twenty steps, Maeve bore down on him and grabbed him by the arm.
“Come and talk to me,” she muttered, dragging him down the hall toward her own room. A chambermaid dashed out of the way as they passed, cowed by Maeve’s angry expression.
Maeve’s bedchamber was small and obsessively tidy (she used to share with Fionnuala, who’d been a sight messier).
“Niall, nothing about this makes sense,” Maeve said. “Who is this woman? Where did you find her? Why doesn’t she have anyluggage?”
“Well, as to that last part, it’s complicated. I don’t suppose you could lend her some clothing until her things arrive?” Which would be never, but Niall didn’t want to get into that.
“Certainly I can, but it doesn’t explain why the lass is here at all. Niall, is this a prank?”
“A prank? No, of course not.”Not exactly.Niall took Maeve’s hands in his, appealing to her natural desire to care for anyone and everything in her sight. “Listen, Maevey-doll. I know it’s confusing, but I promise that I will reveal all the details in due time. But for now, can I ask you to be a sister to Heather and help her navigate Carregness until she’s got her feet under her? As a favor to me?”
“Niall, I’ll move mountains if you ask me too, but I will need answers.”
“Soon, sister. You have my word.”
