Chapter 20

CHAPTER TWENTY

M agnus awoke with a crick in his neck and a sore back. The chair was fine for sitting down to put on his boots, to read, or even for a little quiet contemplation, but it was absolute hell for sleeping in. He got to his feet with a groan then rubbed his eyes and stretched. When he’d finally managed to shake off the tendrils of sleep that clung to him, he noticed that Ciara was already dressed and sitting on the edge of the bed looking back at him.

“And how’d ye sleep?” she asked with a cruel little grin on her lips.

“Fine,” he lied.

Magnus walked over to the wash basin that stood on the table in the corner and splashed some cold water on his face. He ran his wet hands through his hair and tried to get his wavy locks under control, then grabbed the cloth that sat beside the basin and dried himself off. He started to peel off his shirt then noticed Ciara sitting there looking at him and grumbled to himself as he walked behind the privacy screen in the corner and changed, readying himself for the day.

A knock sounded on his chamber door, and it squealed sharply as it opened. As he came around the privacy screen, he saw Rowan, one of the chambermaids stepping in. Her brown eyes immediately fell upon Ciara and Magnus.

“Breakfast is ready,” she said primly. “Everybody’s gatherin’ in the hall.”

“Aye. Tell them we’ll be there in a moment.”

She gave Magnus a stiff curtsy then cast a dark, lingering look at Ciara before turning and walking out of his chamber, closing the door a little harder than seemed necessary behind her.

“I dinnae think she likes me,” Ciara noted.

“Wait till she gets tae ken ye. Then she’ll really nae like ye,” Magnus said dryly.

He laughed to himself when Ciara’s eyes widened and her mouth fell open. She quickly recovered though and put an indignant look on her face as she narrowed her eyes and glared at him.

“Come,” he said. “Let’s fill our bellies.”

“I’m fine. I’ll stay here.”

“Nay, ye willnae,” he replied. “’Tis me job tae keep an eye on ye at all times. Now, ye dinnae have tae eat, ‘tis yer business. But I’m hungry, so we’re goin’ down tae the hall tae have breakfast.”

Ciara let out a heavy sigh as she got to her feet and in that one moment, Magnus could see he’d foiled her plans to slip away when she thought he would not be watching her. Foolish of her to think he’d be so careless. Magnus held the door to his bedchamber open and let her walk through before him. He walked behind her and couldn’t seem to keep himself from admiring her form. She was a pain in his backside, but he couldn’t deny that she was a beautiful woman.

“Stop leerin’ at me, ye muc,” she growled.

Adrenaline shot through his body as he raised his gaze and found her looking over her shoulder at him. Her cheeks were bright red and there was a shy smile curling her lips, but her eyes burned with outrage. Magnus cleared his throat and tried to recover a bit of his dignity.

“I wasnae leerin’ at ye,” he muttered.

“Uh huh. Liar,” she snapped. “Just stop it.”

To keep from giving in to temptation again, Magnus walked alongside her as they wound their way through the corridors, finally arriving at the family hall. He opened the door and allowed Ciara to enter first, making sure to keep his eyes averted from any part of her, especially her backside. Thora, Kai, Enya, Domhnall, and his wife, Katherine, were already all gathered around the table and when they walked in, conversation stopped. All eyes turned to them. The room was suddenly so quiet, the silence almost had a physical weight. Domhnall’s gaze shifted from Ciara to Magnus and one of his eyebrows flicked upward, making the question on his face more than clear.

“Ye told me tae keep an eye on her,” Magnus said. “This is me doin’ what ye told me tae.”

Katherine, Domhnall’s wife, jumped to her feet and dashed around the long table, slipping her arm around Ciara’s shoulders, giving her a warm and welcoming smile.

“Welcome, dear,” Katherine said. “Come, sit with me. Let’s get some food into you. I’m sure you’ve got to be starving after your long, arduous journey to Dunvegan.”

Katherine was gracious and every ounce an English lady. Ciara seemed relieved despite her origins. As the servants plied them with food and drink a little removed from the rest of the party, Magnus watched as the two women engaged in a quiet conversation.

“Sit, Magnus. Break yer fast with us,” Domhnall ordered.

Magnus grunted and sat down at the table with them, his gaze drawn to where Ciara sat with Katherine, unable to keep himself from wondering what they were discussing.

“Are ye all right, braither?” Enya asked.

“I’m fine.”

“Ye seem tae be movin’ a little stiffly,” she noted. “Are ye hurt?”

“I said I’m fine.”

“His mood is foul and brooding,” Thora said. “He seems normal enough tae me.”

Magnus shot her a dark look. “Ye’d be too if ye were forced tae sleep in a chair all night.”

His siblings all burst into laughter, making his cheeks burn. He glared at them. Before he could deliver the scathing remark on the tip of his tongue though, the servants arrived bearing platters of food. Magnus forgot about his irritation with his siblings as he loaded his plate with boiled eggs, seasoned mutton, beans, cheese, and warm bread.

“Sleepin’ in a chair all night hasnae dimmed yer appetite none,” Kai noted.

“Shut it,” Magnus grunted as he tucked into his meal.

As he ate though, Magnus continued stealing glances at Ciara and Katherine. Their voices were low and soft and try as he might, he wasn’t able to hear a single word they were saying. Ciara, though, was smiling and laughing quietly.

“She seems tae be in better spirits than when she walked in,” Thora noted.

“Aye. The poor lass looked like she was walkin’ tae the gallows when she game through the doors,” Enya agreed.

“If ye’d had tae spend the night with this one, ye’d probably look the same way,” Kai teased.

As the others giggled, Magnus grunted and threw a chunk of cheese at his brother, bouncing it off his forehead.

“Hey,” Kai said, then laughed and stuffed the piece of cheese into his mouth.

Domhnall glanced towards the women, seeming to be making sure Ciara was still engaged in conversation with Katherine and not paying attention to them. She was.

“So, did ye learn anythin’ about her last night, Magnus?” Domhnall asked.

“Other than the woman snores like a beast? Nothin’.”

“Nothin’?”

“When I found her after leavin’ ye all last night, she was walkin’ around the castle sayin’ she just wanted tae stretch her legs,” Magnus said. “But I ken she was scopin’ out the layout and plannin’ her escape. She was movin’ and schemin’ like a spy would.”

“Ye dinnae seem convinced she is though.”

Magnus shrugged. “I cannae say. Part of me thinks she’s nae. She just doesnae seem tae possess the kind of guile and deceit a spy would.”

“Which is what makes a good spy,” Thora said. “Ye’d never expect ‘em tae be the one ye’re lookin’ fer in the first place.”

“True,” Magnus conceded. “But there’s just somethin’ about her that makes me think she is what she says she is—a woman on the run and tryin’ tae escape a marriage she daesnae want.”

Domhnall nodded. “All right then. We’ll dae this me way then. Kai, after ye finish stuffin’ yer gullet, I want ye tae go and see yer contacts about her. See if ye can verify her story, eh?”

Kai nodded as he chewed. “All right, braither.”

“And what dae ye need me tae dae?” Magnus asked.

Domhnall grinned. “Just keep doin’ what ye’re doin’.”

“And what is that exactly?”

“Charm the lass,” he said. “Find a way tae get her tae spill all her secrets tae ye.”

As his siblings laughed, Magnus grumbled and kept eating. It was going to be a long day.