The Brightest Star in the Highlands: Jennie and Aedan (Clan Grant Series Book 7) (14 page)

“Oh my,” whispered Celestina. “I think we need to protect you. One has quite a wolfish expression on his face.”

Jennie blushed a deep shade of red because she knew Celestina spoke of Aedan.

Alex came to her side and introduced her to Ennis MacKenzie. Ennis had dark red hair and was quite tall. His looks were more appealing than she’d expected. Dark eyes searched her from head to toe, and when he met her gaze, she found she could not turn away. He had a nice smile with strong white teeth and strong cheekbones.

To her surprise, once Ennis let go of her hand, Aedan strode right up to her and gave her a slight bow. “Lady Jennie. ‘Tis a pleasure to see you again.”

Ennis squelched his look of surprise rather quickly. “You have met?”

Jennie nodded. “I was housed at the Lochluin Abbey when I met Chief Cameron. ‘Tis a pleasure to see you as well.” Before she was allowed to stumble for more words, Ennis took her arm and escorted her to the large table Alex had chosen for them to sit at instead of the dais. Alex preferred to be able to keep his eye on everyone at the table, which prohibited the use of the one-sided dais when the party was larger than usual. Alex sat between her and Maddie, while Ennis took a seat beside her. At Alex’s bidding, Aedan and Neil sat across from him.

Once they were all arranged, Brodie sat across from Jennie with Celestina, Robbie and Caralyn next to them. Moments after they were settled in place, Brodie kicked her under the table and rolled his eyes at her. She scowled and stared at her hands in her lap. There were too many people watching her every move. This would not be easy.

Alex started the conversation. “MacKenzie. No problem on your travels here?”

“Nay, I brought ten guards, but we were not bothered.”

Celestina spoke next. “Tell us about your keep, my lord.”

Ennis smiled. “Certes. ‘Twould be my pleasure.”

Jennie noticed Maddie was starting a conversation up with Aedan. She peeked at him from under her lashes, but turned away as soon as she caught his gaze.

“Lady Jennie, I hear you are a fine healer. We are always in need of more healers. My mother is our healer presently, and she loves to talk about her art, as she calls it. I believe she often conversed with your mother when she was still with us.”

Jennie squelched her need to roll her eyes and sigh at the mention of her trade. It seems she was naught more than a healer to some. But she knew her mother had met with his mother on occasion, so she would be polite. “Aye, I believe my sister mentioned her name to me. I would be pleased to speak with her.” She tried to give Ennis her full attention, but Aedan’s presence was distracting.

“My sire built a special room for her before he passed. Many shelves are built into it for her poultices and herbs. Why, she has even made a special cataloging system for her favorite mixes and salves. Half of the room is devoted to her tools, and then a separate area houses her books and the diaries of her healing.”

“She keeps a diary?” she asked with genuine interest.

“Aye, she has written about every illness she has encountered and how she treated each one. Now she is trying to catalog the same illnesses together so she can compare her treatments.”

Jennie marveled at this unique idea. “Why, I would enjoy seeing the system she has created.”

“And she would be pleased to show you. She takes great pride in her work, but not many appreciate the value of what she does or wish to even discuss it. I’m sure you are aware of how tender some bellies can be in the discussion of sickness.”

“Do you also own a library?” Jennie could not contain her excitement at the thought. Her favorite room at the abbey had left its mark on her.

“Nay, not yet, though my mother would love one. Mayhap you could plan one? Naught would please her more. By the way, your hair is lovely tonight. Whoever wove the flowers into your plaits did a fine job.”

Her eyes caught something out of her peripheral vision, and she turned to see Aedan scowling at Ennis. He had said nothing upsetting or contrary, so what had he done to cause such a reaction? Celestina nudged her foot under the table. Her gaze jumped to Celestina, who tipped her head toward Cameron, attempting to hide her smile but failing miserably.

Then it dawned on her what Celestina was about.
Aedan is jealous.
She jerked her gaze back to his and he glowered at her. Celestina coughed, so Jennie returned her attention to Ennis. He was a handsome man, she had to admit. Not as attractive as Aedan, but he was pleasing to the eye.

