“If he had such a good head then why hasn’t he tried to kiss me yet?” Christina muttered.
Maddie laughed. “You see, lass, this is why you should take matters into your own hands and kiss him first. The lad is probably scared spitless to make a wrong move and offend or frighten you. Men take on the strangest notions sometimes.”
Mairin groaned. “Don’t get Maddie started about men. She’ll summon Bertha and they’ll scorch your ears with all their knowledge.”
“Aye, but lass, you and the laird benefited well from our advice,” Maddie said smugly.
Mairin blushed furiously and waved a hand in front of her face. “ ’Tis not me we should be discussing. Christina, I agree. You should kiss Cormac and see how he reacts.”
All the talk of kissing and intimacy started an ache in Keeley’s chest. Watching young Christina so in love and alive with joy and curiosity made her yearn for things she couldn’t have.
Christina leaned forward in her chair, her gaze darting cautiously left and right. “But when? I’ll not want anyone seeing us, to be sure. If it got back to my mother, I’d never hear the end of it.”
“Well, if your kiss has the impact you’re hoping, you won’t be your mother’s responsibility any more,” Maddie said with a smile. “Perhaps this will hasten Cormac to ask to wed you.”
A wistful, hopeful smile crept over Christina’s features, softening her eyes until they glowed in the light of the fire.
“Do you think he will?”
Keeley and Mairin exchanged looks and smiled at the younger girl.
“Aye, I do,” Mairin said. “ ’Tis obvious he’s smitten with you. Be bold. And if he rebuffs you, I’ll kick him, and we will convene to mutter all manner of blasphemies against men.”
Keeley grinned broadly as Maddie chortled with laughter. Christina smiled and all but bounced excitedly in her seat.
“I still must know when. It must be a private moment.”
“Tonight when the men have done drinking their ale, I’ll suggest that Cormac walk you back to your cottage,” Mairin said. “ ’Tis up to you to do the kissing as soon as you’ve left the hall but not outside in plain view of the watchmen. In the meantime, I’ll send a message to your mother explaining that you’ll be eating in the hall with me tonight.”
“Oh, I’m so nervous!” Christina exclaimed.
“Don’t be nervous, lass. Cormac will be nervous enough for the both of you once he learns he’s to escort you home,” Maddie teased.
“Wife, my men and I heard your laughter all the way out to the courtyard,” Ewan said from the entrance. “They’re all terrified that you’re plotting against them again.”
Mairin looked up to where her husband stood and grinned mischievously. “ ’Tis a fact we are, husband. You may of course tell them that, if you wish.”
Ewan scowled. “I’m not daft. They’ll all abandon their duties and hide like women if I tell them that.”
Mairin smiled innocently while Maddie and Keeley found something else to focus their attention on.
“I’ll not have you interfering with my men and their duties, Mairin,” Ewan said sternly.
“Of course not,” she soothed.
He cast a suspicious glare in her direction and then turned and left the hall. No sooner had he exited than the women all burst into laughter once more.
CHAPTER 16
Dinner was a lively affair as many of Alaric’s men supped with him in the great hall. A fire roared in the hearth and the furs were all rolled down over the windows with extra bindings to seal the gaps.
Keeley sat on Mairin’s left with Christina on Keeley’s other side. Cormac had been strategically placed across the table from Christina, and watching the two dodge the other’s gaze but take peeks when they thought the other wasn’t looking was amusing.
On either side of Cormac sat Alaric and Caelen, and despite her best efforts, Keeley found her gaze traveling to Alaric. Tonight Ewan discussed Alaric’s upcoming marriage, and it took all of Keeley’s strength to remain in her seat, smile in place, and act as though she hadn’t a care in the world.
Her cheeks ached. Her head throbbed.
Alliances. Bonds. Talk of impending war. Naught mattered but the fact that Alaric would marry another and move to McDonald land to take the position of laird.
The usually flavorful food was dry and unremarkable. She ate because there was naught else to do but eat and smile. Another bite. Another smile. Nod in Christina’s direction. Laugh at a jest from Mairin. Watch Caelen scowl. And then look in Alaric’s direction again.