Page 58 of The Highlander's Auctioned Virgin
“I daenae doubt for a second that ye’ll be able to do that,” Thomas assured.
Silence fell between them for a moment, only punctuated by Elinor’s shaky breaths.
She looked at Thomas through the mirror, all her self-doubt creeping back up.
“I’ve been trying to determine what could be worse than a man who kills people, but I cannae. What’s worse than a killer, Thomas?”
Thomas shuffled his feet. “Well, the good thing about this marriage is that we’re going to find out. And if he eventually turns out worse than Murdock, I will murder him meself.”
Elinor chuckled. “I thought ye admired him.”
“Nae at the cost of having another tyrant rule the castle.”
Thomas bowed his head and stepped out, leaving her to her thoughts once again.
She took a few more deep breaths and let her auburn hair fall down her back. Then, she turned away from the mirror and walked out.
Ciaran watched Jack approach him and heaved a sigh. This was about to get incredibly exhausting.
“Laird MacTraigh,” Jack greeted. “It is great to see that ye’re still here. A part of me thought ye would be disqualified from Lady MacAdair’s challenge.”
Ciaran raised his hands. “Well, I’m still here, as ye can see.”
“Let us go. I intend to join the family for breakfast this morning.”
Of course, he did.
They made their way to the dining hall, where others were already sitting at the table, waiting patiently for Elinor to join them before the maids began to serve the food.
Ciaran studied the faces. Jackson, whom he had met the previous night. Beside him sat a woman with glossy red hair and a slightly protruding belly. He could see the resemblance to Elinor. It was faint, but it was there and enough for him to conclude that she was her sister.
Five other lairds sat on either side of the table. Their eyes flicked up when he arrived, and they gave him brief nods of acknowledgement. He reciprocated and settled into his chair.
“I must ask,” Jackson began as he sat in the chair beside him.Just me damn luck. “How are ye finding MacAdair Castle so far?”
“Cold,” Ciaran replied, his tone sharp. “And other times, it’s too hot. But daenae worry, ‘tis nothing I cannae get used to. I have seen worse.”
“Have ye?”
“Aye,” he responded.
He looked at the people around the table one more time. The healer, who looked everywhere but in his direction. Jackson, who gave him a sly smile after waving to him. Then Elinor’s sister and the other lairds.
The door to the dining hall creaked open, and Elinor walked inside.
His eyes flicked to her, and he was immediately spellbound. She was wearing a pale blue dress that shimmered like ice in the morning light. Her hair hung down her back in soft waves, and the stony glare on her face brought out the blue of her eyes.
Evidently, he was not the only one watching her, yet his eyes remained on her as she made her way to the head of the table, where she rightfully belonged.
The maids walked in shortly after and began serving the food : turkey, butter, toast, coffee, and berries.
Low murmurs filled the air as spoons clinked against plates and jugs of water thudded against the table. They all ate in silence, and he could not help stealing a few glances at her once in a while. A few times, she would look at him, but with an unreadable expression on her face.
What are ye thinking, Elinor?
He was intrigued by the fact that she was one of the few people he could not read just by looking at them. It would have been infuriating if he meant to kill her.
After breakfast, the real business began, and everyone knew that the instant Elinor rose to her feet.
