Page 54 of Laird of Smoke
But before he could issue his instructions, they were already at the gate, and she was calling out cheerily to the guard.
The key to disguising oneself, Eve had discovered early on, was confidence and devotion to the role.So when she was Lady Aillenn, she was forthright, self-assured, and demanding of respect.Anyone encountering her was completely convinced she was who she said she was, because she overwhelmed them with that self-assurance.
She wasn’t so sure about Adam.Aye, he’d memorized the clan information she’d given him.But would he be so confident in a role he’d never played before?
She decided to take the lead.It would probably be better if he remained silent anyway.
“Good even!”she called out to the guard as she dismounted.
“M’lady?”
“We’ve traveled all the way from Perth,” she told him.“Might we seek rest here for the night?”
Adam hopped down from his horse and interjected, “One o’ Pitcairn’s recent guests recommended we stop here.”
Eve blinked.She hoped he was right that it was Pitcairn and not Pitfield.After all, he’d stumbled over the name before.
“Prithee wait here, m’lady, m’lord,” he said, noting their finery.He called out to a nearby lad.“Ewen, see to the horses.”Then he nodded.“I’ll alert the laird and return for ye.”
Adam pulled the satchels from the saddles, and Ewen led their horses away.
As soon as they were out of hearing, Eve hissed at Adam, “I’ll do the talkin’.”
Simultaneously, he whispered, “Let me make the arrangements.”
They both frowned.
He argued, “I have more experience in these matters.”She had just opened her mouth to contradict him when he added, “After all, ye’re a titled lady only recently come o’er from Ireland, aye?”
She couldn’t deny the story she’d made up, so she acquiesced with a nod.But she had no intention of letting Adam blunder his way through an awkward explanation when she could wrap a man around her finger with a wink and a grin.
So when the guard returned and led them into the keep, she strode through the great hall ahead of Adam.The servants were setting up trestle tables for supper, draping them with tablecloths.She dodged between them, scouring the hall for the laird.
Near the hearth was a well-dressed man with thick waves of brown hair and lively eyes.The noblemen around him hung on his every word and laughed at his every jest.That must be the laird, she decided.
Picking up her skirts, she surged toward him with a smile of sheer delight, as if he were the only man in the hall.
“M’laird!”she gushed.“What an honor to meet ye!”
Her enthusiasm and her appearance excused her rudeness as she barged into the group, lowered her gaze, and executed a deep curtsy that may have revealed just a bit of her bosom.
When she lifted her eyes again, the men were left speechless.
“And ye are?”he asked, perusing her slowly from head to toe as if measuring her beauty and calculating her charms.
“Oh, muddled me!”she said, feigning fluster.“I am Lady Aillenn o’ Bhallach, m’laird.”
His eyes danced with pleasure.“An Irish lass?”
The others chuckled in approval.
She cast him a coy glance.“Aye, m’laird.”Then she straightened with playful pride.“I’m the daughter o’ Tiarna Fursa.”It never hurt to impress a man with one’s bloodline.
“Is that so?”She had his full attention now.Ignoring the others, he stepped toward her, his hand extended.“The honor is mine, m’lady.”
She slipped her hand into his, and he covered it with his own, bestowing upon her a wide smile.
“M’laird,” she murmured, leaving her hand in his and looking up at him with liquid eyes, “I’ve come to ask… May I count on your hospitality this eve?’Tis been a long day o’ travel from Perth, and I fear my audience with thekinghas quite exhausted me.”
