Eoghanan did his best not to smile, wishing to allow Jeffrey the chance to answer.
Jeffrey turned to speak below his breath to Cooper but did it so that Eoghanan could hear him. “Well, of course we’re going to tell him yes, but I was just trying to make him sweat a little.”
“That’s not very nice, Dad.” Cooper lifted one eyebrow, a gesture of disapproval, in his father’s direction.
“You’re right. It’s not.” Jeffrey turned back toward Eoghanan. “Yes, you have our full permission to ask her to marry you. I think you’re a good man, Eoghanan. Do not prove me wrong.”
Eoghanan extended a hand in his new friend’s direction. “I swear to ye that I will do everything in me power to make her happy.”
Jeffrey took his hand, shaking it just a little too firmly. “I’m serious, okay? I don’t care if you’re six inches taller than me and the size of a professional football player. You hurt Grace, and I will hurt you. Understood?”
“Aye, I do. It pleases me that Grace has so many that care for her.” Eoghanan stepped toward Cooper, shaking his little hand as well to seal their agreement. “I will bid ye goodnight now. I thank ye both.”
Eoghanan shut the door behind him, but not before he heard Cooper’s little voice laughing at his father.
“You’re a funny guy, Dad. You wouldn’t even step on that spider earlier. I mean, come on, what do you think you’re gonna do to E-o?”
Chapter 34
It took me the rest of the evening to wrangle my stress over the incident to a manageable size. I couldn’t stand the thought of someone so evil standing so close to my son. Eoghanan had left immediately to find Baodan, and together they went with a small group of men to ensure she hadn’t remained anywhere on the property.
When I saw Jeffrey leave the dining hall with Cooper in tow, I decided to take my leave as well, stopping to ensure they made it safely to their bedchamber before making my way up to Eoghanan’s room.
Once inside, I didn’t bother to disrobe before collapsing onto the center of the large bed, the stress of the evening making me weak-limbed and exhausted. I wouldn’t sleep, not until the men were back and I knew that the grounds were safe. Still, I tried to unwind a bit by rubbing my eyelids with my thumb and middle finger, allowing my fingers to gently rub against my closed eyes.
The repetitive motion must have done the trick, for I didn’t hear Eoghanan enter until he spoke.
“Are ye trying to poke yer eye out, lass?”
The sound of his unexpected voice made me jump, and I sat up as he neared me, blinking oddly.
“No, but I think I just about managed it just now. You scared me.”
“I’m sorry. I meant to be quiet so that if ye were sleeping, I wouldna wake ye.”
I stood and moved to him, reaching up to kiss him warmly. “Did you find anything?”
He shook his head, pulling me closer.
“No, I doona think she will be back. Ye needn’t worry yerself over it.”
I didn’t think for a moment that he really believed what he said. He was too smart not to realize that she wouldn’t have taken such a risk to come here unless it was for a reason. Still, there was nothing to be done about it tonight, and I didn’t wish to think about it anymore. “Distract me.” My voice came shaky, breathless, and desperate. I needed the comforting refuge of his body.
His breath caught, and he lifted my chin from its resting place against his chest. “Distract ye?” He smiled mischievously. “I am sorry, but I canna do it tonight. I’m far too sleepy.”
“Oh,” I stepped away from him, my eyes teasing, “that’s just really too bad. I thought we could play a game, but if you’re too sleepy…” I turned away, smiling to the wall as I waited for him to respond.
It took about half a second before he grabbed my wrist and spun me to him. “A game, lass? What sort of game?”
“Well, there’s still so many things we don’t know about one another. Let’s play a game of questions.”
He nodded. “Aye, fine, but that doesna sound like a game, Grace. ’Tis a conversation.”
“You’re right,” I pointed at him, excitedly, “but it becomes a game if we go put on every piece of clothing we can stuff ourselves in and then if I want to ask you a question, I have to take off a piece of clothing and you have to do the same.”
His eyebrows rose humorously high. “Is this a game often played in yer own time, lass?”
“No, not really. Wanna play?”
“Do ye promise me that we will both end with no any clothes on?”
I nodded, slowly.
“Aye, then I’d verra much like to play yer little game.”
*
Ten minutes later, we faced each other and instantaneously burst into laughter. We looked equally ridiculous.