Page 34 of The Highland Heir

“Ellie doesn’t have any fancy dresses here.You would only embarrass her.”

Kieran felt his face warm with shame for hisdesperate attempts to keep Arran away from her.

“One of my warrior’s sisters is her size. Ican see that she’s provided a proper gown for the meal. I thinkmayhap both women would enjoy a meal they didn’t have to makethemselves. As well as entertainment.”

Kieran couldn’t argue—Arran seemed to havethought of everything.

“Very well,” Kieran said and then set tothrashing the man again.

After a dip in the loch to wash away thesweat of his efforts, Kieran went to the cottage to extend Arran’sinvitation that the ladies come to the castle for the late meal. Hefelt like an awkward messenger boy, delivering their excited replyback to Arran so he could have a dress sent for Ellie.

Kieran had planned to escort the women fromthe village to the castle, but Arran arrived just in time andoffered Ellie his arm.

Kieran did the same for Jenny, who chuckledat his glum expression.

“You seem to be in a mood this evening. Hassomething happened?” Jenny asked him while gripping his arm as ifshe feared he would run away and leave her stranded to walk up tothe castle alone. As if the woman couldn’t walk that far on herown. She was not some withered old woman.

“I’m fine.”

“Ella said the two of you plan to leavetomorrow?”

“Aye. Now that we’ve seen to your health, Ishould return.”

“But she’s only just gotten here, and sheseems to be having an enjoyable visit. Mayhap she could stay withme and someone could see her home in a week or so.”

“Nay. I gave her father my word I would seeher safely home. I’ll not shirk my duties onto someone else.”

“I wouldn’t see it as shirking your duty. Icould easily write to my brother and tell him I wished for Ella’scompany.”

“When did everyone start calling her Ella?She’s always been Ellie to me, but now it seems she doesn’t likeit. I fear I missed her telling me, or mayhap she didn’t tell me.Maybe I should have noticed everyone else called her Ella. Even herfather calls her Ella, now that I think about it. How absurd.”

It was not at all what they were talkingabout, but Kieran had wondered on it all day and could no longerkeep it bottled up inside.

When Kieran looked over at Jenny, she offeredhim a knowing smile.

“My apologies. I didn’t mean to change thesubject so abruptly.” He struggled to remember what they had beendiscussing.

The woman had suggested Ella stay behind withher—and Arran—while he returned to Girnigoe alone. No, thatwouldn’t do. But he didn’t have a good reason why.

Generally, when one didn’t have a goodargument, they simply stated their original argument in anotherway.

“I cannot just abandon her. She is myresponsibility. For a little while longer at least.”

“And when she ceases being yourresponsibility, she might return?” Jenny blinked innocently up athim.

Kieran wished to talk about anything else. Hepicked up their pace when he realized Ella and Arran were gettingsome distance ahead.

“If she wishes,” he practically snapped ather.

“Then doesn’t it make sense that we shouldjust ask her now if she wishes to stay, to avoid all that extratravel for no reason?”

“I imagine so.”

“Very well. We will ask her later thisevening what she wishes to do. Stay here or go.”

The way she put it made it clear it wasn’t adecision about staying or leaving, but something more complicated.Ella would be choosing him or Arran. And she couldn’t pick him. Hewasn’t available.

Giving up, Kieran could only nod. He fearedif he spoke, he might attempt to win this debate in some otherridiculous way. And the woman was right. It was Ella’s decisionwhether she stayed or not. And more importantly, who she wouldchoose.