Page 28 of Claimed By a Savage Scot
She sat up straight in her chair. “I’ll dae it,” she said without hesitation. “Just tell me what it is.”
He had to laugh. “Ye have a lot of spirit, Catriona. But then, ye always did.”
“What is that ye want me tae dae? Ye should ken that I cannae cook. I’m a terrible cook.”
He laughed even harder. “So, ye could mix up a concoction tae cure me headache, but ye cannae put a decent plate of food on the table?”
“I ken at least ten ways to cure a headache. But if I cooked something fer ye, it would likely poison ye, and I’d end up havin’ tae make ye a potion tae cure that instead.”
Their shared laughter rang around the walls.
“Lucky fer me, I have a kitchen full of cooks. What I need is a charmin’ hostess who can help me entertain some important guests who are comin’ tae stay fer a few days.”
She made a doubtful face. “Well, I’m a bit out of practice with me social skills, but if they’re nice, then I’m sure it will be all right. Who are they?”
“Laird Kenneth Forbes and his sister, Lady Sorcha.”
She looked thoughtful. “The Forbes? I think I may have met them once, years ago. Clan Forbes is very wealthy and powerful, eh?”
“Aye, which is exactly why I signed a treaty with Kenneth a few weeks ago. This will be their first visit here, and I wantae make a good impression. But since I lack a wife tae dae the honors, I thought ye might be willin’ tae help me out.”
Her eyes flew wide. “Ye want me tae pretend tae be yer wife?”
He snorted with laughter. “Nay! Just help me keep them entertained, ye ninny.”
A grin spread across her lips. “I was teasin’ ye, amadan. I owe ye me life. Of course, I’ll help ye. When d’ye they get here?”
“In a few days’ time. I’ll organize all the details, but I’ll likely be spendin’ a lot of time talkin’ clan business with Kenneth, leavin’ his sister Lady Sorcha at a loose end. That’s where ye could help a lot.”
She nodded enthusiastically. “Aye. I look forward tae meetin’ her.”
His gratitude made him beam at her. “Grand, thank ye, Catriona.”
But then her fair brow suddenly creased. “What if Sinclair comes when they’re here, Malcolm?” she asked.
His casual shrug was for her sake, to disguise the concern he shared. He wanted her to feel safe under his protection. “Let him come. We’ll be ready.”
Surprisingly, she seemed to accept what he said, and they fell into a companiable silence for a while, quietly finishing their drinks.
Sometime later, Malcolm realized they had been talking for well over an hour. He yawned and stretched. “’Tis late. We should go tae bed.”
Catriona’s cheeks flooded with vivid color.
He tried to pull things back. “I meant tae say, ye must be gettin’ sleepy, and ye need yer rest after such a tryin’ ordeal. And I havetae be up early on the morrow. I’m nae leavin’ ye down here, so come along, I’ll escort ye tae yer chamber.” He offered her his hand to help her up.
The glow of her embarrassment lingered on her cheeks as, without a word, she allowed him to escort her.
He opened the door for her, mentally kicking himself for ruining their earlier camaraderie.
But then again, all things considered, ’tis likely fer the best.
“Good night then, Catriona, sleep well,” he said, waiting as she went inside and turned to face him.
“Thank ye, Malcolm. I wish ye a good night as well,” she replied tightly, and shut the door in his face.
The following afternoon, Malcolm was out in the main courtyard, talking to several of his clansmen, when he suddenly noticed a vivid flash of green moving on the periphery of his vision.
“But I also want more scouts…” He paused, turning his head see what it was, “...in the towns and villages, especially in the…” His voice trailed off as his gaze snagged on Catriona.
