Chapter 10

Arran's gaze found Scarlett's cobalt-blue eyes easily in the crowd as he and Niamh twirled around the dance floor.

"Felix wants ye to marry Lily," Niamh said over the music.

"I ken that well enough. I told him to shove off," Arran uttered coldly.

"Arran, he means well. Ye told him ye needed help this week anyway—let him help," she chastised as the melody continued.

"Aye, I needed help, but nae with a marriage to a self-proclaimed spinster."

"Lily is lovely, and we ken their family well. She's comfortable with ye. I'm sure if she were to marry anyone, it would be ye."

"Niamh, I willnae speak of this again with ye. Leave the Shepherds out of this. The ledgers have all been reviewed, and I just signed the treaty before dinner. There is nothing left to discuss."

"I see," Niamh said, and let him spin her out and back in. "Tell me yer plan, Braither. I want to help ye."

"Sister, I have Laird Donaldson in me pocket. I've just secured trade with Felix. I have yet to speak with the O'Neills, but that is imminent. McRae, Drummond, Crawford, and MacInnes are all here, too. It's only night two. I've got it all in hand."

Niamh shook her head in dejected frustration, "Well, when it all goes to hell, let me know how I can help ye. Now, what am I trustin' ye with?"

"When this song is over, ye will let Graham lead ye in the next dance, and then ye will go stand next to Felix and Lily and keep them away from me for the evening, please."

Niamh appeared slightly confused by his requests but ultimately agreed. He knew she wasn't confused about the dance because it was customary for her to do so. She was rightfully confused about his request about the Shepherds.

The next song carried on, and Arran stood by, watching Graham twirl his sister around the other couples approvingly. Seeing Niamh smile and graciously accept the minstrel's appreciation, he thought how much of a shame it was that they couldn't be married.

Graham McCormack did not come from a titled family or money, but in reality, Arran had about as much to his name financially as the minstrel did. Unfortunately, his sister didn't have a dowry, so she was ineligible for marriage this week, but very soon she would have a dowry, and the match would need to be strategic. Love was a luxury.

The song came to an end, and Graham walked Niamh back to where Arran stood.

"Thank ye, again, Lady Niamh. Laird McLaren, I'll be heading back to play the next set," Graham said with a polite bow, and then he disappeared into the crowd.

Niamh turned to face her brother and then took her cue to leave his side. Arran felt Scarlett's piercing gaze on him as he watched his sister lead the Shepherds toward the far corner of the hall. It wasn't until Niamh positioned herself in his line of view, with Lily and Felix's backs turned to him, that Arran turned around and made for Laird and Lady O'Neill.

I hope she goes along with this, or else it'll all be for naught.

"Good evening, Laird O'Neill, Lady O'Neill, Lady Scarlett," Arran greeted pleasantly.

"Laird McLaren." Mack extended his hand in greeting. "How are ye, lad?" he asked.

"I'm well, Mack. Thank ye. I hope ye enjoyed the dinner service tonight. Our cook went to great lengths to include food from all of the clans in attendance."

"Aye, we noticed that the Donaldson grouse was served last night and our very own O'Neill Cranachan. Delicious, Arran. Just delicious."

"Good," Arran said, and then turned to address Lady O'Neill, who dutifully nodded at everything her husband said. "Good evening, Lady O'Neill." He held her hand and kissed the back of it. "Yer colors are lovely tonight. Are ye enjoying yerself so far this week?"

"Aye, Laird McLaren. It is a lovely evening. The minstrel was amazing to listen to. Thank ye for sharing his gift with us."

"Graham is an old friend of mine, and I was glad he could join us tonight. Lady Scarlett, did ye also enjoy the minstrel performance today?"

"Aye, Laird McLaren. The tales were bonny," Scarlett replied politely.

"Ye looked bonny in blue earlier, Lady Scarlett, but this O'Neill grey is quite fetching." Arran took her hand and brushed her knuckles with his lips, the same place he kissed when she agreed to go along with the ruse.

It was not lost on him that her mother was stunned by his compliment, but what really got him going was when Scarlett bantered back.

"Ye and Niamh in green and clan colors was hardly fair for the rest of us, Laird McLaren. It wasnae even close."

"Och, aye, our maither was always fond of us in our colors, but even so, she was always in blue. Like yer eyes, lass."

With that, Sienna Paton's mouth fell to the floor.

Come on, lass, blush for me.

"I'm—I'm sure she was a fearsome woman. I wish I could have met her," Scarlett stammered.

"Och, aye, Lady Scarlett, she was formidable, indeed," Arran said, resisting the urge to growl. His voice lowered still as he chose his next words carefully. "She would have loved to meet ye."

Sienna looked between her daughter and Laird McLaren when Arran asked, "Laird O'Neill, might I have a word?"

His eyes lingered on Scarlett a moment longer before looking at her father.

"Aye."

"Me study, Sir?"

He grinned when he saw Sienna yank her daughter closer to her as the two men left the hall.

* * *

Scarlett could not catch a wink of sleep that night. Her mind raced relentlessly with thoughts about Arran and her father.

I wonder what he told me faither… I wonder if Faither agreed…

"Gosh, if Faither agreed, what happens then? We didnae talk about that," she groaned aloud to her empty room, and then lifted the blankets over her head and attempted to sleep once more.

When the first birdsongs of the morning danced outside her window, she threw the blankets off her frustratingly and rang the bell for one of the young maids to come and help her get dressed.

The fire in her room was easily stoked back to life, and she threw another log into it, so the room got warmer. She sat by the fire with her eyes closed until she heard a light knock on the door a few minutes later.

"Aye, come in!"

"Aye, Me Lady?" the young maid nearly whispered and placed a tray with tea and bannocks on it on the small table by the window.

"I'd like to get ready. Please bring up a day dress, a cloak, and me leathers. I'm going on a walk," Scarlett instructed softly and then went back to staring at the fire.

She walked out of the castle as the sun rose and walked in the direction of the woods that Arran and Niamh had ridden through the day before. The treeline was thick, but as the sun rose, it shined through the bark and cast long shadows behind her.

Scarlett hadn't noticed that someone was following her. With each step she took, he took two. He was unintentionally foxlike with his movements, and it wasn't until she stopped walking to breathe in the fresh air and the stranger continued walking up behind her that she realized she was not alone.

A twig broke, and she quickly turned around, petrified, throwing her cloak wide to face the cloaked man just behind her.