Alex had invited a few minstrels and fiddlers to play for the guests, and these entertainers arrived after they finished the meal. As soon as they began, Ennis held his hand out to Jennie and said, “My lady, would you do me the honor of dancing with me?”

Jennie, shocked and please by the invitation, bolted out of her seat. Alex did not like to allow her to dance with men outside of the family, so this would be a new experience for her. Others joined them from the bailey, and the swell of the music grew along with the clapping and shouting.

Ennis kept a hand on her—as much an expression of his interest as an attempt to protect her from the raucous crowd—and he always managed to keep the other dancers from knocking into her. She had to admit dancing with a man was quite enticing, though she wished it was Aedan who stood opposite her. Perhaps he would come forward for the next dance.

But Aedan never did. Instead, he sat at the table and watched, his arms crossed and his feet constantly shuffling as if disturbed by something. No matter. Jennie had waited a long time to dance, and she was not going to pass this opportunity up. She danced with Robbie and Brodie and even Neil, but still Aedan did not come forward.

Neil leaned over at the end of their dance and whispered, “He doesn’t know how. You must tug him out and show him.”

But Robbie had overheard. He came up to her at the end of the dance and said, “Do not even consider it. Alex would be upset if you pulled the lad out here yourself. If he wishes to dance with you, he needs to get off his feet.”

Jennie decided that Robbie was correct. And so, Aedan continued to pout, and she continued to dance. Before she knew it, Ennis MacKenzie was tugging her toward the door.

“My feeling is ‘tis too warm in here. May I escort you outside to cool off, Lady Jennie?”

Jennie shrugged her shoulders and followed him outside.

Chapter Fourteen

Aedan was about ready to put his fist through someone’s face, and it would likely be Grant’s guest.

All during dinner, he had bitten his tongue while Ennis MacKenzie sweet-talked his lass—
his
lass, not MacKenzie’s. He was not about to let her go. Why in hell was he here?

Neil leaned over part way through the meal and snickered in his ear. “Guess I do not need to teach you how to talk sweetly to a lass. MacKenzie’s doing a fine job, is he not? Are you listening and getting some pointers? Jennie is surely enjoying their conversation.”

Aedan kicked Neil’s foot under the table.

“Ouch!”

“Something wrong?” Alex asked.

“Och, naught is wrong. Neil just hurt himself,” Aedan drawled.

He hated to admit it, but he
was
learning some tactics from Ennis MacKenzie. He learned how Jennie’s face lit up when she was told her hair was lovely. How she smiled when a gentleman used good manners. Jennie liked to eat the sweet tarts most of all, he realized, and she was pleased when MacKenzie offered her another one.

But MacKenzie didn’t see everything he did. He doubted he noticed how Jennie’s countenance lit up when the word library was mentioned, or how she drew in a slight breath at the mention of books, almost as if she wished she could inhale the scent of a finely-made tome—a sensation he also enjoyed. He probably didn’t notice the slight dimple on the tender skin above her collarbone, and he definitely didn’t know how sweet that area of her skin tasted. MacKenzie wasn’t yet aware of how a lad could lose himself in the tantalizing aroma of Jennie Grant.

But most of all, Aedan would be surprised if the tone of her laughter reminded Ennis MacKenzie of why he loved her.

He paused in thought, not even hearing the question Alex Grant had just posed to him. Aye, he was in love. He loved Jennie Grant with his whole heart, and he would not allow Ennis MacKenzie to come between them. He had to speak to Alex Grant soon. With any luck, his offer would be accepted and MacKenzie would go home.

Neil kicked him under the table. His gaze shot up to Alex Grant’s. “I’m sorry, Laird Grant. Could you repeat that?”

“I was just telling you how special my sister is, but I think you already know that, don’t you, Cameron?” Alex Grant gave him a smug look.

