Page 25 of It Began With A Kiss
Aiden swore she turned a slight shade of green. “Nay. I shall refrain from drinking spirits this day,” she began, before placing her hand on his arm and pressing down before he could take a sip of his drink. She leaned close. “Ye may wish tae rethink partaking of any drink coming from the kitchen. I fear yer wine or ale may be poisoned.”
“Poisoned?” he bellowed.
“Shhh! Lower yer voice, Aiden, or all in sundry will know we have another traitor in our midst. Then we shall never flush out the scoundrel.”
His sniffed the contents of his tankard but all he could smell was the heavenly scent of the contents of his cup. “Do you suppose Cook is out to tamper with justmyfood or all of the clan’s meals?”
“I have known our cook all my life and never once doubted his loyalty to the clan. Nay. He is not the culprit.”
“I would suspect Broden, but he is still out of reach, and no one will claim they have seen him in the village,” Aiden said, now leery of both his drink and his food. He pushed the meat he had been enjoying around on his trencher before shoving the plate away.
Iona patted his arm. “Broden is most likely doing exactly what Broden is good at… intimidating people in order tae get his way. I have no doubt he has threatened everyone they will be killed unless they conceal his miserable hide. He will not have gone far, Aiden. I guarantee it. Not when he thinks he is still capable of taking this castle.
Aiden agreed with her assessment. “If not Broden, then who?” he asked scanning the room.
“I never said Broden was not responsible. He can still do much tae ensure someone he trusts performs according tae his demands,” she replied with a scowl.
Aiden frowned. “Then it could be anyone who wishes to kill me… and I had thought that last night’s festivities were a new beginning for us all. ’Twas stupid of me to think I would be so readily accepted as their new laird.”
Iona pushed her chair closer so she could rest her head upon his shoulder. “’Twas not stupid tae wish our people would accept ye, Aiden. The person responsible for possibly poisoning ye is somewhere in this castle and ’tis not Angus. He is incapable of doing much except sleeping tae heal his back.”
“He seems the likely choice. Are you certain?” Aiden asked.
“I would bet my life on it,” she vowed. “Nay, we must needs look closer tae those who have access tae ye more readily. Thora is a likely choice but that almost seems a wee bit too obvious.”
Aiden frowned. “Why would you suspect her? I have barely had anything to do with the woman.”
Iona’s brow rose. “Which is exactly why she may have a grudge against ye. A woman scorned and all that. Surely ye must know she favors ye?”
His gaze traveled to the young woman across the hall pouring wine into a raised chalice for one of the clansmen. “I cannot fathom why. I have not given her any reason to think I would favor her attention. Not when you and I have come to a common accord.” He raised Iona’s hand to his lips but then a crash across the room drew their attention to the sound. The glare Thora sent his way spoke much.
“Ye see? She does not like that ye give me yer attention. Mayhap we should find her other work that is not in the kitchens. She canna be trusted.” Iona squeezed his hand until she went back to eating her porridge.
Mayhap Iona was right. Thora did bear watching, but whether her anger was only directed at him was questionable. For Iona had apparently not witnessed what he had briefly seen. The glare Thora tossed in their direction was not for Aiden alone. Thora also had something against Iona.
CHAPTER19
Iona flicked the reins of her horse as the mare galloped through the waves of the beach. Clumps of sand flew behind her to mark her way along the ocean’s edge. She looked over her shoulder, hoping she had put a fair amount of distance between herself and the cocky knight who taunted her with a challenge that he would win a kiss from her. The distance to the forest was in sight and, despite her efforts and those of her horse, they were no match for the warhorse that carried Aiden’s body as if there was no weight at all upon its back.
Aiden’s laughter rang out when he came abreast of Iona, and she frowned. ’Twas not even a fair match! He was clearly holding his beast back.
“Ye are cheating!” she fumed, trying to sound cross though she was certain her laughter etched itself upon her features. She tried to hold back her merriment but was hard pressed to keep a straight face.
“I would never dare do something so unethical, my lady,” Aiden returned placing his hand on his chest to appear crestfallen.
“Yearecheating, ye heartless cur,” she teased. “Ye hold back yer horse, Aiden! How is this a fair race if ye do not allow yer steed tae live up tae its full potential?”
Aiden’s chuckle was infectious. “I but give you a fair attempt, my lady. This horse has carried me for many a year and in many battles. If I let him have the lead, I would even now be sitting beneath a tree yonder waiting for you to finally catch up so you might bestow upon me my reward.”
“Ye shall never win my kiss, my laird,” she called out, flicking her reins again in the possibility her mare might outrun the other horse.
Her hopes dimmed when Aiden shot forward. Her heart leapt into her throat whilst she watched as man and beast became one. Aiden leaned low in the saddle and his horse took off as though no words were necessary between them. Aye, Aiden was the horse’s master and apparently the steed knew his owner well.
They left Iona alone on the beach and she pulled on the reins of her mare and gave her own animal a respite from its frantic trek across the strand. ’Twas clear she had been outmatched from the beginning. She might as well make Aiden wait as she took her sweet time to reach their agreed finishing point, where she would then have to concede.
He had already dismounted from his horse by the time she arrived. Aiden looked up at her like a man starving and she was his tasty treat. She swung her leg over the pommel whilst Aiden lifted his hands to help her down. As her body slid down along his muscled chest, she held her breath until her feet finally touched solid ground.
“I believe you owe me a kiss, my beautiful Iona.” His husky whisper was almost her undoing, and she had to fight the urge to jump up into his arms to feel his body pressed against her own. ’Twas as though he read her thoughts, for his arm snaked around her waist, pulling her close.
