Chapter 16

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

J enna laughed delightedly when Cillian stumbled. Instead of blushing, she peeked from beneath her lashes with provocative allure. Everything about her enchanted Cillian. By God, he had to look away from her, or he might be foolish and confess the feelings writhing inside his chest. There was no doubt in his mind she would run.

"Ah, Cillian dearest, never say you are blushing?"

Dearest . He slammed his eyes closed. If only she would mean it. "Come, you teasing wench," he murmured, smiling. "Let's explore more."

They moved on to a stall selling sweet buns, and Jenna's eyes widened when she saw a sign advertising a series of competitions.

"Cillian, look! Competitions!" she exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

Cillian lifted a brow. "Feeling competitive, are we?"

"Absolutely. Let's enter the sack race," she said, pointing to a nearby sign-up booth.

"Jenna," he began frowning. "I have never done anything like this."

She clapped her hands together. "That makes it perfect. We will experience it together. There is a prize if we win."

"A basket of bread," he said drily.

"I love bread!"

Cillian blinked, then he laughed. "Very well. We shall enter."

The sack race was a highlight of the fair, and couples were already lining up to participate. Jenna and Cillian signed up, receiving a large burlap sack for the race. The rules were simple: each couple had to put one leg in the sack and hop with the free leg to a marker in the distance.

"Remember, we must win," she said, fiercely concentrating.

He never knew she had this competitive spirit. Ah, Jenna, how many moments have I missed over the years?

As they positioned themselves at the starting line, Jenna squeezed his fingers. She glanced at Cillian, and he gave her a confident nod. The whistle blew, and they started hopping in unison, their coordination perfect. The crowd cheered them on, and Jenna's laughter mingled with shouts of encouragement. With each hop, they gained ground on their competitors.

"Hurry, Cillian!"

As they neared the marker, Jenna and Cillian made a final, synchronized leap, crossing the finish line ahead of the other couples. The crowd erupted in cheers, and Jenna hugged him, seeming breathless and elated.

"Victory!" she shouted, grinning at him.

Cillian laughed. "Well done, partner."

Their next challenge was the pig-catching competition. Jenna's determination was fierce, and Cillian could see the competitive fire in her eyes. They approached the pen, where several pigs were running around, squealing and darting in every direction.

"Are you ready for this?" Cillian asked, his voice low and steady.

"More than ready," Jenna replied, her eyes fixed on the pigs.

The whistle blew, and they sprang into action. The pigs were quick and slippery, but Jenna was relentless. Cillian moved with her, guiding and supporting her as she chased after the elusive animals. After several near-misses, Jenna finally managed to corner a pig, and with Cillian's help, she secured it in her arms.

The crowd cheered as they emerged from the pen, the pig wriggling in Jenna's grasp. She laughed. "I am astonished we only placed fourth. Is there a prize for fourth place?"

Cillian wanted to kiss her so badly that he placed a distance between them to stop himself.

"Papa," a little girl cried. "Will you enter the eating competition this year?"

"We stand no chance of winning," a man replied. "Come, let us find another."

Jenna handed over the small piglet and washed her hands with the water and soap provided before drying her hands. "What eating competition?"

"Do not even think about it," Cillian warned.

"Why not?"

"You cannot win," he said, shaking his head. "Albert has been the champion for the last seven years."

Jenna laughed, rubbing her hands together with anticipation.

" Hee hee ," she said with diabolical glee, rubbing her hands together.

Cillian jerked and gave her a look of disbelief, for he had never heard such a diabolical yet delightful chuckle.

"Watch me and be awed," she said and marched over to join the eating competition.

I am already awed .

"But first," she said, wagging a finger. "I would like some ale."

Ah … now he understood. She raced over to a stall and procured a mug of ale. Jenna gasped at the first large gulp.

"This is strong." She took a few more sips, and then he saw that familiar flush on her cheeks and the slumberous and somehow heaviness of her eyes.

The eating contest was a spectacle. Long tables were set up with plates piled high with various foods, from pies to sweet buns. Jenna took her place at the table, glancing down the row to see Albert, a burly man with a reputation for his prodigious appetite. She was the only lady at the table, and she was so small compared to all the brawny men who stared at her presence as if uncertain what to make of her.

"My lady," one of the men said, "Perhaps you are at the wrong table. "The sewing competition is over by—"

"I am hungry," Jenna said, cutting him off. "Are you hungry?"

Mr. Murray was one of the contestants, and he cast Cillian a dubious stare. He grinned and leaned against a barrel to watch. The whistle blew, and Jenna dug in with gusto. She focused on the task at hand, her competitive spirit driving her forward. Bite after bite, she matched everyone's pace. In her tipsiness, Jenna seemed to forget that she was in a competition. It seemed to Cillian she was simply enjoying the food. Only, many stopped to watch her. And only Albert kept going, shoveling food into his mouth while glancing at her from the corner of his eyes.

"Oh, this roast pork is delicious," Jenna cried.

The crowd watched in awe as she continued to eat, her enthusiasm and tenacity evident.

Cillian stood nearby, his eyes never leaving her. Her eyes widened, her lips parted, and a loud belch escaped her.

"Oh, dear," she said with sweet, ladylike grace, "how rude of me." Then returned to eating with gusto.

Albert had stopped eating and merely sat as all the other men watched her vanquish her mound of food. The judges tallied the results, and to everyone's amazement, Jenna was declared the winner. The crowd erupted in cheers, and Jenna squealed, jumped up and rushed to Cillian.