Aye, he did, and the ache in his heart was evidence enough of that knowledge. “Your sister is definitely special, in many ways. I couldn’t agree more with you. Mayhap you could make time for me on the morrow? I would like to request a private talk with you.”

“Aye, I will see to it, lad.”

Alex clasped his shoulder and gave him a look he hoped was approval, but he wasn’t sure. What could he do to impress Alex Grant? Hellfire, he had no idea. He was too busy trying to decide how to impress his sister. She came first.

The fiddlers and the minstrels streamed into the room and the crowd grew as more of the Grant Clan came in to enjoy for the entertainment. Aedan had never danced a day in his life. His sire had believed dancing was inappropriate because of their proximity to the abbey, so they hadn’t done it often.

Jennie appeared to be having the time of her life dancing with Ennis, then her brothers, even Neil and the young lad who had protected her on horseback. How he wished he could join in without making himself look like a fool.

The hall warmed up quickly with all the bodies moving together to the music. Neil and Alex were both on the dance floor enjoying themselves, so he was alone. Aedan took his eyes away just for a moment, but when he returned to find Jennie, he couldn’t see her anywhere.

Until he noticed she was leaving with Ennis MacKenzie. Aedan followed.

At first, he was not sure where they had gone, but then he noticed the poorly lit vegetable garden off to the side of the keep. He followed the winding path until he found a bench, but it was deserted. Where the hell had MacKenzie taken her? He would make sure the man regretted ever daring to touch Jennie Grant. He looked everywhere, but it was as if she’d disappeared. Only one word echoed in his mind—mine.

His gut clenched in fear, but he told himself he was imagining things. But where the hell were they?

***

Jennie strolled along with Ennis, taking the turn toward Brenna’s garden, away from the crowd in the bailey. She trusted Ennis more than her first two suitors combined, and she had to agree with Brodie. Perhaps it was good for her to compare men. Ennis MacKenzie happened to be the only other man who’d captured her interest to any degree, so why not see how it felt to be in his arms?

“May I call you Jennie? And please call me Ennis.”

“Of course.”

“Jennie, I would love to bring you to my home to meet my mother. She would enjoy talking about healing with you.”

Jennie rubbed the back of her neck. Hellfire, but the dancing had heated her up. Sweat dripped underneath her hair. She knew it was not quite ladylike to be dripping with sweat, so she tried to wipe it away.

“Would you be agreeable to discussing such an arrangement with your brother?”

Jennie glanced into his kind eyes. “I only just arrived home, so I am not quite ready to travel yet. Mayhap in a sennight or so.”

She wasn’t ready to leave while Aedan was here. That was the truth of the matter. Ennis was nice, but there was something different between her and Aedan, something special. She needed to discover if Aedan had any interest in her at all, and if she left for MacKenzie land now, there was a possibility that she would never see him again.

Nay, she had to stay here for a while. Somehow, Jennie was just now noticing that they had wandered quite a ways from the main path. The sky around them was dark, and Ennis had managed to maneuver her under a big tree. Before she knew it, her back was pressed against the trunk of the tree, and one of his hands had settled on her shoulder.

His lips descended on hers, and she allowed it. He tried to angle his mouth against hers to force her lips apart, but she denied him because it just wasn’t the same. It wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t enticing either.

He was a fine lad. The problem was that he wasn’t Aedan.

Suddenly, a loud growl met her ears. She jumped back just in time to see Aedan grab Ennis by the back of the neck and hurl him across the stone path, where he landed in a stunned heap on the ground.

“What the hell, Cameron!” he bellowed. “Tend to your own affairs.”

But Aedan threw himself on top of Ennis, his fist flying and connecting with the other man’s face. “Jennie’s mine. Do not
ever
touch her again.”

Another loud whoop rent the air, and something dropped out of the tree next to the two of them.

Loki. He came to a stop next to the two men. In moments, his sword was out and aimed at MacKenzie.

“You can both stay away from my aunt,” Loki growled.

“Loki, stop! Aedan, cease!” Jennie shouted just as Brodie came down the pathway.

