Page 43 of Kilted Abduction

“Ye seem tae be movin’ a little stiffly,” she noted. “Are ye hurt?”

“I said I’m fine.”

“His mood is foul and brooding,” Thora said. “He seems normal enough tae me.”

Magnus shot her a dark look. “Ye’d be too if ye were forced tae sleep in a chair all night.”

His siblings all burst into laughter, making his cheeks burn. He glared at them. Before he could deliver the scathing remark on the tip of his tongue though, the servants arrived bearing platters of food. Magnus forgot about his irritation with his siblings as he loaded his plate with boiled eggs, seasoned mutton, beans, cheese, and warm bread.

“Sleepin’ in a chair all night hasnae dimmed yer appetite none,” Kai noted.

“Shut it,” Magnus grunted as he tucked into his meal.

As he ate though, Magnus continued stealing glances at Ciara and Katherine. Their voices were low and soft and try as he might, he wasn’t able to hear a single word they were saying. Ciara, though, was smiling and laughing quietly.

“She seems tae be in better spirits than when she walked in,” Thora noted.

“Aye. The poor lass looked like she was walkin’ tae the gallows when she game through the doors,” Enya agreed.

“If ye’d had tae spend the night with this one, ye’d probably look the same way,” Kai teased.

As the others giggled, Magnus grunted and threw a chunk of cheese at his brother, bouncing it off his forehead.

“Hey,” Kai said, then laughed and stuffed the piece of cheese into his mouth.

Domhnall glanced towards the women, seeming to be making sure Ciara was still engaged in conversation with Katherine and not paying attention to them. She was.

“So, did ye learn anythin’ about her last night, Magnus?” Domhnall asked.

“Other than the woman snores like a beast? Nothin’.”

“Nothin’?”

“When I found her after leavin’ ye all last night, she was walkin’ around the castle sayin’ she just wanted tae stretch her legs,” Magnus said. “But I ken she was scopin’ out the layout andplannin’ her escape. She was movin’ and schemin’ like a spy would.”

“Ye dinnae seem convinced she is though.”

Magnus shrugged. “I cannae say. Part of me thinks she’s nae. She just doesnae seem tae possess the kind of guile and deceit a spy would.”

“Which is what makes a good spy,” Thora said. “Ye’d never expect ‘em tae be the one ye’re lookin’ fer in the first place.”

“True,” Magnus conceded. “But there’s just somethin’ about her that makes me think she is what she says she is—a woman on the run and tryin’ tae escape a marriage she daesnae want.”

Domhnall nodded. “All right then. We’ll dae this me way then. Kai, after ye finish stuffin’ yer gullet, I want ye tae go and see yer contacts about her. See if ye can verify her story, eh?”

Kai nodded as he chewed. “All right, braither.”

“And what dae ye need me tae dae?” Magnus asked.

Domhnall grinned. “Just keep doin’ what ye’re doin’.”

“And what is that exactly?”

“Charm the lass,” he said. “Find a way tae get her tae spill all her secrets tae ye.”

As his siblings laughed, Magnus grumbled and kept eating. It was going to be a long day.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE