Page 105 of Laird of Steel
“Ian!” the earnest lass scolded. “You can’t find love with numbers. Love is…” She pressed a hand to her bosom. “Part fate and part heart.”
“So…” Ian said. “Fart?”
Everyone roared at that.
Merraid loved Gellir’s siblings at once. By their words, she realized the earnest lass was his little sister Isabel, who was an incurable romantic, and the calculating lad was his youngest brother Ian. She was suddenly glad she intended to go to Rivenloch with them. One way or another.
When the laughter died down, Gellir addressed Hew. “I owe you my gratitude, cousin.” His words were stilted, though Merraid was likely the only one who could tell. “You were right. Lady Carenza is a jewel. She will make a fine wife.”
Hew nodded, accepting the thanks. But his brow was furrowed and his jaw was clenched. Perhaps he was more sensitive to the others’ ridicule than they realized. Perhaps, unlike Gellir, he knew the importance of choosing a compatible bride.
Deirdre spoke to Lady Feiyan. “Perhaps you’ll take us on a tour of the castle?” she suggested, scanning the courtyard. “It looks like you’ve made some improvements.”
The clans dispersed then. Some followed Deirdre. The Laird of Dunlop accompanied Laird Dougal to the stables. Brand was itching to see the armory. Isabel wished to see the tunnel to the beach where Lady Feiyan and Laird Dougal had fallen in love. Ian wanted to visit the firth to test several model ships he’d made. Gellir excused himself to prepare for the wedding.
Merraid glanced up at the window where Lady Carenza was no doubt weeping into her hands. How she would convince Gellir to let her come to Rivenloch, she didn’t know. But she didn’t have much time.
Chapter 18
“Come,” Gellir replied to the knock on the solar door. He figured it was a servant summoning him to his wedding, now that he was bathed and dressed in his finest indigo velvet.
He was half right. It was a servant. A particularly pesky maidservant. Merraid seemed to be here to torment him one last time.
And torment him, she did. Scanning him from head to toe with bold admiration. Gazing at him with breathless awe and naked longing.
The mere sight of her made his heart race. Desire stirred between his thighs.
“Ye look…” she said in a strained voice, “quite suitable.”
His brow creased as she closed the door behind her. He dared not encourage her attentions. So he turned his back, picked up a comb from the table, and ran it back through his damp hair.
“Why have you come?” he choked out.
“I have to speak with ye about goin’ to Rivenloch.”
“I thought we agreed ’tis a bad idea.”
“We did,” she said, “but Carenza did not. She’s been beggin’ me all day to come with her.”
He grunted, threw the comb onto the table, and pounded the back of his fist once against the stones of the hearth.
Merraid sighed. She sauntered along the solar wall, running an idle hand over the weapons Feiyan had hung there. “Perhaps we could vow ne’er to be alone together.”
He didn’t answer. He picked up the fireplace poker and jabbed at the peat coals. The fiery sparks mirrored his mood.
Having beautiful Merraid underfoot at Rivenloch while he tried to make a difficult marriage work was unthinkable. He’d spent the last sennight trying to purge thoughts of the winsome maidservant—panting beneath him, kissing him, letting him sink his aching cock into her warm, welcoming womb—from his brain.
“She’s afraid,” Merraid said. “That’s all.”
“She won’t be afraid after tonight,” he growled. Then he lowered his eyes and his voice.“Youshould know that.”
Her tiny shocked gasp made him regret his words. He didn’t dare look at her, for fear he’d detect a smoldering memory in her eyes.
He scowled at the fire. The heat and smoke irritated his eyes. Still, it was better to keep his gaze on the flames than stoke the fires of his love for the temptress before him.
“I’d only stay for a short while,” she countered, “just until she’s used to bein’ a wife.”
There was no way he was going to grant his bride her request. Inviting Merraid to Rivenloch as her handmaiden was as foolish as welcoming a fox into a doocot.
