"Aye. Who else would I be talking about?"

"Very well. I ken I have a reputation because of the battles I've fought, but that has naught to do with hospitality."

As far as she was concerned, his reputation had everything to do with the heinous deed he'd performed with cold calculation. Aye, she was certain it had been him, though they'd both been much younger.

"If you appear angry with him, he'll get the impression that you are still smitten with him. But if you seem bored with him, 'twill be clear you've forgotten him. 'Haps he will leave tomorrow. Who knows?"

She could only hope. "Will you convince him to leave tomorrow?"

"I'll do my best."

She prayed Torrin would leave at the same time. Aye, he was too disconcerting by far.

"Very well, but everyone must leave their weapons in the guard house," she said.

Torrin nodded. "Wise move." He winked.

Heat flashed over her like the approaching lightning… along with annoyance at herself that she would feel any sort of attraction to him. The longer she glared at him, the more pronounced his grin. He then turned to MacBain. "The lady has agreed we might enter, but we must disarm ourselves."

MacBain strode forward, his glare switching from Torrin to her, but he didn't immediately remove his weapons. His men scowled and muttered amongst themselves.

Loud thunder boomed out over the sea.

"Search them and make certain they are not armed, save for the knives they need to eat with," she instructed the nearby MacKay guards. "Your men may stay in the barracks this night," she told MacBain. "I'm certain you'll want to be on your way in the morn."

Gregor said naught, but his smug grin told her what he was thinking. He was going to try to win back her hand. 'Twould never happen.

The MacKay guards disarmed the men of both clans outside the gates, then allowed them entrance.

Her gaze darted to Torrin as he handed over his dirk and sword in the leather baldric. She hadn't remembered how tall he was, several inches taller than Gregor, who was about an inch shorter than Jessie. She'd always thought that was one reason he'd not been happy with her. He had to look up at her and likely felt like less of a man. She almost smiled.

She headed back toward the castle's entrance just as the first cold drops of rain spattered her hair and clothing.

Torrin fell into step beside her. "You look very pleased with yourself, m'lady."

"Nay. Why should I be, when two men I didn't want to see have shown up at the gates?"

With a hint of a smile, he sent her an amused glance beneath his dark lashes. If not for his past and what she knew about him, she could see herself being incredibly drawn to him. But obviously he was not who he appeared to be. 'Haps he had a benevolent side and a monstrous side. Or maybe all the benevolence was an act.

When they entered the great hall, Jessie motioned Torrin and Gregor to the high table. "Please make yourselves comfortable and your supper will be served."

She had been almost finished with her meal earlier, when she'd been interrupted. But even if she hadn't been, she had no appetite now. She directed the servants to bring their visitors food and drink. Most of the men, aside from Torrin and Gregor, would sleep in the barracks on the opposite side of the bailey. She headed up the stairs in search of the chambermaids. She would have them prepare two bedchambers for the chiefs in a separate wing from where her own chamber was located. She could only hope they would behave themselves and remain in their rooms the whole of the night.

Gregor MacBain was like a thorn in her arse. She wished she'd never met the man at the Keith's residence. He'd seemed interested in her from that first meeting when she was nineteen summers, and she'd thought him a handsome man. Later, after she returned home to Dunnakeil, he'd sought her out and talked to her father about arranging a trial marriage. Her father preferred they have a legal and binding marriage, but MacBain wouldn't hear of it. He much preferred a trial marriage because he needed an heir first and foremost. For that reason, he needed to know if she could conceive before the legal marriage took place.

Her father had gone along with it because MacBain was a chief and baron with impressive holdings to the south. Jessie had not known MacBain, except for the amicable façade he put forth. Being of marriageable age, she knew she would have to marry someone. She wanted a family, after all. MacBain had been her best prospect at the time, and she'd hoped they could grow to love one another.

In the end, she hadn't conceived, or maybe he simply hadn't tried hard enough. They'd shared a bed for three months during their time together, but she didn't know if that had been enough. Embarrassed that she hadn't conceived and feeling like a failure, she'd told people they'd only shared a bed three times.

MacBain had seen and fallen in love with another woman. Or more likely, it was lust. She didn't think the man was capable of deep emotion. But she hadn't known about the other woman for months. MacBain had met with her secretly.

Unfortunately, by that time, Jessie had found herself smitten with MacBain, and his rejection and desertion hurt her deeply. Realizing how naïve she'd been to trust him, she couldn't wait to wash her hands of the fickle man and go home.

'Twas obvious he was back now only for her dowry. She would've known that even if Torrin hadn't told her. MacBain had his heir, but now he wanted funds and more land. He would have to acquire them elsewhere for she would never agree to marry him, and Dirk wouldn't force her to. Dirk was an understanding brother who took her wishes into consideration. After all, he hadn't ordered her to marry Torrin, thank the saints. As far as she knew, Dirk already had an alliance with Torrin, and there was no need to arrange a marriage to solidify it.

Now, she saw that Torrin was just as persistent as MacBain, but she knew him to be twice as dangerous.

***

Sitting at the high table, Torrin glanced around the great hall at his men and MacBain's, but he didn't see Jessie. Where had she gone? He'd hoped she would eat supper with them, but mayhap she'd already eaten. It appeared most of the MacKay clan was finished as well, while they drank ale and talked to the newcomers.

Since Torrin had spoken to Lady Jessie at the gates—the most he'd ever talked to her—he was even more eager to spend time with her. He had not imagined the keen attraction between them. 'Twas real, and he didn't think it was one-sided either. Given her adorable blushes, darkened eyes, and fidgeting hands, he suspected he made her uneasy. He'd wanted to take her hands in his, kiss her knuckles and soothe her.

Thank the saints he'd convinced her to allow them entrance to Dunnakeil. Thunder exploded overhead and lightning flashed outside the arrow slit windows.

Aiden and other musicians played music to entertain them while they ate. At the moment, he was playing a lamenting bagpipe ballad about lost love. It reminded Torrin of when he'd been a lad, eating supper in the great hall of Munrick; their piper had often played the same tune. 'Twas a bittersweet memory, for Torrin had loved spending time with his brother and cousins, but he'd always been on edge, expecting his father to strike him down at any moment. The only time he'd escaped the frequent beatings was during the four years he'd fostered with the Stewarts. If not for that reprieve, he didn't know what he would've done. He might have turned out like his vindictive brother.

Torrin had heard Aiden play before and was just as impressed this time as he had been in the past at the lad's talent with any instrument he touched.