Page 26 of The Highland Heir

Had Ella thought she would make Kieran abetter wife? Ella realized now she was not suitable in any of theways that mattered.

Chapter Ten

Kieran couldn’t understand what had changed.It seemed a small thing, a straggly bundle of flowers. But Ellie’sface had lit up, and her eyes had gone soft. When she’d smiled athim, there was no hint of her usual mischief. No tilt of her lipsthat spoke of years of shared secrets between them.

This smile nearly stole his breath andknocked him from his feet.

He’d considered for a moment to tell her thetruth, that he’d thought it would be a nice thing to do for heraunt. Something to brighten up her day after being ill. But afterseeing the look on Ellie’s face, he wouldn’t dare.

He’d stumbled into this situation that hadher looking at him as if he’d hung the moon in the sky. And he’dselfishly take every moment while it was his.

He found himself wishing he could go back tobefore he’d been betrothed. Back when Ellie had just been hisfriend and nothing more.

If he had the freedoms he’d had then, hewould have picked her flowers to make her look at him in such a wayon purpose.

And then he would have been able to pull herinto his arms and kiss her the way he’d been thinking of doing forthe last several days.

Why had he waited so long to realize how he’dfelt about her?

Now it was too late. He would be married in afew months, and he worried he would spend the rest of his lifewishing for Ellie.

What a wretched life that would be.

He opened the door to the cottage and allowedher to go in first. For a second’s time he paused, thinking itmight be better not to follow her. To cut their ties now and runaway.

But looking at the scar on his palm, he knewhe’d never be able to cut their ties.

Fortunately, Jenny was there to distractEllie from looking at him as her knight in shining armor, whilealso distracting him from his thoughts of what he wished he coulddo with his friend.

Jenny and Ellie put him to work.

After helping Ellie with the meal in whichshe called it helping, though he just felt in the way whilewatching her, they sat to eat. Ellie’s Aunt Jenny spent most of themeal asking questions.

Ellie answered most of them. Even the onesmeant for him. But Ellie knew everything about him, so it was easyenough for him to relax into the meal with a few nods and littleeffort on his part.

“I shall take my leave of you, ladies, and goup to the castle to bunk down for the night. I’ll see you in themorning.”

Jenny huffed. “I doubt that.”

She probably thought he would spend the nightin drink, as was common with warriors. But Kieran had never takento it, preferring to have his mornings clear. In the times he hadoverindulged, he’d found himself wishing he’d just die and get itover with. That was no way to go through life.

In the castle, the people in the great hallwere just finishing their meal and some were settling for theevening entertainments. Kieran made his way to the high table andeasily identified the laird seated in the center with his wife nextto him.

Bowing, he introduced himself.

“My laird, it is an honor to make youracquaintance. I am Kieran Sinclair. Heir to the Sinclair laird.I’ve escorted your niece Ellisay to visit her Aunt Jenny, and I askpermission to sleep in the hall with your warriors if you would beso kind.”

“Kieran? Rolfe’s son?”

“Aye,” he answered, though he never trulyfelt like Rolfe’s son. That position had been for Brody and hadremained empty since his death. Kieran hadn’t managed to fill thespace left by his older brother.

“We can offer better accommodations than thehall for the Sinclair heir.” He whispered to his wife, whostood.

“I don’t want to cause any inconvenience.”Kieran held up his hands.

“It is not an inconvenience to honor a guestappropriately.”

Kieran nodded and turned to the woman who wasleaving. “I thank ye, mistress.”