Page 49 of The Highland Heir

He nodded.

“Aye. I should see my father. I’m sure hewill have questions about my travels. Or maybe he didn’t evennotice I was away.” He smiled.

“Very well. I shall see you at the late meal,then.”

“Yes. The late meal.”

She hurried off and practically ran to thekitchen to get away from the urge to rush to him and wrap her armsaround him.

The women eyed her suspiciously as she helpedwith the meal.

“It seems something has you in a lather,”Marnie stated.

Ella shook her head. “Nay, I’m fine. It isonly that I met someone when I was visiting my aunt, and mythoughts seem to go toward him when I least expect it.”

In truth, she hadn’t thought of Arran most ofthe day, but she knew this news would keep them from pestering heror prying in places Ella couldn’t keep hidden.

She told them about Arran and allowed them totitter and speculate about what everything meant.

It was Joan who asked quietly while theothers were talking among themselves about what a fine bride Ellawould make, “Are ye pleased for the match? No matter how fine hemay be, he is not Kieran.”

Just hearing his name made her chest hurt.She refrained from placing her hand there to rub at the spot, butonly barely.

She couldn’t manage to answer the woman, andher silence must have served as answer enough, for Joan came closerand put an arm over her shoulders.

“It will get better, I promise ye. Soon yewill find ways to be happy again, and every day it will be easierthan the last.”

Ella nodded, hoping that was true.

When it was time for the meal to be served,Ella carried a tray out.

As soon as she cleared the large archeddoorway, her gaze went immediately to the high table. Her heartquickened when she saw Kieran sitting there next to his father.

His gaze fell on her, and he smiled. Not hisusual smile, but one that held more heat and interest. She lookedaway quickly so no one else would notice. She thought it strangethat no one seemed to see the desire burning across the roombetween them.

When she returned to the kitchen, she decidedto stay there rather than risk going back out into the hall whereshe could see Kieran.

She had never been one for hiding from aproblem, but she wasn’t ready to face him yet.

After cleaning up from the late meal, Ellaheaded for the cottage she shared with her father rather than stayfor the night’s entertainments. She didn’t know how she wouldmanage to sit next to Kieran and not want to touch him. The fewtimes she’d caught him looking at her had made her stomachflutter.

She changed for bed and was about to put outthe candles when her father came in, looking like a stormcloud.

“What is it? What’s happened?” She lived inconstant fear that her father would be pulled away to battle. Eachtime he was, she knew she was at risk of losing him. Warriors fell,no matter how great they were.

“I’ll ask you what has happened, daughter,and I expect you to tell me the truth.”

She squinted in confusion.

“What happened between ye and Kieran on yourtravels to visit Jenny?”

Ella gasped and put her hands to her cheeksin an effort to hide her blush. Why would he ask her such a thingunless he suspected—or unless he knew the truth?

“Did Kieran say something?” she asked. They’dnot been home a full day and already Kieran had spilled theirsecret?

Her father let out a snarl.

“Nay. The man hasna been able to look me inthe eye since you’ve returned. All afternoon when I tried to speakto him of the trip, he looked away and told me all was well. Andthen tonight, when you left the hall, I watched him watchingyou.”