Free The Pocket Watch by Ceci Giltenan Page B

don’t expect ye to do it alone. I didn’t this morning—ye were just up before me.” He glanced sideways at her. “Another change I might add.” She smiled and shrugged. “However, beginning today, I will make certain the clan knows my feelings toward ye have changed. I will escort ye to all meals and I plan to spend some more time becoming acquainted.”
    She frowned. “I don’t want to go riding.”
    He laughed as he stood up. “We don’t have to go riding to spend time together.” He reached a hand out to her. “Come inside with me now and break yer fast.”
    She frowned. “I think I’d rather just stay here.”
    He arched a brow at her “I don’t recall giving ye an option.”
    She put her hands on her hips and glowered up at him. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
    “It means I’m yer laird, and yer betrothed and I’ve asked ye to eat yer morning meal with me.”
    “What? Wait, are ye saying I have to do what ye ask just because yer my…yer my…all of those things?”
    Clearly this was another hole in her memory. “Yes Maggie, I’m yer laird and yer betrothed and I generally know what’s best for ye.”
    She looked outraged. “Surely ye jest. Does being my laird and my betrothed give ye some special ability to know what’s best for me ? Or is that just because ye’re a man?” But even as she blustered at him, she took his hand and stood up. If this was “angry Maggie” he found it rather adorable.
    He brushed her cheek with his fingertips. “Nay, Maggie. Being yer laird gives me the responsibility to pay attention to yer needs and see they are met whether ye wish to recognize them or not. Being yer betrothed does the same thing but it also makes me want to try to please ye. Being a man? Well that just gives me the ability to appreciate how very beautiful ye are as well as the desire to spend more time in yer company.”
    ~*~
    Holy God . Did he just say that? Has there ever been a woman born who wouldn’t melt at those words? She just stared at him. What had she been pissed off about?
    He smiled at her. “Now, we’ll go have our morning meal.”
    Oh, that was it. He’d asked her—no required her—to have breakfast with him. Thinking on it now, that was a stupid thing to be pissed off about. In fairness, he was right, she was hungry. She took the arm he offered and walked with him to the great hall.
    Both Logan’s mother and grandmother were already at the refectory table.
    “Ah, Logan, I wondered where ye were. There is much to do today.”
    “Aye, Mother, I will see to the preparations outside.”
    “What preparations?” asked Maggie.
    “It’s St. John’s Eve, dear,” explained Lady Davina.
    “What happens on St. John’s Eve?” Maggie noticed that several people within hearing distance rolled their eyes.
    “Ah, sweetling,” said Logan, “it’s a huge celebration. There will be bonfires and dancing until the wee hours of the morning.”
    “And then a great feast tomorrow,” added his grandmother.
    “Really?” asked Maggie, excited. “Everyone goes?”
    “Aye, everyone,” answered Logan.
    A guardsman named James who sat several seats to Maggie’s left muttered, “Everyone whose ears won’t bleed listening to our pitiful musicians .”
    Maggie felt the heat rise in her face.
    “Is something wrong, dear?” asked Lady Davina.
    Maggie shook her head and, forcing a smile, said, “Nay, my lady.”
    But Logan looked past her down the table. “James, what was that?”
    “Laird, I was just commenting on how Lady Margaret enjoyed the music at Pentecost.”
    Logan arched an eyebrow. “Which is to say, not at all if I remember correctly. However, there have been some changes since then. What hasn’t changed is that Lady Margaret is a noblewoman and my betrothed. Anyone who fails to remember that going forward will answer to me.”
    “Aye, Laird, I understand.”
    “See to it that everyone does.”
    “Aye, Laird.”
    ~*~
    After breakfast Maggie offered to