Page 6 of The Highlander's Auctioned Virgin
“Aye. I didnae ken ye would be here.”
“The message was sent to all the lairds, was it nae?”
“Ye’re—ye’re a laird?”
Ciaran reached forward and gently placed a hand on the man’s shoulder. “’Tis a long story, lad. But in short, aye, I am a laird. So, what were ye saying about leaving me horse here?”
“Oh.” The man shook his head. “Ye can leave it wherever ye want. I willnae stop ye.”
Ciaran flashed him a smirk. “I’m grateful. Now, would ye kindly tell me where I should go? I shall get out of yer way.”
“The Great Hall. Ye cannae miss it when ye enter.”
Ciaran nodded again, flashing him another grateful smirk. “Thank ye, lad. Ye have been incredibly helpful.”
The man smiled in return.
“Since ye already ken who I am, ‘tis only proper that I ask for yer name.”
The man nodded, his expression sobering. “’Tis Thomas.”
“Thomas. Ye live in this castle?”
“Aye.”
“’Tis nice to meet ye, Thomas. Hopefully, this event goes well and we see more of each other soon.”
Thomas only let out a half-hearted laugh.
Ciaran gave him another pat on the shoulder and made his way to the castle, ready to face whatever lay ahead.
“I’ll look after yer horse!” he heard Thomas call out from behind him.
But he didn’t turn around. Instead, he proceeded towards the castle, the smirk still lingering on his face.
Elinor continued to fan herself for the better part of a minute, walking back and forth right outside the Great Hall. Katherine had arrived a few minutes ago and was now standing nearby, watching her slowly spiral into a giant pool of self-doubt.
“This was a mistake. Ye ken this was a mistake, do ye nae?”
“The real mistake is what is going to happen to yer face if ye continue to sweat like that, M’Lady,” Katherine responded. “’Tis normal to feel a little doubt, but the Lairds are here. They’re all outside, waiting for ye. Ye have to do what’s right and speak to them.”
Silence descended on them, and Elinor fanned herself even harder.
“Believe me, Elinor,” Katherine continued. “If the Lairds thought this whole thing was a terrible and juvenile idea, they wouldnae have shown up in the first place.”
Elinor nodded. “Ye’re right.”
“Aye. Now, go out there and speak to them like ye’re supposed to.”
Elinor nodded and took a few deep breaths, then proceeded into the Great Hall.
The number of men trudging back and forth across the hall seemed uncountable as she walked in. Not because there were egregiously many, but because they kept moving around and wouldn’t stay in one place to be counted, no matter how hard she tried.
She wondered how she was going to get them to stop talking and wandering around while they still had the daylight.
She didn’t have to wonder for long. It started with the first laird who turned to her. Their eyes met, and a polite smile crept onto her face. Then, the Laird signaled to the others. One after another, they all grew aware of her presence, which caused the murmurings to fizzle out until silence reigned.
She swallowed. All eyes were now on her. It was now or never. She had to seize their attention while she still had it and do something with it.
