Highland Seer Read Free Page B

Lathan. We’d be pleased to break bread with ye before we begin.”
    They all greeted her, some with a smile or a nod. But the one named Donal MacNabb merely studied her, acknowledging her with a lift of one eyebrow, then letting his gaze skim down her body and back up to meet her eyes. Suddenly Ellie’s palms dampened. Why? His glance hadn’t seemed sensual so much as analytical. Judging her? Did he suspect?
    Micheil gestured to the empty table next to theirs and signaled for the serving girl’s attention. The Lathans sat and accepted food and drink—politely, Ellie thought, for such fierce-looking men. Especially that last one, Donal. Fierce-looking, indeed. Arms master! He had the look of the man in her dream, big and strongly muscled. But so did the one sitting next to him, called Bram. Donal had dark blond hair, or light brown, streaked by the sun, cut shaggy and loose to his jawline. Light eyes. Blue? No, green. Bram’s hair had more blond in it, and he stood a bit taller. Ach, she couldn’t be sure. Both would bear watching.
    Smiling, Micheil sat and whispered to her as she also seated herself, “What do ye think, Ellie?”
    “They seem civilized enough.” She kept her voice low, too, and a smile on her face as she nibbled at her breakfast. “Let’s see how they react when they learn the truth.” Ellie lingered over her food, allowing the Lathans time to finish theirs. Micheil fidgeted at her side, but followed her lead for once. Finally, they finished eating. The time had come to talk.
    Micheil rose beside her as Ellie stood. “I’m afraid we havena been entirely truthful with ye,” he began.
    Ellie saw their visitors tense. To their credit, not one laid a hand to a dirk.
    Micheil held out a palm in a gesture Ellie recognized as his attempt to placate and calm the reaction they’d both observed. “Ye’ve come to meet with Laird MacKyrie. I’m no’ the one ye seek.”
    Jamie Lathan canted his head and widened his eyes. Donal MacNabb’s expression provided contrast. Ellie saw suspicion and calculation on his face as he shifted his weight forward to the edge of his seat.
    A shiver ran down her spine as it occurred to her the game she and Micheil had been playing might be a dangerous one.
    With courtly flourish, Micheil made a half bow and continued, unabashed. “May I present to ye the Laird and Seer of Clan MacKyrie, Elspeth MacKyrie.”
    If possible, Donal’s expression became even more fierce. Ellie tensed as Jamie’s and the others’ eyebrows arced toward their hairlines, but then Jamie grinned. Ah, he liked surprises. But Donal looked like he wanted to take the table apart with his bare hands. His fists clenched at his sides, standing veins and white knuckles giving away his irritation. Did their deception anger him? Or the fact of a woman at the head of a clan? A Seer?
    Ellie took a breath, waiting to see what consensus they would reach amongst them.
    “Laird MacKyrie.” Jamie stood and bowed to the precise degree Micheil had demonstrated. “I am most honored to meet ye.” He glanced around as his companions gained their feet. Taking note of the thunderous expression on Donal’s face, smiled even more broadly. “As are we all.”
    So, Jamie was in charge, at least of the business that had brought them here, though the lads had reported that Donal led them in battle. Ellie released a pent up breath and returned his grin. “I’m glad,” she answered, then indicated the stairs with a tilt of her head. Down to business. “Let’s move to the solar to begin our serious conversation. I gather ye have much to say.”
    “Indeed.” Jamie sketched another half bow, then turned to the glowering Donal and the rest of his men. “Donal, with me, if ye please. The rest of ye, see to the horses. We’ll meet later.”
    Ellie led them up the stairs and settled them in the upholstered chairs normally occupied by women doing needlework. She took her accustomed place in the center seat, framed by