Chapter 17

17

S upper that night was a lot more enthusiastic than Aidan was used to. Tillie's family seemed to genuinely enjoy being around each other. More laughter than he'd heard in years floated around the table, and everyone seemed to be talking at once. How they were able to follow all the different conversations, he had no idea.

The only person missing from the meal was Grace, who had chosen not to eat with them that night. Aidan didn't blame her. It was probably uncomfortable being the sister of his late wife at the table with his new wife's family.

After supper was finished, they moved into the solar. Tillie and her sisters went off into the corner to play a game of chance while Aidan, her parents, and her brothers sat around the hearth. Aidan couldn't keep his gaze from veering in Tillie's direction. She looked so happy with her family here, and he decided he wanted to always see her like that. Smiling and laughing, her green eyes bright with happiness.

"Ye seem quite taken with our daughter," Tavis said. A knowing smile hovered on his mouth.

Aidan jerked his attention to his father-in-law, saw the look in his eyes, and felt his earlobes burn. "She is me wife," he answered, trying to sound as matter of fact as possible.

"She has a big heart, but it can be a bit tender," Alba added.

"Aye, me sister hasnae seen an animal she wouldnae try to rescue," Thomas said.

Although he'd talked to Thomas earlier and the younger man was assured Aidan had only been teasing him, Thomas still seemed a little uncomfortable around him.

Thomas' words reached Aidan's brain, and he thought about the day he'd caught Tillie at the cliff. She'd been leaning over, looking down, and had said she'd heard a kitten crying.

"But she's a forgiving sort, too," Alba said. "She was angry at first, but she has forgiven us. Especially now that everythin' seems to be workin' out just fine."

Aidan scowled. "Forgiven ye?"

Alba nodded. "Aye, for pretendin' ye wrote a love letter to her." She laughed, shaking her head. "She was halfway in love with ye before even meetin' ye."

Aidan's gaze narrowed, and he shot a glance at Tillie. She happened to look up at that moment, and their gazes met. She cocked her head with a slight frown at his dark expression then he broke eye contact and returned his attention to her parents.

Now, he understood what Tillie had meant when she'd talked to him about the letter she'd thought he had written to her. At the time, he hadn't paid any attention, but now, he understood. Tillie had been tricked into marrying him. She'd thought she was getting a man who used flowery compliments and loved sitting in a field of blooms.

"Ye look surprised," Tavis said. "Ye dinnae ken about the letter?"

Aidan shook his head. Anger, swift and hot, rushed through his veins. Theirs was not a love match, but knowing his wife was tricked into marrying him, thinking she was getting a man much different than himself made him want to lash out at her parents. How could they do that to their own daughter. And looked so pleased by their dubious behavior?

"Nay. I dinnae," Aidan said, his jaw tight. They didn't seem to notice his upset.

"Well, it all worked out," Alba said dismissively.

"If ye will excuse me, I think I will take my leave," Aidan said. He could not stand to stay in the same room with Laird and Lady MacFair any longer. "I've got an early mornin' start tomorrow."

Tavis stood as Aidan rose from his chair. "Good sleep, Laird."

Aidan did not offer a response. After a quick glance at Tillie, who was enthralled in her game with Erica and Olivia while Eileen slept on the couch, he left the solar room and went to his own chamber. There, he poured himself a glass of Scotch and stood in front of the hearth.

The heat from the fire only added to the heat of his anger. He couldn't believe parents would deceive their child in such a way. Since Aidan barely remembered his own parents, he had only his grandparents who had raised him to go by. They had been a sweet and gentle couple. His grandfather could be difficult when warranted, and he'd made sure Aidan had warrior training with every weapon imaginable, but he could not see them deceiving him in such a way.

The door creaked open, and Aidan swung his gaze there. Tillie smiled and walked in, closing the door behind her. Seeing her sweet and trusting face only served to fuel more fire to his anger. She did not deserve this. She didn't deserve to be saddled with one such as he when she'd expected a gentle and romantic husband.

"Ye left early," she said softly, and went to stand beside him. "Is everythin' alright?"

"How can ye forgive them?" he blurted then inwardly winced. He had not meant to mention her parents' trickery.

A small V-shaped crease appeared on her forehead. "Forgive whom?"

"Your mother and father."

Her frown grew even deeper. "For what?"

Aidan worked his jaw. There was no way to get out of this conversation now, no matter how much he wished he'd kept his mouth shut.

"For givin' ye that letter and tellin' ye it was from me."

At the very least, Aidan expected Tillie to blush or hang her head in embarrassment. He hadn't expected her to laugh, her eyes dancing with amusement.

"Oh, I was very upset with them at first," she admitted. "But ye have to ken my parents. They have this… desire to put people together. For as long as I can remember, the two of them have been up to all sorts of tricks with their matchmaking."

"But yer their daughter."

"Aye, and I suspect they already have matches in mind for my sisters and brothers."

Aidan shook his head in bewilderment. All of his anger was on Tillie's behalf. He had had no expectations other than his bride was a Kilmartin, a clan uniquely known for their fertility. But Tillie had had expectations. False ones that her parents gave her. Did she not feel betrayed?

