Page 60 of In Bed with her Highland Foe

“Lady Kyven,” Theo called gently to her.

Slowly, she turned away from the lead-lined window and walked back toward the head of the council table. Aaden stood in his place dutifully beside the chair, though she noticed there was something of an amused grin on his face today – a rarity when in a meeting with the council.

“We are sorry tae press ye on this matter, but it must be done,” Theo said gently, sitting down in the chair beside her. “We must make a decision –”

“We ken what the decision will be,” Barnaby barked form his position.

The happy feeling which had been settling over Kyven’s shoulders now disappeared. In its place was a stifling iciness as she glared at Barnaby.

“Ye must marry for the security of this clan. Give the word and we will make the arrangements with Laird Shay.”

“Wonderful,” she said with thick irony. “Ye wish tae nae only arrange me marriage and decide who me husband will be for me, but the wedding day too. Tell me, Councilor Barnaby, are ye aware I am a human being at all, or am I merely an ornament made of porcelain ye imagine ye can move about a chess board?”

Many of the councils shifted uncomfortably. Even Barnaby looked uncertain, agape, as he stared at her.

“Ye must make a decision. By Sunday, we agreed.”

“Nae by Sunday. Delay the decision by a week.” She waved her hand dismissively.

“But –” Barnaby began but she cut him off.

“We arenae under attack yet,” she reminded him. “There is nay the urgency in this matter that ye seem tae think there is. I shall give ye me decision by next week. Now, if ye would excuse me, I have other matters tae attend tae.” She stood from the table.

Theo and his side of the council stood and bowed to her, but Barnaby and his men remained sitting. She didn’t even bother to reprimand them for their insolence and swept out of the room, with Aaden close behind her. She had somewhere else she’d rather be, and she was going to get there fast.

Aaden followed her all the way to the castle courtyard where she waved at Gilchrist as she arrived. He smiled back, gesturing to the mare he had prepared for her.

She caught sight of Laird Shay across the courtyard. His eyes were wide as he walked toward her.

“Intercept him fer me, would ye, Aaden?” Kyven begged. “Make up some excuse tae distract him whilst I leave with Gilchrist.”

“Gladly, me lady.” He hurried off and practically ran straight into Shay, then appearing to put on an elaborate apology as Kyven rushed to meet Gilchrist.

“Let us go fast,” she urged as he took her waist and helped her into the saddle. It struck her that any other man she would have rebuffed and told off for helping her, but not Gilchrist. She knew he was only trying to help. “Before that damned council calls me back again, or he can say anything.” She nodded at Shay, who was now trying his best to get around Aaden.

“As ye wish,” Gilchrist said, pulling himself into the saddle of the horse behind her. They turned fast and rode out of the compound, with a guard close behind them.

They rode so far and with such speed that Kyven felt that sense of freedom returning. They escaped up into the hills around the valley, far above the castle turrets and the rooftops of the village. They ended up on the stony paths between the cairns, where the wind bristled against them, making Kyven shiver in her shawl, though she had no wish to return to the castle just yet.

“Well?” Gilchrist said as he slowed his horse to ride alongside her. He didn’t even look out of breath. The sheer display of athleticism made her gaze at him rather than the view. “How did it go?”

“I’ve asked them tae delay the date by which I need tae make a decision about Laird Shay.”

Something twitched in Gilchrist’s jaw. He looked away from her and out across the land.

“It is good, Gilchrist,” she said again.

“Are ye hoping Laird Shay will grow bored and leave?”

She smirked a little and he laughed under his breath.

“He may be a more persistent suitor than ye give him credit fer.”

“I dinnae want tae think about that now. I want tae be…” she exhaled deeply, “free.”

“Then ye came tae the right place for it.” Gilchrist glanced back, clearly ensuring the guard was still a little distance from them, then he leaned toward her across the gap between the horses. “That way,” he practically whispered in her ear, pointing at a stony path she had not noticed before, half hidden by a cairn that was almost as tall as her mare.

“Where does it lead?”