Fiona was having similar thoughts as she gazed up at her husband.Without his perpetual scowl, Connor was devastatingly handsome.His eyes could be warm as well as fierce, and when he smiled, truly smiled, not just that sardonic twist of his lips, it changed his entire face.The gruffness was still there, would probably always be part of him, but underneath it was a kindness she hadn't expected.The way he'd adjusted his dancing to accommodate her, the way he'd defended her to his clan, the way he was looking at her now as if she were the only person in the hall.
"Ye're staring, wife," Connor murmured, his voice low and teasing.
"So are ye, husband," Fiona replied, surprised by her own boldness.
For a moment, the rest of the hall faded away.There was only the music, only the two of them moving together in perfect harmony, only the growing warmth in Connor's eyes as he held her close.
Then Fiona caught sight of movement in her peripheral vision, and reality came crashing back.
Teàrlag was making her way around the edge of the hall, stopping to speak with clusters of women.Some turned away from her with obvious disdain, but others leaned in eagerly, hungry for whatever gossip she was spreading.Fiona watched as the woman gestured toward the dancing couple, her lips moving rapidly as she spoke to a group of younger MacNeil wives.
The ease Fiona had felt moments before evaporated, replaced by a knot of anxiety in her stomach.Whatever Teàrlag was saying, it couldn't be good.The woman's smirk was visible even from across the hall.
Connor noticed the change in his wife immediately.The light had gone out of her eyes, and her body had tensed in his arms.He followed her gaze and cursed under his breath when he saw what had captured her attention.
"Ignore her," he said firmly, trying to guide Fiona's attention back to him."She cannot ruin our wedding day."
But Fiona couldn't ignore the whispers that seemed to follow in Teàrlag's wake, or the way some of the women glanced toward her with expressions ranging from pity to speculation.Her steps faltered, and she would have stumbled if not for Connor's steady grip.
"What is she telling them?"Fiona asked, her voice barely audible over the music.
Connor's jaw tightened.He could guess well enough.Teàrlag would be painting herself as the wronged woman, the true love cast aside for convenience.She'd be suggesting that Connor's heart remained with her.It was exactly the kind of lies that caused them to grow apart.
"It doesn't matter what she's saying," Connor replied, though even as he spoke the words, he knew he'd have to deal with Teàrlag directly.She wouldn't stop until she'd caused maximum damage, and he couldn't allow that.Not when his wife was finally beginning to trust him.
But Fiona was no fool.She could see the calculation in Connor's eyes, the way his attention kept drifting to his former lover.A cold realization settled over her as she remembered how little she actually knew about this man she'd just married.Yes, he'd been kind to her tonight, protective even.But what did that really mean?Men could be charming when it suited them, especially on their wedding night.
How could she be sure his promises weren't just pretty words?How could she know whether he truly intended to honor his marriage vows, or if he was simply acting until the guests departed and he could resume his old habits?
The music came to an end, and the hall erupted in applause for the newlyweds.Connor bowed over Fiona's hand with perfect courtesy, but she could see his mind was already elsewhere.When he straightened, his eyes sought out Teàrlag across the room, and Fiona's heart sank.
"Thank ye for the dance," she said quietly, stepping back from him."It was lovely."
"Fiona—" Connor began, hearing something in her tone that alarmed him.
"I think I'll rest for a moment," she continued, moving toward the high table."The dancing was more tiring than I expected."
Connor watched her retreat, noting the stiffness in her posture, the way she avoided meeting his eyes.Damn Teàrlag and her scheming.Just when he and Fiona had been finding their footing together, his past had reared its head to poison the fragile trust between them.
He needed to end this, and quickly.But as he looked between Fiona, who was now sitting alone at the high table trying to pretend she wasn't watching him, and Teàrlag, who was still working her way through the crowd like a serpent spreading venom, Connor realized that any move he made now could be misinterpreted.
If he went to Teàrlag, Fiona would think he was choosing his former lover over his bride.If he stayed with Fiona, Teàrlag would continue her campaign unopposed, and by morning half the keep would be whispering about the MacNeil who'd married for duty but kept his heart elsewhere.
For the first time in his adult life, Connor MacNeil found himself truly uncertain of how to proceed.All he knew was that the happiness he'd felt just moments ago was slipping away, and if he didn't act soon, it might be lost entirely.
***