“Hellfire. Jennie? Loki? What goes on here? I heard Loki’s whoop just as I walked outside.” Brodie stood with his arms crossed and his legs planted.

All other movement had come to a halt since Loki still brandished his sword at the grappling men, forcing them to put a stop to their fighting. “Get up,” Brodie said to the two men on the ground.

Aedan stood and moved to Jennie’s side. “Are you all right?”

“Aye.” She stared at him. “I’m fine. What is the meaning of this?”

“Defending your honor. He had his hands where they didn’t belong.”

Ennis jumped to his feet and brushed off his clothing, a sheepish expression on his face. “My apologies. I did not do anything against the lady’s will.”

Brodie quirked his brow at Jennie. “Jennie? Would you care to explain yourself?”

Jennie sputtered, realizing she had put herself in a very uncomfortable position. “Please. ‘Tis over. Can we let everything go?”

Loki shouted, “Hellfire! He had his hands all over her. He needs to pay.” He moved his sword so the point was close to MacKenzie’s throat.

Ennis rolled his eyes. “Truly, Grant? This is ridiculous.”

Brodie glowered at him. “Is it?”

Loki’s face glowed red with anger, his eyes lit with a fury Jennie had never seen. “You do not come to your friends’ land and assault their sister…or their aunt. We shall see what my laird has to say about this.”

“Loki, lower your sword.” Brodie’s hand settled on his hips.

“Must I? They deserve something.” Loki gripped his sword until his knuckles were white.

“Loki!” Brodie said through clenched teeth. “I know you are the great protector of all our lasses and bairns, but I think Jennie can handle herself.”

Loki’s head dropped and he did as he was instructed. “Someday, you’ll appreciate my protecting.”

“I already have, lad, as you are aware. Go back inside.”

Loki shuffled off toward the keep, his shoulders slumped. He peered over his shoulder once to give Jennie a forlorn look, but then continued onward.

Once the lad was a distance away, Brodie said, “My son is a mighty brave lad, and his intentions are honorable. My question is whether he was right this time. MacKenzie? Cameron?” He looked back and forth between the two of them.

Jennie pleaded with her brother. “Brodie, I came here willingly. Please let this go.”

Brodie searched all three faces while Jennie held her breath. He pointed toward the keep. “I’d like to speak with my sister alone.”

The two men headed back toward the great hall, MacKenzie walking well ahead of Cameron.

“Lass, you’re going to break a few hearts if you keep at it this way.” Brodie wrapped his arm over her shoulder.

“I was only doing what you suggested.” She shuffled her feet, staring at the gravel on the path.

“And?”

“Ennis is not the one.”

“All right. Then I shall leave it alone if it served a purpose.”

She grasped Brodie’s upper arm, her lower lip trembling. “Please do not tell Alex.”

“I will honor your request this time, but do not try me again.” He patted her hands.

She breathed out through pursed lips. “And I am not going to break any hearts. I do not know why Aedan behaved in such a way. He has hardly spoken to me all day.”

“I’d say the lad has some strong feelings for you. Men don’t fight over a lass for naught.”

“Then he has a strange way of showing it.” Though she had to admit, she was pleased he had noticed her departure and had come to defend her honor. She would have to pull him aside and thank him later.

“And you’re going to break another heart soon, so I would ask you to tread carefully.”

“What? Whose?” She had no idea what Brodie was talking about.

“Loki. Can you not see how taken he is with you? He follows you everywhere. Aye, he is young and doesn’t know any better, but he is entranced with you, and we all suffered when you were gone. Please let him down easy.”

“Loki?” Now that Brodie mentioned it, she could see it. He
did
follow her everywhere. If he wasn’t in the lists or taking care of his wee brother, he was following her. And he had acted just as protective in the meadow when Aedan had first arrived.

Brodie nodded. “Think about it.”

“Aye.” She chewed on her lower lip, thinking of all that had transpired since her return from the abbey. “I see the truth of it. I’ll talk to him.”

“Carefully, lass. Verra carefully.”