He wanted to know what they were saying. Was dying to find out what they thought about the woman who would soon be their lady.
“The lass was right. Bonnie as can be, that one.”
“Did ye see how she hugged the wee thing? Has the makings of a great lady, she does.”
“And did ye see how she gave her that flower? So sweet.”
All the sentiments were the same. Each bit of conversation that Arthur was able to pick up was filled with nothing but praise.
A bubble of pride began to warm his chest. His eyes flickered back to the platform. The council was still there. Many of their heads were bowed together, but two were looking at him—Shaw and McKellen. The former seemed eager, the latter seemed sour.
Arthur could only guess at how the conversation was going.
When his eyes locked onto Councilman Shaw’s, the man nodded his head in a clear command to come and join them.
Arthur turned, his gaze immediately falling on Marissa. She was deep in conversation with Abigail, her face animated as her arms moved with excitement.
He hated to interrupt her when she was like this—so carefree and seemingly unaware of those around her—but it couldn’t be helped.
May as well get this introduction to the council over with. Then, we can go about enjoyin’ the rest of our night.
Placing his hand on the small of her back, Arthur interrupted their conversation. The moment he touched her, heat flared through him.
It had been like that ever since the other night when he’d knelt between her thighs and tasted every bit of her pleasure. Every time she was close, he found himself on the precipice of madness.
But Arthur had promised her that he would not pressure her. He had promised that he would not attempt anything else, not until she was well and truly certain that she wanted him to.
And it was a promise he intended to keep.
Pushing the desire deep down inside him, he cleared his throat. Marissa halted mid-sentence, and her soft brown eyes flicked to him in question.
“It’s time for ye to meet the council,” he announced.
The excitement that had been on her face just a second ago was snuffed out like a flame, replaced with worry and confusion.
“Now?” she asked. When he nodded, her face paled. “Can we nae wait for a little while? Maybe they should see me enjoyin’ the night? Or dancin’? Or talkin’ to people? Mayhap?—”
“They’ve seen enough,” Arthur interrupted.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
“But they’ve hardly seen anythin’!” Marissa retorted, her voice rising with each syllable.
Arthur put his hands on her shoulders, causing her to focus entirely on him.
“They are goin’ to approve of ye,” he said sternly.
He didn’t want her working herself up into a fit, not when she would be nervous enough without her allowing herself to spiral.
“It’s goin’ to be all right,” Abigail chimed in from beside them. “Surely they saw what happened between ye and that sweet, wee thing—Fiona. Mayhap that will improve their opinion of ye.”
“They were watchin’,” Arthur grunted.
He studied Marissa’s face, seeing that some of the panic had left it, and he allowed his hands to fall from her shoulders. One, however, still snaked around her waist to bring her a little closer to him.
He pressed a little on the small of her back, beginning to guide her gently through the crowd. She cast a quick, worried glance at her sister, before walking along with him.
“Ye ken for certain that they were watchin’?” she asked, her tone betraying every ounce of her worry.
