Violet shook her head. “This clan and this name mean just as much to me as it does to ye. I ken that I’m a woman and they’re nae inclined to take me seriously, but ye do.” She poked a finger into his chest, her face warm and slack with the whisky running through her bloodstream. “If I hear something that ye should ken, at least I can tell ye about it.”
“Then by all means.”
Leo poured himself a glass, and they clinked their glasses together. He wasn’t going to stand in Violet’s way if she felt it necessary to ask questions, but the council was never happy with her, and Allistair had a way of swaying the council in his favor.
“Congratulations on yer betrothal, Leo,” Violet said as she toasted him again. She stumbled a little but made her way back to the chair to sprawl out. “Despite what ye say, I cannae wait to meet her.”
Leo raised his glass as well.
In the warmth of his study, under his sister’s mirthful gaze, he forgot the arrangement for a moment and felt a burst of excitement at the thought of having Beatrice as his wife.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Beatrice woke with a jolt the next morning as Shona drew back the curtains in her room. She still felt the sensation of Leo’s tall frame pressed against hers, his face hovering above her, that almost imperceptible touch of his lips on hers.
“Another beautiful morning, me Lady, look at that sun,” announced the cheerful maid. “Ye must get outside again today while the weather is fine.”
“Good morning, Shona.”
Yawning, Beatrice pushed herself up in bed and stretched, wondering if Laird MacSween had really kissed her last night. Or had she only been imagining it after the tea leaf fortune telling and her reminiscences about Eloise finding love?
Get a hold of yerself, Bea. Ye thought the man a beast until recently. Ye daenae want to lose yer head over one little kiss now.
“Ye do look well today, Beatrice. Ye must have had good dreams.”
Beatrice smiled to herself and said nothing. It had been a very strange night, with or without dreams. Padding over to the window, she looked outside to the courtyard.
It was unusually busy and crowded down there today. Children playing near the laundry doors, women carrying baskets and bundles of linen, and grooms brushing down horses. On the other side, warriors were training, with Leo MacSween at the center of them. Beatrice’s stomach tightened as her eyes landed on him.
For a few moments she watched him issuing commands in the drills and exercises and his men eagerly rushing to obey him. Shona came to peer over her shoulder.
“A fine commander, our laird, isnae he?” the maid remarked proudly. “Nae one of his trained men needs be told anythin' twice. Ye couldnae look at him for a minute and nae ken that he was master of this clan, could ye?”
“Nay,” Beatrice agreed, feeling a strange warmth in her stomach as she saw Leo now demonstrating some parrying move with a large sword, handling the mighty weapon as though it were a children’s toy. “Anyone would ken him for Laird MacSween.”
There was Effie too, among the other children near the laundry. Though the little girl was playing, she glanced often to her fatherand Beatrice was sure she saw the glow of respect in the child’s face, just as she saw it on the faces of the soldiers.
As if her very presence at the window summoned him, Leo looked up now, his eyes landing on Beatrice for just a second, prompting a strange drawing and pulling sensation in her stomach as though he had actually touched her. Then he dropped his gaze and returned his attention to his men.
“Are ye well, me Lady?” asked Shona, hearing Beatrice’s small gasp at the unfamiliar sensations that Leo MacSween’s glance had sparked.
“Quite well,” insisted Beatrice, hiding her breathlessness in another yawn. “I think I will take yer advice and go outside, Shona.”
After making herself presentable and taking her breakfast, Beatrice went downstairs to the courtyard. The din of steel clashing with steel mingled with bright shouts from the playing children who ran in circles around the other side of the courtyard.
Wanting to observe Leo without distracting him, Beatrice did her very best not to draw too much attention to herself.
At least nae yet.
She lingered at the edge of the shadows, hidden from view. Leo was in the middle of the men, directing them to surround himand then gesturing for the largest soldier there to join him in the center.
“Ye must all ken the basics of hand-to-hand combat,” he said as the soldier stepped forward. “We hope to keep our swords in our possession, but there’s nay promise of that in a battle.”
The soldier was nearly as tall as Leo, and Leo was the biggest man Beatrice had ever seen. They both looked like giants right now.
“What is important in this type of combat,” Leo continued as he and the soldier circled each other, “is keeping yer head. Daenae panic. Daenae let fear control ye. Men who let fear take over lose their balance.”
He motioned for the soldier to attack him. As the soldier lunged forward, Leo moved out of the way so fluidly that it looked like he was dancing. He was light on his feet, graceful in a way that surprised her.
