Page 36 of The Highland Heir

Ella nodded in agreement.

“My laird,” Arran said loudly. “I’m sure youremember your niece Ellisay Ross.”

“Ah, yes, Ella, you have grown since last Isaw you.”

Ella bowed and nodded. “Aye, my laird,” shesaid, though she had been there just last year and hadn’t changedmuch since then. But her uncle would be too busy being laird toremember anything about her.

“Brother,” Jenny said, and Ella thought shesounded rather peevish. Ella pressed her lips together so as not tosmile.

“Sister. I understand you were ill recently.I had not known.”

“It was nothing for you to be concerned over,laird.” Yes, Jenny was definitely displeased with her oldestbrother.

“We missed you at the games.”

“I was so sorry I was unable to attend.”

As lies went, Jenny and her brother wereterrible at them. Mayhap that was on purpose.

“Of course, you will sit at the high table ina place of honor,” the laird said, and Ella did her best not tofrown. A place of honor meant being front and center for all to seeand gawk at.

Arran sat at the laird’s right hand. Ella satnext to him with Kieran to her right and Jenny at the end of thetable.

“Pay no attention to the rest of the hall.They are surely looking at me, not you,” Kieran said, causing herto laugh. If anyone would have heard him, they would have thoughthim vain for such a remark. Only Ella knew he said it in jest.

“If I do something to embarrass myself, youmust do something even worse to draw everyone’s attention from me,”she said.

“Aye. I’ll be ready.”

She nudged his ribs with her elbow, but heonly looked down at her with a grin.

“I still plan to return to Girnigoe in themorning. Your aunt thinks you will wish to stay here longer. It isup to ye.” Kieran spoke the words casually. Only someone who knewhim so well would have noticed the underlying tension in hisface.

He meant what he said—that it was up to her.But he wanted her to go with him. Nay, he wanted her to choosehim.

Before she had a chance to answer, or thinkof how to answer, one of the serving maids came forward to fillKieran’s tankard with ale. Ella couldn’t help but notice the waythe woman leaned over him so her ample breasts were nearly right inhis face. If that didn’t make the woman’s intensions clear, herlusty smile and wink sure did.

“I’ll see you don’t go without something youneed, my laird.”

“He’s not a laird,” Ella snapped.

“Aye. But he’ll be so one day,” the womansaid before moving on.

Another woman brought their meals, and whilethis one wasn’t as obvious, she still stood much too close for thetask of serving food. Ella would know; she helped in the hall atGirnigoe. It gave her something to do. And a reason to be at thecastle.

She had never needed to lean so close tosomeone to deliver a trencher of haggis.

“Is something the matter?” Arran asked,drawing her attention away from Kieran and his line of ample maidsto deliver his every desire.

“The maids here are quite bold.” In truth,they were probably no less bold than the maids at Girnigoe. It wasonly that here, Kieran was a new toy to play with, so allattentions seemed to be focused on him.

Arran smiled. “Only with honored guests.Especially ones that will be laird someday.”

“He’s to be wed. They have no chance withhim.” Their chance had not been good even before he was betrothed,but now it was nil.

“They may have no chance to wed him, but he’snot married yet.”

“Kieran would never entertain suchwomen.”