Chapter 8

8

T illie knew her face must be ten shades of red after Aidan announced her as his bride-to-be. The jokes at her expense had been almost more than she could bear.

If possible, her face flamed even more. She'd told him she didn't want to have children, which was his sole purpose for marrying her, yet he'd still announced their impending wedding to one and all. And he'd seemed happy about it!

Tillie felt like she was on display and hated it. At MacFair Keep, their meals were more intimate. The family gathered at one table while the others ate in the hall at tables along the walls. Unless it was a celebration, her parents had insisted the family eat in private. So, sitting here as she was, up front and on display for all, was humiliating and disconcerting.

She planted a smile on her face, determined not to let his actions get to her, and turned to the woman sitting next to her, a thin lady with brown hair pulled back in a tight bun and small, beady brown eyes.

"Hello," she greeted the woman. "Me name is Tillie."

The woman stared down her nose at Tillie then huffed and turned her head away.

Tillie had smiled, hoping to strike up a conversation with the lady to distract herself from being the center of attention.

But the woman wasn't in the mood to be polite, and she snubbed Tillie. Tillie took a deep breath and pasted a slight smile on her face. Thankfully, the hall grew loud again as everyone started eating and drinking.

Tillie risked a glance at Aidan. He was busy eating, so she decided to chance talking to him. She leaned over so that her words would only be heard by him.

"Me Laird, who is the woman sitting beside me?"

He barely even glanced at her when he answered. "Grace. She is me late wife's sister."

Tillie felt her heart drop to her stomach. Dear God, no wonder the woman was so cold to her. She probably thought Tillie, once she became lady of the castle, would have her removed. It wasn't uncommon for a new lady to clean house, so to speak, and get rid of anyone she felt might be a threat to her new life. The sister of their husband's dead wife would fall into that category.

But Tillie didn't feel that way. She did not like the idea of kicking a person out of their home. Grace may be unfriendly toward her for now, but Tillie would make it one of her missions to befriend the woman and convince Grace that Tillie had no intention of making her leave.

While she digested that information, Tillie waited for Aidan to say something more, but he didn't. Not until he finished supper. Then he turned to her and thrust out a hand, indicating she stand and join him.

Tillie slipped her smaller hand into his and allowed him to ease her to her feet. At least he isn't leading me by me elbow or arm this time, she thought. Together, they walked off the dais and through the hall. Tillie kept her chin held high and forced herself to ignore the ribald jokes about her clan's fertility.

She didn't take a full breath until they'd left the hall and started climbing the stairs. Most of the others were still in the dining hall, so there weren't many people around. When they reached the first landing, Aiden stopped and turned to her.

"This is the second floor," he explained. "If ye go to the right, there is a library, sunroom, and storage area. To the left is a sittin' room and sewin' room."

He didn't give her time to respond before leading her up the next flight of stairs. He stopped again at the landing. "If ye go down the hallway," he explained, gesturing with an arm, "there is the gallery and another private sittin' room. This way," he continued, pointing in the opposite direction, "are guest rooms."

They continued to the fourth floor. "This floor is mostly for guests, but there are a few small gatherin' rooms."

"I'm takin' ye the easiest way back to year chamber," Aidan explained. "But it is the longest path. And the most exhaustin'. On each level, there are other staircases ye can take that will shorten yer trip."

Tillie nodded. She had wondered about that because when Paisley had taken her to the dining hall, they had gone through different hallways instead of staircase after staircase.

"There are less stairs that way since some of the hallways have slanted floors instead of stairs."

As they climbed the next and final set of stairs to the fifth floor, where her bed chamber was located, Tillie listened with a bit of amusement as Aidan continued describing the castle. He had spoken more these last few minutes than he had in all the rest of the time she'd known him.

"This floor, as ye ken, is where yer rooms are located. Me chamber is next to yers." He paused to meet her gaze, his blue eyes hard and indicating whatever he was about to say, he'd hear no arguments against it. "After we are wed, ye will move to me chamber."

A wave of dizziness swept over Tillie at his words. She had assumed she'd stay in her own room. It wasn't common for husbands and wives to sleep in the same room. Her parents were the exception. They loved each other and wanted to fall asleep in each other's arms. Husbands usually visited their wives' chambers only to try and beget an heir.

"Me Laird?" she asked. Her voice quivered a little, so she cleared her throat. "Did I hear ye correctly?"

He nodded once, firmly. "Aye, and when we are alone, call me by me given name, Aidan."

Tillie remembered seeing a door in her chamber that she suspected connected to another room. She asked him about that now. "Do our rooms connect?"

He nodded then scowled. "Aye, but that does not change anythin'." His tone was firm. "Ye will move yer things to me chamber once we are wed. I will hear nay argument about it."

"That isnae necessary, Me… Aidan," she argued.

"I will decide what is necessary, and me wife will sleep in me chambers."

"When is the wedding?" she asked, relieved that her voice did not sound as angry as she felt.

He raised an eyebrow as if surprised she'd held her temper. "In a sennight."

Aidan walked her to her room and opened the door for her. When she went inside, he followed her then closed it with the heel of his boot. Tillie whirled around, surprised he had come into her room. Alarm skittered along her nerves… and something else she didn't want to think about. He wasn't going to try and sample her before the wedding, was he?

Tillie refused to acknowledge the excitement that flooded her veins at that thought. She needed to stay focused and outraged that he would dare enter her room like that and demand she sleep with him!

"A sennight?" she asked. Aidan started walking further into the room, and Tillie tried to match him with a step backward for each step he took toward her. Unfortunately, his stride was much longer than hers, and he was catching up quickly.

Aidan nodded. He took two more steps and was right in front of Tillie. She took a step backward, and her back came up against the wall. Her gaze darted around the room, but before she could even think of an escape path, he leaned forward and placed a hand on either side of her head, his body so close she could feel the heat emanating from him. He had effectively trapped her with his big body.

Is he goin' to kiss me now?

Tillie hated the excitement that flooded her veins and the hope that welled in her chest at the thought of Aidan's mouth pressed to hers again. When he leaned closer, so close she could see the darker blue specks in his eyes, she closed her eyes in anticipation.

It was a shock to feel his mouth by her ear, and she quickly opened her eyes as he said, "Aye, lass. I'll nay be budging on this. Me wife sleeps with me."