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“ Y ou are the biggest kind of fool.”

Aidan wanted to ignore his brother, but he knew it would be pointless. “I won’t argue the fact.”

“By the time you’re done tomorrow, your arms will fall off from exhaustion,” Nioclas continued in disgust. “Is she truly worth this?”

Aidan nodded.

“And you want this?”

“Aye.”

“Said with such certainty,” Nioclas mocked. “You understand that if Monaghan decides he wants her, you’ll have to fight him truly?”

“Aye.”

“Is that all you’re capable of saying?” Frustrated, Nioclas threw his hands in the air. “I vow, Aidan, you would try the patience of a saint!”

“I spoke with O’Malley earlier,” Aidan said heavily. “He isn’t certain he can get her back to the future.”

“You took a calculated risk in coming back,” Nioclas replied, “and it didn’t work out. So now she’s to remain here, as are you, and you think marriage is the only option for her?”

“It’s her only solution,” Aidan replied grimly.

“Oh, just what every woman wishes to hear from her lover,” Nioclas snapped. “Your behavior at supper was abhorrent. Your speech to her was unkind; she wants nothing to do with you!”

“I lost my temper,” he admitted. “I’ll apologize to her after we wed.”

“Your lack of romance insults our clan,” Nioclas spat. “I will not force her to marry you.”

Aidan sighed. “I’ve changed, Nick. Romance isn’t as important as the facts right now. She thinks she understands our time—but she doesn’t, not really. If I don’t marry her, she’ll end up dragged to the altar against her will and I’ll have to go kill someone to rescue her.”

“No one will drag her anywhere. She’s under my protection.”

“She’s under my protection ,” he growled.

Nick stared at him. “You forget yourself, MacWilliam. ’Tis my clan. Not yours.”

“Oh? And what if Monaghan decides that you’re not that much of a threat after all?

Or if he decides to carry her away into the night?

Once he forces her to marry him, you’ll have to get approval from the clan council to go to war for her.

You know they’ll never agree to it, not for a lady who was under your protection for less time than it takes to blink.

” Aidan flexed his hands, wishing he had something to punch.

“Do you expect the clan to go to war for someone who has absolutely no impact on their lives, except for a bit of grief the lady of the castle might suffer?”

Nioclas looked as though he wanted to argue the point, but he blew out his breath. “Perhaps not,” he admitted.

“Of course not. Do you not realize I’ve thought all this through?” Aidan asked, angry. “Because I have, in great depth. I’ve got a man after Emma’s head in the future, and quite a few men after her skirt right now. There’s no choice but to show my hand.”

“And acting like an arse was the way to do so?” Nioclas replied incredulously.

Aidan sighed heavily. “Nay. I vow, I’ve no idea what came over me.”

“Jealousy.” Nioclas rubbed his hand over his face. “Couldn’t you have at least given the lass some sort of proposal that would make her more amenable to your suit?”

“I had hoped to, but then I lost my head a bit. O’Malley wouldn’t stop with his incessant chatter, Monaghan came rushing to Emma’s aid, and I saw how those men were staring at her during dinner.

I don’t regret the action,” Aidan replied wearily.

“I’ll make it up to her later. I’ll have the rest of our lives, after all. ”

“If she accepts you,” Nioclas reminded him. “I’m in earnest, Aidan. I’ve never forced anyone to marry another. I don’t intend to start now.”

Aidan spun around. “Are you in jest, or did you imbibe too much at supper tonight, Nick? I’m your brother !”

Nioclas shook his head firmly. “I do not force marriages. You must woo her on your own, and she must go to the altar willingly.”

“She’ll go willingly,” Aidan growled.

“Oh, aye, that’s convincing,” Nioclas retorted. “She seemed so very amenable to you at dinner tonight.”

“She wants me,” Aidan retorted. “She’s just scared.”

“If you stopped growling like a wounded beast, perhaps you could show her some of your legendary charm,” Nioclas suggested.

“Not that it’s any of your concern—” Aidan started.

“Oh, brother mine, your happiness is my utmost concern,” Nioclas protested with a smirk.

“—but Emma has seen my more charming self. ”

“Yet she vowed never to have you.”

“She’s had a rough time lately,” Aidan growled, “and I had planned to give her time to work through her concerns.”

Nioclas rolled his eyes. “It didn’t seem as though your Lady Emma was as susceptible to your charms as you might think.”

“Oh, she’s susceptible,” Aidan snapped.

Nioclas finally released his laughter. Aidan crossed his arms, staring at him in exasperation.

“The Aidan of yore had females falling at his feet. By the saints, you had lasses claiming you’d been in their beds just for the chance at the glory of it all! Yet here you are, insulting a woman, thinking your past actions would win her heart. Forgive me if I find the situation more than amusing.”

“I have never seen you laugh so hard before,” Aidan observed dryly. He smiled in spite of himself. “’Tis a wonder to see you so happy, after so many years of melancholy.”

“A good woman does that to a man,” Nioclas replied seriously. “Truly, I am fortunate. And I’d like nothing better than for your own fortune to be as strong as mine.”

“It will be,” Aidan replied with a confidence he didn’t feel.

“Susceptibility,” Nioclas agreed. He clapped him on the back. “Chin up, brother. You’re a brilliant strategist. I’ve no doubt you can overcome this battle to win the war.” He chuckled again. “But damn, do you have the odds stacked against you.”

Emma was out of breath by the time Shane returned her to her seat. He signaled for more wine.

“You are a good dancer,” she said, gratefully accepting the cup.

He flashed white teeth at her. “For not knowing the dance, you kept up very well yourself. ”

Emma avoided his eyes, although she couldn’t help but smile.

His eyes crinkled at the corners endearingly.

Her heart should’ve been thumping with excitement from his attention, but the only thumping she felt was from the dance steps that echoed through the floor.

Emma had no idea how to direct his attentions elsewhere, but luckily Brianagh joined them.

“I do believe Brigit of Muskerry would love a dance, while Lady Emma recuperates,” Brianagh noted, taking the seat next to Emma. She turned imploring eyes on Shane. “Perhaps you’ll oblige her?”

“Of course, my lady.” He bowed, then winked at Emma before sauntering off.

“What I don’t understand is why he would need your services,” Emma said, her eyes following him across the room. “He’s handsome, charming, intelligent, and the son of the clan leader. All in all, quite a catch.”

“His father wants to secure an alliance,” Brianagh replied, also tracking Shane’s movements.

When he reached Brigit, she relaxed slightly.

“He wants to ally with the Muskerry clan, but Laird Muskerry has no daughter and the women of that clan are…um…” She paused, trying to find the right words.

“Well, they’re not as attractive as other women,” she finished. She cringed. “I hate even saying that.”

“Brigit is very pretty,” Emma said, watching the raven-haired beauty dancing with Shane.

“That she is. She’s a Muskerry cousin, who hails from Scotland. She’s here on an extended visit, and if we can get them married, it’ll be a wonderful match for all parties.”

“I don’t want to encourage him,” Emma sighed. “Can I go hide in my room yet?”

“Not yet,” Bri replied sympathetically.

“I don’t know what to do to turn his attentions away without insulting him. I don’t know what to do to turn any of them away.”

“You could go along with Aidan’s plan,” Bri suggested. “ Pretend you’re excited to be married, and pretend you’re in love.”

Emma raised an eyebrow. “After that lovely display at dinner? I’d rather choke on a rotting fish.”

“Graphic, but effective in your sincerity. He’s not perfect, you know.”

“I thought he was.”

Brianagh dipped her head in acknowledgement of a passerby.

“No one is perfect. When I met him eight years ago, he was such a happy, carefree man. He had no worries, or if he did, he never showed them. But Nick told me Aidan wasn’t always pleasantries and charm.

He is, after all, human. He gets angry, too. ”

“Angry is a lot different than mean. I’ve had enough mean to last me a lifetime, thank you very much.” Emma clenched her jaw. “I’m happiest on my own.”

“Can one be happy and lonely at the same time?”

Emma straightened her spine. “I never claimed to be lonely. I never asked for any of Aidan’s help. He pushed it on me, when I was in a difficult situation with limited options.”

“Just remember that Aidan is, at his core, a good man. An imperfect, good, honorable man.”

“I smell a matchmaker at work here,” Emma replied sourly.

“Not this time.” Bri sipped her wine, her expression determined. “I want you to go along with Aidan’s outlandish suggestion for purely personal reasons. I want Shane and Brigit married.”

“To keep your successful reputation?”

“The businesswoman in me says yes, but the romantic in me says it’s for a happy life.” Bri’s eyes misted a little. “They would make each other happy, and I do love a happy ending.”

“How can that man not get a happy ending?” Emma asked, watching as Shane and Brigit danced across the floor. “Aside from the good looks and charm, he’s just plain nice. ”

“They’re all nice when they’re trying to win a lady’s heart,” Brianagh said with a small laugh. “And I believe Shane to be a good man.”

Which just proved that Aidan wasn’t trying to win anything with her.

“How can I get Shane to understand that I’m not interested?” Emma asked.