Page 43 of Wedded to the Devilish Highlander
Eileen bristled. “He’s a laird. Preoccupied as they come.”
“That never stopped him before…” Ivy trailed off. “I mean, he’s always enjoyed the company of women.”
Eileen stopped in her tracks.
Ivy spun quickly to face her, her face as red as the roses in full bloom on a summer day. “Nay, I didnae mean it like that,” shestammered. “I take nay interest in me braither’s business. I’m sure if he’s a man of the world, then it’s only ‘cause he’s nae married. Once ye’re wed, he willnae do anythin’ like that, I’m sure. Rats, I shouldnae have opened me big mouth.”
Eileen’s throat tightened. “Perhaps I’m nae his type. Many people marry out of necessity. Politics. I’m nae so foolish that I dinnae ken there are things goin’ on around us that make it sensible for our clans to unite.”
She didn’t know why she felt disappointed. She didn’t care about being one of Archer’s conquests. So, why was she moaning to his sister about it?
Ivy blinked, surprised by the bite in her voice. “I didnae mean to offend ye. Me mouth sometimes gets me in trouble.”
“Nay, ye did nay such thing. I’m just tired, I suppose. There’s a lot goin’ on right now.”
Ivy nodded, happy to be off the hook. “Braithers, eh?”
Eileen didn’t respond. She found that she couldn’t. Tears threatened to well up in her eyes.
Ivy looked on in horror. “What is it?” she asked. “I did it again, did I nae? I put me big foot in me even bigger mouth.”
“Nay, it’s nae ye,” Eileen said, taking a deep breath to hold back the floodgates. “I’m worried that somethin’ terrible happened to me braither. Has Archer mentioned him? Reid?”
“Reid?” Ivy echoed. “Nay, Archer didnae mention him to me. What is it? Is he sickly?”
“Nay, nae sick,” Eileen replied. “Is he even doin’ somethin’ about it at all?”
“He is,” Ivy assured her, now knowing what the issue was. “If Archer said he would do somethin’ about it, then that’s what he’ll do, and I’m sure he’ll… talk some… sense…”
“Reid’s missin’,” Eileen confessed. “He was on his way here and suddenly disappeared. Now, O’Gunn might have him.”
“O’Gunn?” Ivy gasped, shocked. She quickly plastered on a smile. “Och, I’m sure yer braither is fine. Laird O’Gunn is always up to somethin’, but he willnae do anythin’ terrible because he risks war.”
“What if hewantswar?” Eileen asked.
“Then he’ll be very sorry he started one,” Ivy asserted. She placed a hand on Eileen’s forearm. “Ye must ken me braither a bit by now. But if ye dinnae ken him fully, let me tell ye that if someone messes with one of his family—and ye are family now—he willnae stop until their head is on a pike.”
Eileen sniffed and smiled as a tear rolled down her cheek.
“Och, please dinnae cry,” Ivy begged. “It’s been such a good mornin’, so far. Archer broke his fast with me and Maither for the first time in so long, and Maither even smiled. It’s the happiest I’ve seen her in years. It’s because of how ye make Archer feel.”
I dinnae make him feel in any way. It’s all a lie!
Still, Ivy’s words managed to cheer her up. It was as if a dark cloud had resided over her hearth that morning, but the sun had shone through, slipping through the dark gray and dissipating the cloud.
“Thank ye,” she murmured. “I needed that.”
“Ye’re very welcome,” Ivy said.
She took Eileen’s hand and swung it back and forth as the two walked together.
“He willnae come out and say it,” she added, “but I think he’s excited about the weddin’. Archer does have a lot on his plate right now, so if ye havenae seen him much, ken that he’s thinkin’ about ye and plottin’ how to get yer braither back, nay matter where Reid is.”
“Ye’re a fine one for cheerin’ people up,” Eileen remarked. “The day started out so dark, but ye’ve brought a ray of sunshine.”
“Good,” Ivy quipped, adding a skip to her step. “I thought we’d got off on the wrong foot, and I wouldnae want that. Ye’re practically me sister now.”
Eileen smiled, sharing in Ivy’s joy until the dagger pierced her from the inside. She didn’t show it outwardly. Ivy was so full of joy for her brother and for her family, and Eileen would be responsible for ruining that joy in a few weeks.