He caught her against his chest, aware she was foxed. Her cheeks glowed as she peered up at him. "I won."

His heart turned over with such tenderness and love, and his damn throat tightened. "You did," he said gently, lifting her into his arms.

The sun began to set, casting a pink-golden glow over the fairgrounds, and Cillian walked with her toward the carriage parked along the road. He helped her into the carriage, drawing her into his arms once the equipage rumbled into motion.

"Thank you for today," Jenna said softly, burying her face against his throat. "It was wonderful, Cillian."

"Thank you for being here with me," he said.

He leaned down, capturing her lips in a tender kiss.

"I am going to sleep now," she said, yawning, then promptly fell asleep.

Cillian held her, aware of the desperate feeling worming through his heart. The carriage wheels clattered softly as they made their way back to the manor, the fading light of day casting long shadows across the road. Cillian held Jenna close to his chest, feeling the comforting weight of her body against his as she nestled into him.

He gazed down at her, noting the way her hair spilled across his arm like a river of silk, the way her breath whispered against his throat with her breathing. Her cheeks remained flushed, a telltale sign that she was still foxed, but there was a peacefulness about her that made his heart turn over with a rush of emotion so strong that it nearly stole his breath away.

"I won," she murmured, her voice slurring slightly as she peered at him with a sleepy smile.

Cillian's throat tightened, and he couldn't help but return her smile with one of his own. "You did," he said gently, lifting her more securely into his arms as the carriage rumbled along the road. "The villagers will deliver our prizes tomorrow. You even won yourself a piglet."

"My very own piglet. I think Lily will enjoy playing with a new friend."

"Do you mean for your piglet to stay at my manor?"

"Our piglet," she mumbled and fell asleep once more.

As they reached the manor, the carriage stopped, and Cillian carefully roused Jenna and helped her down. Her eyes widened as she took in the view before her—the setting sun painting the sky in hues of orange and pink, the golden light reflecting off the calm surface of the lake nearby; the world seemed to hold its breath as if savoring the last moments of daylight.

Jenna let out a soft, awed breath. "It's so beautiful," she whispered, her voice catching with emotion.

Without warning, she broke away from him and dashed toward the lake, the skirts of her gown billowing behind her as she ran. Cillian's heart lurched in his chest as he watched her, unsure what she intended.

"Jenna!" he called out, but his voice was lost in the evening breeze as she reached the edge of the lake and jumped in without a moment's hesitation.

For a split second, he stood frozen, his mind unable to fully process what had just happened. Then, with a curse, he ran after her and reached the water's edge; Cillian plunged in after her. He saw her moving under the water like a dream, kicking her legs upward. He surfaced and immediately looked around for Jenna. She was laughing, her face lit up with pure, unadulterated joy as she splashed about in the water. Relief flooded him, and he swam toward her, cutting through the water with powerful strokes.

When he reached her, she turned to him, her laughter still bubbling.

"You're mad," he said, but his words had no heat.

"Maybe I am," she replied with a playful grin, splashing water at him. "But it's glorious, isn't it?"

The sunset, the cool water, and Jenna's radiant smile were all glorious. He reached out, catching her by the waist and pulling her close. "I ought to tan your backside for the fright you gave me."

She slipped her hands around his nape and kissed him. Her mouth was so soft and tender against his it surprised Cillian.

"Let's float on our backs and watch the lowering of the sun."

He brushed his knuckle over her nose and nodded. They floated together, the world around them quiet except for the gentle lapping of the water and the distant sounds of the manor in the background.

"I cannot recall ever being so happy," she said.

His heart started to hammer, and he wondered if she would remember those words when she was no longer intoxicated. Cillian pushed the thought from his mind and allowed himself to be in the moment, to enjoy Jenna in his arms, how her eyes sparkled with mischief and delight.

They swam and frolicked together, their laughter echoing across the lake as they splashed. As the sun dipped below the horizon, leaving the sky deep indigo, they finally swam back to the shore, breathless and exhilarated. Cillian helped Jenna out of the water, his hands lingering on her waist as they stood at the edge of the lake, dripping wet and grinning at each other like fools.

Jenna shivered slightly in the cool evening air, and Cillian immediately led her toward the manor. She smiled up at him, her eyes soft with affection and something else—something that made his heart thud heavily in his chest.

They made their way past his butler, who tried not to smile, and to the chamber with a fire waiting. They stripped from their wet garments, and he toweled her tresses dry.

"I do not wish to return to Aunt Bess until tomorrow," she said softly, her voice filled with desire as she buried her face against his chest. "I feel as if I want to stay in your arms forever."

"Then stay with me," he said, his voice thick with emotion. Cillian gently tilted her chin with his fingers and leaned down, capturing her lips in a tender, lingering kiss.

"I am going to sleep now," Jenna murmured, a yawn escaping her as she leaned heavily against him. Within moments, she had drifted off, her body relaxed and trusting in his arms.

Cillian held her close, lifted her into his arms and took her to the bed. Once he had lowered her, he joined her. The desperate feeling worming through his heart earlier returned, stronger than ever. He did not want to lose her again; he couldn't bear the thought of it. But despite their growing attachment, despite the undeniable bond between them, he still had no idea how to convince her to peek into the future with him. He loved her with a depth and intensity that terrified him but filled him with a fierce determination never to let her go.