Page 77 of The Highlander's Auctioned Virgin
The tension between them was palpable, like they were both tiptoeing around what had happened the previous day in the gallery. It was hard for Elinor to tell what he was thinking, and she didn’t know if that was a good thing.
“I suppose now would be a good time as any to inform ye that I need to travel to the Coral Plains this morning,” he started as the maid laid a plate before him.
“The Coral Plains,” Elinor repeated. It was a statement, not a question.
“Aye. Me people have started to settle there, and I thought I could pay them a visit to see how it is going.”
Elinor shifted in her seat. “Oh, that is understandable.”
“Thank ye, M’Lady.” Ciaran nodded once.
Elinor narrowed her eyes at him as he bit into his toast. His voice was too clear, too casual. Was this because of her siblings’ presence? Was that why he was trying to be casual about this?
She stole a few glances at him as Jackson droned on in the background about the state of the horses in the stables.
“Those poor beasts are practically begging to be ridden. ‘Tis such an abysmal state,” she heard him say.
But her thoughts kept straying to Ciaran. She didn’t like that he didn’t return her glances or, at the very least, acknowledge that what they had shared the previous day was precious.
Did something happen overnight? Was that why he would not even look at her? Not even one of his usual smirks to tease her?
She hated all of this.
She must find out what had happened. What had caused the sudden change in his demeanor. There was only one way she could do that.
“Ye ken what?” she blurted, cutting off her brother. “Ye’re right, Jackson.”
Jackson furrowed his brow. “I am?”
“Aye. Someone needs to take the horses out. Ye can take one for a jaunt if ye like.”
“Elinor, are ye certain?” he asked.
“More than anything,” she assured, then turned to Ciaran, her eyes gleaming. “And Laird MacTraigh can take a horse as well.”
“Ye’re very kind, M’Lady,” Ciaran offered.
“’Tis nothing,” Elinor said with a smile, “because I shall take one as well and come with ye. That way, at least three horses get their exercise of the day.”
Silence descended on the dining hall.
Ciaran looked straight at her, as if her words had ignited something within him.
“Come with me?” he asked, his voice cold.
“Aye. To greet yer people. I mean, I have to welcome the new clan.”
Elinor could tell that Anna and Jackson noticed it, the tension that crackled in the air almost immediately after the words escaped her mouth.
“I am grateful for yer concern, but I would love to do this on me own, if ye daenae mind.”
“I didnae say that ye cannae do it on yer own. I only said that I wanted to follow ye.”
Ciaran swallowed.
Elinor could see his throat bob slightly. She could also see the mild annoyance that flashed across his face.
“M’Lady, do ye mind if I speak to ye? In private, of course.”
Elinor shot Anna a tense look. “Of course. We shall go to me study.”
“Uh oh,” Jackson muttered. Anna elbowed him in the ribs.
Elinor rose to her feet, and soon Ciaran followed behind.
This ought to be good.
