Page 36 of The Cruel Highlander's Bride
Ciara shot her sister a playful glare, but her heart thumped. Lana had been the one to tell everyone… of course. Ciara supposed Magnus hadn’t had the chance just yet. He’d only learned last night. Between their… moment together and the audience this morning, he’d hardly had any spare time.
“I think it’s wonderful,” Elspeth chimed in, smiling warmly at Ciara.
“Aye, there are a lot of people in the village who would be very interested to learn,” one of the village women added.
“Maybe ye could teach me as well,” Ewan asked, still shy.
Ciara was blushing again. She pressed a hand to her heated flesh and gave a small smile.
She nodded to Ewan. “Aye, I would be happy to.”
There was no need for Magnus’s assistance in order to make a difference here. Between her ideas for the village and now this, she would make her mark on Clan MacLeon. And hopefully, once word spread, even more people would come to her. If he wanted to stay in his study, well, she’d be just fine.
The door to the dining hall swung open, and for once, Ciara didn’t look up to see who it was. But she could sense his presence anyway.
Magnus strolled into the dining hall.
Of course. He cannae let me have this one moment.
The room fell silent as they all turned towards him. Even Ciara finally looked up. She didn’t understand how he couldn’tseeit. He already had their attention and their respect. He just needed to show them his heart.
The tension was evident on his face, in the slight furrow of his brow, but he seemed calmer than when she’d left him. Still just as handsome, though. He’d tamed his dark hair somewhat since she last saw him, and his green eyes shimmered in the afternoon light. She cursed herself for even noticing.
“Are ye all good?” Magnus asked the women.
The villagers nodded and mumbled a few agreements, but the room was subdued compared to just a few moments ago. The big smiles had dimmed a little, and their laughter was completely absent.
“Aye, thank ye for comin’ today. As we discussed, the servants are loadin’ up some food to send back to the village with ye,” he added. “And I’ve already reached out to some neighborin’ clans, includin’ Clan Gunn.” He looked right at Ciara when he said this. “Hopefully, we’ll have some answers soon. And hopefully, we can get enough people to help with the crops and other tasks,” he finished, his voice still devoid of emotion.
The villagers began to utter their thanks, and Olivia was inviting him to sit and drink with them, but Magnus just waved them all off. His gaze lingered on Ciara just barely before he turned away.
He didn’t stick around for another word and certainly not for food or drink.
The Laird spun on his heel and headed back to his study, alone, the door slamming shut behind him.
* * *
Magnus exhaled as soon as he was safely back in his study. His plan to get Ciara alone was quickly squashed when he found her holding court in the dining hall. He should have expected that everyone would gather around her—he certainly wanted to.
Everyone had quieted when he walked into the room, their happiness quickly turning into wariness. He could tell there wasn’t room for him at that celebration, not really. He didn’t earn the villagers’ thanks or their happiness. So, he would spend the evening here again, or at least the next couple of hours. The villagers would have to return home, eventually.
His respite was short-lived, though, because the moment he settled down with a glass of whiskey, Ciara was walking into his study. She didn’t even bother to knock this time.
“What are ye doin’ here?” he grunted, taking his first sip of the amber liquid. The whiskey burned on the way down, and he reveled in the feeling.
“It was good of ye to get that all started,” she began, but he sensed there was more she wanted to say—more shewouldsay.
“But?” he prompted.
“Ye did the right thing, but?—”
“Ah, there it is,” he drawled.
She shot him a teasing glance, and he quieted. “But… ye could be a little more humane while doing so.”
“I dinnae ken what ye want from me,” he replied.
He wanted to laugh and tease her back, wanted to return to their lighthearted conversation, but the day was weighing on him still. Having this conversation again was… not what he wanted to be doing.
