Mairin smiled innocently while Maddie and Keeley found something else to focus their attention on.
“I’ll not have you interfering with my men and their duties, Mairin,” Ewan said sternly.
“Of course not,” she soothed.
He cast a suspicious glare in her direction and then turned and left the hall. No sooner had he exited than the women all burst into laughter once more.
Chapter 16
Dinner was a lively affair as many of Alaric’s men supped with him in the great hall. A fire roared in the hearth and the furs were all rolled down over the windows with extra bindings to seal the gaps.
Keeley sat on Mairin’s left with Christina on Keeley’s other side. Cormac had been strategically placed across the table from Christina, and watching the two dodge the other’s gaze but take peeks when they thought the other wasn’t looking was amusing.
On either side of Cormac sat Alaric and Caelen, and despite her best efforts, Keeley found her gaze traveling to Alaric. Tonight Ewan discussed Alaric’s upcoming marriage, and it took all of Keeley’s strength to remain in her seat, smile in place, and act as though she hadn’t a care in the world.
Her cheeks ached. Her head throbbed.
Alliances. Bonds. Talk of impending war. Naught mattered but the fact that Alaric would marry another and move to McDonald land to take the position of laird.
The usually flavorful food was dry and unremarkable. She ate because there was naught else to do but eat and smile. Another bite. Another smile. Nod in Christina’s direction. Laugh at a jest from Mairin. Watch Caelen scowl. And then look in Alaric’s direction again.
She sighed and moved the venison around with her cutting knife. She just wished the meal over with so she could retire to her chamber and try to lose herself in a few hours sleep.
She chanced another peek at Alaric and sucked in her breath when she found his gaze resting on her. He didn’t move away or try to pretend he hadn’t been watching her. His eyes like green ice delved past her defenses and threatened to crumble her on the spot.
He didn’t smile. In his eyes she saw all that she felt. And yet she couldn’t make herself look away. Nay, if he could brave allowing her to see his torment, then she could offer her own in return. She wouldn’t pretend to feel naught.
Beside her Mairin cleared her throat, jerking Keeley from her locked gaze. Keeley glanced swiftly around, but all eyes were turned toward the mistress of the keep as she prepared to speak.
“The meal is done and ’tis nigh time for Christina to hasten back to her cottage. Her mother will worry, with the weather so raw out.”
She glanced over at Cormac and gifted him with a sweet smile. “Cormac, would you kindly escort Christina? I’d hate for her to brave the weather by herself.”
For a moment, Cormac looked as though he’d swallowed his tongue. After casting a quick glance in Christina’s direction, he hastily stood.
“Of course, Lady McCabe.”
Ewan shot Mairin a long-suffering look while Caelen just frowned as Cormac walked around to offer his arm to Christina.
The table went quiet and it seemed everyone in the hall watched as Cormac awkwardly guided Christina from the table. As soon as they were gone, Ewan let out a sigh and pinned his wife with his stare.
“What mischief are you up to now, wife?”
Mairin smiled and exchanged a conspiratorial look with Keeley before facing her husband.
“Would you have Christina walk to her cottage alone? Why, she could slip and fall on the ice and then what would we tell her mother? That our laird sent a young girl into the weather unescorted?”
Ewan sent his gaze heavenward. “Why do I even ask?”
“Come now, husband. Have another serving of ale and tell me of your day,” Mairin said with an innocent smile.
“You know well how my day went. I’ve just spent the last half hour with the retelling.”
“Have you yet sent a message to McDonald agreeing to his terms?” Caelen asked.
He looked directly at Keeley, pointedly, as he spoke. Keeley held his gaze, refusing to react to his words.
“Aye, two days past,” Ewan said. “I don’t expect to receive a response until the storm has passed and the snows have stopped.”
“Then we should expect him closer to spring,” Caelen pressed. “He and Rionna.”
“Caelen.”
Alaric said only the one word, but his tone was glacial and as frigid as the winds outside. It was a clear warning to his brother to stop meddling, but it didn’t make Keeley feel any better.
Caelen was warning her. He knew of the attraction between her and Alaric. Keeley wanted to crawl under the table and die of shame.
Instead she nudged her chin up and looked down her nose at Caelen as if he were an annoying insect she was about to squash. That image cheered her considerably. ’Twas the truth she’d enjoy nothing more than giving Caelen a good stomping.
Caelen’s eyebrow went up as if surprised by her daring, and she narrowed her eyes to tell him she knew precisely what he was about.
To her further surprise a slight smile lifted one corner of his mouth. Then he went back to his goblet and promptly ignored her.
Keeley was just about to excuse herself when Cormac returned to the hall, a dazed expression on his face. She arched an eyebrow at Mairin, who looked utterly delighted. Mairin reached under the table and squeezed Keeley’s hand.
Cormac bumped into his chair as he attempted to retake his seat. His color was heightened and his hair … looked decidedly unkempt. Mairin’s smile grew even broader.
Ewan grunted in disgust and Caelen rolled his eyes. Alaric just stared at Keeley until her cheeks warmed under his scrutiny.
“Laird, I have need to speak with you,” Cormac said in a low voice. “ ’Tis of utmost importance.”
Ewan cast a resigned look at his wife and then nodded in Cormac’s direction. “Speak then.”
Cormac cleared his throat and looked nervously around at the people still remaining at the table. Most of the men had gone on to their quarters, but Gannon, Alaric, and his brothers along with Keeley and Mairin yet remained.
“I would ask permission to seek Christina’s hand in marriage,” he blurted out.
Mairin nearly bounced out of her chair and Keeley found herself unable to hold back the smile at the other man’s stunned expression.
“I see. Have you thought this through?” Ewan asked. “Is she truly the one you would marry? And are you sure she wishes to marry you?”