Page 64 of A Sinful Night with a Scot
As Elsie continued, Keane maintained a passive expression, even when some of the things she said were entirely untrue. But like the villagers, Iseabail and Owen seemed entirely enthralled.
When Elsie came to the conclusion of her story, Iseabail turned and looked at Keane, her face a mixture of frustration and worry.
“He is going tae attack again?”
Keane shrugged. “It is inevitable, sister. He’s angry. But more than that, he’s proud. Me actions humiliated him, and now, he wants revenge.”
“And ye dinnae?” Iseabail said knowingly.
Keane lifted the corner of his mouth in a smile. His sister was no fool. No matter how Elsie had dressed it up, Iseabail had seen right through it to Keane’s motivations.
“I did.”
“And now?” she pressed.
“Now, I am only interested in protecting me people and me family.” His eyes moved to Elsie, who gazed at him softly.
“But ye wouldnae have tae be worrying about protecting them, had ye nae started this, Keane,” Iseabail returned. “Surely, ye must have kent what was going tae happen.”
Keane nodded. But no longer wanting to discuss it any further, he swiftly changed the subject.
“Ye have both had a long journey. And, now ye’re here, we will celebrate yer arrival with a feast. Yer bedchamber must be ready by now. Maybe it is wise fer ye tae unpack and get a little rest afore tonight’s festivities. Alisdair will be happy tae see ye too.”
His sister gave him a long look, but before she had a chance to argue, Owen pushed himself to his feet.
“A great idea. I could certainly use a rest. Come, Iseabail. If there is tae be a feast, yer brother has some preparing tae dae.”
Once Owen and Iseabail had left, Keane crossed the room and sat beside Elsie. Gazing down at her, he said, “That is the second time ye have protected me from judgement.”
A slow smile grew on her lips, and her eyes danced as she gazed back at him.
“Ye are worth protecting,” she replied.
A shadow of doubt crossed his mind. Bringing danger to his clan’s door had hardly been a clever move. And for what? To exact vengeance for his father’s death? He could have taken the fight to Gunn. His avenging need not have involved the people he cared for at all.
But killing him wouldnae have saved Elsie.
Indeed, it would not. She was the only wonderful thing that had come out of all this. Falling for her had not been part of his plan, of course. But sometimes, fate worked in mysterious ways.
CHAPTER TWENTY
When she had first arrived, Iseabail had terrified Elsie. Clearly the woman was a force to be reckoned with, and yet, it soon became apparent that her anger was temporary. By all accounts it was also justified, given the fact that Keane had told her of their marriage by letter. Perhaps, had they not been so close, Iseabail would not have minded, but it was very evident that the siblings had a strong bond.
Owen and Keane were clearly also close, and they spoke and acted as though they were brothers. Their arrival, and Elsie’s introduction to their dynamics, had all been very sudden, and Elsie had still been reeling when the group had entered the drawing room.
Now, however, as she sat beside Iseabail at the high table, enjoying the feast Keane had arranged, Elsie was enthralled by the story of how she and Owen had met. Keane and their father had been kidnapped by a wicked laird. Iseabail had had to find some sort of a magic crystal to be able to free them. If she had heard the tale a fortnight ago, she wouldn’t have believed it.But knowing about Keane’s power? She was sure each word was true.
“I actually blackmailed Owen intae helping me,” Iseabail laughed.
Elsie’s eyes grew wide at her story. Clearly overhearing it, Owen leaned forward with a grin. “Dae ye see now, Elsie, why I have tae watch mesel’ with this lass? Dinnae let that innocent little face fool ye.”
“She’s never had an innocent little face,” Keane quipped, sending Owen into chuckles of laughter.
Iseabail pulled a face at both of them, before turning back to Iseabail to continue the story. “I ken, it is strange that magic exists, but this crystal was indeed magic.”
“It is less strange now, after discovering that Keane can read minds,” Elsie admitted.
Those words surprised Iseabail, and with a quick glance at her brother before looking back at Elsie, she said, “I am surprised he told ye. He never tells anyone o’ his gift.” Iseabail then looked at Elsie for a long moment. Smiling, she said, “Ye must be really special tae him.”
