Chapter Five
Leana froze at the sound of heavy footsteps behind her. Breath held, she turned slowly, her heart dropping down to her toes when she lifted her gaze up to broad shoulders, a lifted brow and a usually dark, warm gaze that looked more curious than warm at present.
“Tavish.”
His name escaped her before she could pull it back, her heart quickening upon sight of him. Damn that man. Did he have to be so handsome? Did he have to look at her as though he saw through her, as though he could see every facet to her soul?
As though he was the only person who could, the only person who might truly get to know her.
She shook away the thoughts and forced a smile.
“What are ye doing, Leana?”
Leana. She almost hated it when he called her that. How wonderful it would be to hear her real name on his lips. But she couldn’t admit the truth to him, even if he’d figured it out already. It was too dangerous.
Especially when standing outside the laird’s chambers, trying to figure out how easy it would be to slip poison into his drink.
She pressed her palms together. “I was just, um, looking for ye.”
The eyebrow quirked higher. “Me?”
“Aye, I, um...”
“Aye?” he urged.
“Oh, I think my maid needs me.” She glanced around him and waved toward the ramparts. “I should go and see...” She snatched her skirts and went to move around him, but he shifted, folding his arms and blocking her path.
“What did ye want, Leana?” he pressed.
Her mouth dried. She pushed her shoulders back and met his gaze head on. “As I said, I wished to find ye.”
“Ye’ve been avoiding me since we danced.”
“Aye.”
There was no sense in lying. She had. Dancing with Tavish had let her forget for a while. For a brief time, she had been no more than a girl, eating good food and drinking ale, and enjoying dancing with a braw man. She’d forgotten everything, including her purpose here. It was the first Yuletide she’d enjoyed since the fire.
Then she’d returned to bed and remembered everyone lost to the fire. Leana, who should have had a whole life to look forward to, and all the servants who had practically raised her. Her mother, who had been a kind and strong sort of woman, who had always encouraged her to be bold and courageous.
There was nothing courageous about dancing and eating and drinking. None of it would ensure their deaths were avenged.
“So now ye seek me out?” he asked.
She forced her expression to remain placid. “Aye. I just wish to...thank ye for the other night. It was the first time I’ve truly enjoyed Yuletide.”
His wary stance softened slightly. “I’m sorry that ye’ve not been able to enjoy it before but I’m glad I got to see ye enjoy it again.”
Leana tried to swallow past the knot building in her throat. None of this was lies. She had enjoyed herself and she reckoned he had too. That made this dangerous territory. She needed to regain control of this situation and protect herself, lest he figure out her true motives for coming here.
“Well, I’d have been able to enjoy many more if it were not for yer clan.”
“I told ye, we had nothing to do with that.”
“And yet everyone knows ‘twas the Macleans.”
He shook his head, making a disgusted noise. “Mere rumor. No one saw who did it, and I know my father. He wouldnae set a fire like a coward. Besides, we were kin with yer clan at the time. What benefit would it be to us for yer clan to be so diminished?”
“Ye’d become the power in the area.”
“The power in the area is the Campbells, and they have been since before the fire. My father knew we were stronger united with the Sinclairs. ‘Tis why he’s been asking to meet ye since ye came of age.”
“It still benefits him for us to be weakened. That way, we must accept yer offer of betrothal and hand control over to ye and yer father.”
“So ye’ll accept?”
“I-I didnae say that.” She peered around his shoulders, wishing Maggie really was up on the ramparts and she’d be able to motion her over and put an end to this conversation.
Tavish left her feeling as though she were back in the boat, standing up and unable to keep her balance. He truly believed the Macleans didn’t set the fire—she saw that much. But someone was to blame and the Macleans would never readily admit to such an act of cowardice.
“I really should be—” She tried to move past him, but he grabbed her arm, drawing her close and forcing her to look up at him.
His gaze dug deep into hers, making her stomach bunch and her heart flutter. “What do ye truly want here, Leana? Ye dinnae seem the sort to meekly agree to come if ye didnae want to. Why are ye here?”
She sucked in a breath through her nostrils. What a mess she’d made of this situation. Tavish didn’t trust her, and she didn’t blame him. She’d offered him no reason to.
“Mayhap...” She sucked in a breath. “Mayhap I wished to see how the Macleans lived after they took everything from us. Mayhap that’s why I’m here. To see the man who stole my life in person.”
“So ye admit yer not Leana?”
A rush of panic beat hard in her chest. She tried to tug away from him. “That’s no’ what I said.”
He twisted around, keeping hold of her and shoved open the chamber door. Hauling her in, he released her arm once he’d shut the door but he kept the exit barred with his body. She gulped and glanced up at him.
Very little scared her—how could it after she’d witnessed and survived the fire? But Tavish scared her. Not because she feared for her safety, but she certainly feared for her sanity. He made her doubt everything,
