The words stung somehow. Maybe it had been no more than a kiss, but the feeling of Niall’s lips on hers, his mouth covering hers, had been incredible… “But it does nae set a good example, especially from a guest who is a stranger.”
“I suspect neither of them will say anything for fear of a tongue-lashing for being caught eavesdropping,” Niall replied, “but perhaps we should make our way downstairs so there will be nae more speculation.”
“Aye, ’tis a good idea,” Annie answered as she quickly walked to the door.
’Twas just a kiss. That’s what Niall had said.’Twas just a kiss.She needed to remember that.
****
Annie postponed going down to break her fast the next morning for as long as she dared before someone would be sent up to check on her. She wanted to make sure others were up and about, so she wouldn’t be left alone with Niall. Last night’s dinner had been a disaster.
Caitlin and Caylin had been seated at the table when they’d entered the dining room. Although they didn’t say anything, they would shift their gazes from her to Niall and one or the other would start to giggle. The giggle would abruptly end when Niall fixed the scamp with a look. It happened often enough that Ian began to follow the interchange as well. She hoped he hadn’t questioned the girls later.
The morning room where breakfast was served, near the kitchens, was empty when Annie got there, although there were still some covered dishes on the sideboard. Sunshine streamed in from the eastern window, lighting the pale yellow walls with its warmth, and she could hear servants going about their duties for the day. Annie wondered just what time it was. Perhaps she’d delayed a bit too long. She hurriedly helped herself to some porridge that smelled delightfully of cinnamon and spooned clotted cream on a freshly baked scone and sat down to eat quickly. Avoiding being alone with Niall to squelch any notions someone might have was one thing. Appearing lazy and laggardly was quite another. She’d just finished her meal when she heard the shout.
“Riders coming!”
Annie went outside to see a guard posted on the curtain wall by the gate. She’d almost forgotten, with all that had happened yesterday, that they had arrived at an actual medieval castle.Apparently, one that kept up the practice of medieval times. She almost expected the portcullis to be lowered, but it remained up.
“Riders approaching!” the guard called again, although there was no need since the pounding hooves of a number of horses could be heard.
Annie walked down the front steps into the bailey and stared out through the gate. She couldn’t ascertain how many horses since a massive cloud of dust encircled the group, but from the thundering noise it must be quite a few. She looked up again, wondering if archers would actually appear between the embrasures, but no one joined the single guard.
The massive oak doors opened behind her and she turned to see Ian and Niall standing there. “Are we in danger?”
Ian shrugged. “That is always a possibility when two clans meet.”
Two clans? They were going tofight? Why was he just standing there looking nonchalant? “Should we be doing something?”
“Well, ye might want to get back on the steps so ye doona get trampled,” Ian said as the lead horses came galloping over the bridgeway and through the gate.
Annie turned back to stare at what looked like a small army pushing through and in the next instant felt a powerful arm encircle her waist, lifting her none too gracefully and letting her feet and arms dangle in the air. Ian reached the steps in four long strides and deposited her beside Niall.
“The lass does nae listen well.”
Niall grinned. “Ye have that right.”
Annie frowned at both of them. “’Tis nae like they are going to gallop right to the door.”
“Doona be too sure,” Niall said. “Those are my brothers.”
Niall’sbrothers? Annie whipped her head around. Now that the horses had reached the cobblestone of the bailey, the dusthad settled and she could get a better look. There were five massive men in tartans, with long, flowing manes. Three had black hair like Niall’s and two—who looked like twins—had auburn. Three younger lads wearing caps were behind them, along with a portly gentleman clad in hat and coat. The seven men dismounted almost in precision and strode forward. As they approached, Annie could see they all had light-colored eyes, although some were blue or green, not gray like Niall’s. Still, there was no mistaking the whole group of them were related. They split apart to make way for the gentleman and the lads.
“Mother?” Niall asked and limped down the steps to the person removing the hat, showing a tidy bun of dark hair streaked with gray. He swept her into a hard hug. “When Ian told me he sent a rider, I expected ye would follow in the carriage.”
His mother stepped back and fixed him with a look that was surprisingly like the one he’d used on Caitlin and Caylin. “Do ye think I am going to crawl across the country at a snail’s pace when my son could be dying?”
“Aye.” A younger, higher-pitched voice said. The speaker pulled off a cap, allowing riotous red curls to tumble down around her shoulders. “Just because we are female does nae mean we cannae keep up!”
“Margaret—” Before Niall could say more, the girl hurled herself at him, throwing her arms around his neck, her feet leaving the ground. His injured leg buckled and he stumbled back, but managed to keep his balance.
“Yeeejit!” one of the young lads said, pulling his sister off.
She spun on him. “Doona call me that, Rauri!”
“Well, yearedaft to try and knock over Niall when he is hurt,” the other lad said.
“Ye shut your mouth too, Ewan,” Margaret snapped, her face nearing the color of her hair. “I was nae trying to fell Niall—”