Tillie cocked her head to the side and studied him. "Yer angry," she said with some surprise.

"As ye should be," Aiden said.

"Yer angry for me ?" she asked, her voice rising with sudden understanding.

Aidan's response was to clench his jaw. He was starting to feel the fool. Why was he reacting so strongly if Tillie, the one who had been wronged, was not upset. A smile spread across her face, and her eyes grew soft.

"I dinnae write flowery script," Aidan said sourly.

"I ken."

"I am not a romantic, nor do I wish to be," he griped.

"I find yer anger on my account incredibly romantic."

Aidan's eyes widened. "Ye do?"

She nodded with a silly smile, the kind of smile a woman had when she looked at a bairn or gave to a man who had just written her poetry.

"Aye, I do." She paused then continued, "Thank ye."

Aidan scowled again. He did not like to be thought of as a romantic. He was a warrior and a laird. He didn't have time nor the desire to pick flowers and write sonnets. But then he noticed the way Tillie's eyes looked at him. They were soft and held what looked like admiration.

His gut twisted but not in an unpleasant way. It was a new sensation, one he wasn't ready to explore just yet, but it served to dissolve his anger and frustration. Something else took its place. Something more primal and urgent.

She looked beautiful in that dress, he noticed for what must have been the hundredth time this evening. It fit her perfectly, forming to all her curves. The neckline dipped just enough to show a hint of cleavage, making him want to tear her dress off, so he could unwrap all her feminine secrets.

Before he knew what he was doing, Aidan took a step toward her, and then another, until he was so close the tips of her breasts almost brushed against his chest. Tillie tilted her head back to see his eyes better, and Aidan raised his hand to gently cup her cheek.

The way the pulse in her neck sped up at his touch fascinated Aidan. He rubbed a thumb across it and marveled at how it raced even more. She liked his touch, he realized with something akin to pride. Knowing that she enjoyed his touch sucked the control right out of him.

Aidan claimed her lips with his, and his knees nearly gave out at the touch. He wanted her so badly, it was all he could do to rein in his passion, but her eager responses threw all his gentlemanly plans out the window. He deepened the kiss, and when she moaned sweetly into his mouth, he felt the last of his control slip.

His hands were everywhere at once. Aidan wanted, no needed , to touch all of her. Right now. He needed to feel her soft skin against his. He wanted to hear her cry out his name as he took her, made her truly his.

The sound of fabric tearing filtered into his brain, and Aidan pulled back, breaking the kiss. He'd been too enthusiastic and had ripped the shoulder of her dress. Seeing the torn fabric served to bring him back to his senses, even though his body screamed for completion.

It didn't help that Tillie stood before him, her eyes soft and her lips swollen from his kiss. Another surge of lust flowed through him, and Aidan knew he needed to do something to take his mind off his wife and her delectable body before he did something they would both regret.

"Thank ye for all the work ye've been doing in the castle." Aidan inwardly grimaced. To his ears, his voice sounded like he'd swallowed a frog.

Tillie blinked at him, confusion claiming her features. "Is that yer way of apologizin'?" she asked.

Aidan felt like he'd just been punched in the gut. He took a step back and studied her. How could he had been so wrong? He'd thought Tillie had wanted his kiss, had been enjoying it. But now she wanted an apology?

"I willnae apologize for kissin' ye," he said through a tight jaw.

Her eyes widened for just a moment and then a smile slid across her face. "Why would ye think I'd want an apology from ye for that?"

It was Aidan's turn to frown in confusion. "Then why did ye ask me if I was apologizin'?"

"Ye seem to compliment people where an apology would be expected," she answered then continued when he just stared at her. "I've noticed when ye yell at someone, later ye compliment them on somethin' they've done.

"Like ye did with Paisley," she added. "When ye caught us in yer late wife's chamber and scared the wits out of her with yer temper, I heard ye later thank her for helpin' me."

She paused to grin at him. "'Tis yer way. I have not heard ye utter one apology, but I have heard ye give out compliments, so I figured since ye were complimenting me, ye were actually apologizin' for somethin'."

Aidan shook his head at her twisted logic. "'Twas not an apology," he said. "I truly do appreciate the work ye've been putting into the castle."

Tillie blushed prettily. "Thank ye. I enjoy the challenge and love seein' how well everythin' is comin' together."

"Is Phillip listenin' to ye? He can be stubborn, but he's been steward here for years. Since I was young, and my grandparents were still alive."

Tillie nodded. "He's not happy about it, but he is followin' me direction."

Aidan moved toward the door, then stopped to look at Tillie. "I'm sorry I accidentally ripped yer dress." His gaze dropped to the ripped material of the gown then back to her. "I'll take ye to the village, and we can order ye some new gowns."

Tillie called out to Aidan as he walked toward the door. "Och, Aidan, was that an apology?"

A crooked smile tugged at his mouth as he opened the door and walked out into the hall, remembering the conversation they'd had earlier.