Page 39 of The Finest Scottish Fate

Drummond rounded the table with his hand extended to take her from Murdoch. His expression was a mixture of relief, victory, and pride. “M’lady.” The touch of his warm, calloused fingers reignited the powerful energy of their connection, rippling through her as if she’d hit a bare electrical wire. “It pleases me greatly that ye chose to join me.” His gaze swept across her, setting off even more dangerous tingles. “Ye are loveliness itself.”

“Thank you.” She didn’t add that she hoped she wouldn’t embarrass him or herself. Silent. Aloof. Mysterious. The words played through her thoughts on a continuous loop of survival.

He helped her sit, then took his place beside her to the right. Morganna sat to her left, and Murdoch seated himself on Drummond’s other side. Evie glanced up and down the table, noting the other empty seats before turning to Morganna and whispering, “I thought you said Clan Heberdy might already be here?”

Morganna gave a nonchalant twitch of a brow. “It is better this way,” she whispered back. “If ye’d not arrived when ye did, that conniving Merelys would be sitting where ye are.”

“Not feckin’ likely,” Drummond said, leaning forward to fix a hard look on Morganna. “And mind yer voice. It carries.” As he returned his attention to Evie, he slid his hand under hers and laced their fingers together. “Yer presence sends the message I wish to share with both the clans.” Keeping his eyes locked with hers, he pressed a tender kiss to the back of her hand.

Lost in the intensity of his dark-eyed gaze, Evie found it difficult to breathe. But then a stirring in the gallery that looked down upon the great hall drew her attention upward. “I think your guests are coming down to join us.”

“Good for them.” He smiled and remained focused on her. “They will be given a fine meal and all the respect their clan deserves.” With a subtle nod, he leaned closer. “But they will see that their trip was in vain.”

Trying not to listen to her heart or her libido and still feeling slightly guilty about ruining this possibility for him, she squeezed his hand. “I still haven’t made my choice. You realize that, right?” Heaven help her, she was such a freaking coward, but medieval Scotland? Holy crap.

Morganna grumbled something under her breath, then snatched up her goblet and downed its contents.

“Ye know the choice ye should make, my own.” Drummond kissed her hand again while keeping her imprisoned in a gaze that stripped her soul bare and made it impossible to hide. “We have enjoyed each other through many a lifetime. How can ye deny our chance to travel through this one together?”

Murdoch interrupted with a clearing of his throat and aimed a pointed nod at the trio of men at the far end of the room. The three stood with their chests thrown out and shoulders squared, waiting to be recognized and invited to come forward. “M’lord? Our guests.”

Drummond rose. “Clan MacMuirrow welcomes Clan Heberdy.” His tone was questionable, even though he spread his arms, then motioned to the seats at the head table. “Join us. We have prepared a feast to celebrate the powerful alliance our two clans have always shared.”

Evie almost cringed. Drummond sounded as though he really wished they’d just turn tail and leave. She clutched her hands in her lap and tried to keep her expression blank.

The younger two of the trio of men stepped aside and brought forward the woman who was waiting behind them. The blonde beauty linked arms with the oldest of the three and fixed Drummond with a brazen I’m going to eat you alive smile.

Evie snorted. There was no misinterpreting that one’s intentions.

“I’ll not deny our happiness when we received yer invitation, m’lord,” the older man said as he escorted the girl down the aisle, up the steps of the dais, and helped her into her chair. The family resemblance was unmistakable. Long, aquiline noses. Full lips. Even the closeness of their eyes. These two were most definitely father and daughter, and were on a joint, agreed-upon mission to conquer all.

Thank heavens for Murdoch. Evie smiled at the Scottish bear, counting on him to stay between Drummond and that scheming hussy.

Murdoch reassured her with the faintest nod.

“Aye, Heberdy,” Drummond said as he settled back into his seat. “My father’s council thought it high time we met to celebrate the peace we’ve always maintained along our mutual border.”

The chief’s smile became more feral and strained. “Celebrate the peace we have always maintained?”

“Aye.” Drummond waved down a servant and pointed at the new arrivals’ goblets. “Our guests thirst. Please inform Mrs. Farris that it is high time she served the feast.”

“Aye, m’lord.” The maidservant dipped a quick curtsy, filled every glass on the table, then scurried off to an archway behind them.

After a glance at his daughter that spoke volumes, the visiting chief cleared his throat. “Yer messenger led us to believe that this visit was more than merely a celebration of the peace betwixt our clans.”

“I recently became aware of that, Heberdy. I fear that messenger was ill-advised.” Drummond offered them an apologetic nod. “And for yer troubles, we would like to gift ye five of our best yearlings. These coos come from our finest bloodlines. They will strengthen yer herds.”

The Heberdy maiden leaned forward and cast a hate-filled glare at Evie. Baring her teeth in a poor attempt at a smile, she tittered with a snooty, high-pitched laugh. “Yer messenger brought a contract, m’lord. A signed contract needing only our witnessed signatures to be complete.”

“Aye,” Heberdy said, puffing out his chest and jutting his grizzled chin higher. “Signed by the old MacMuirrow himself.”

Morganna leaned closer to Evie while yanking on her sleeve. “Yer Drummond would have to agree to a marriage contract, and his signature would have to be witnessed,” she whispered.

Evie eyed the blonde, whom she could probably take in a fair fight, as long as she was in her jeans and not all this yardage of wool and velvet. She couldn’t remain silent any longer. “So you mean to marry a man with one foot in the grave and the other on a banana peel just to insert yourself into Clan MacMuirrow?” she asked the girl.

Clearly perplexed, Lady Merelys didn’t answer. She just sat there with her mouth slightly ajar, staring at Evie.

“They dinna have bananas yet,” Morganna whispered in Evie’s ear.