Elliot gave her a suggestive smile, and Isla arched a brow softly. “I’m afraid I do not understand what you mean.”
“The betrothal,” he replied. “My brother announced it to the entire Clan this mornin’. Did ye nae ken? He asked that the servants leave ye to yer sleep as he dinnae want to disturb ye.”
Isla’s jaw nearly dropped, but she snapped it back together.
The nerve of this man. How could he announce it without her presence?
He had almost kissed her, and now he was announcing their betrothal to his entire Clan without her presence.
She feigned a smile for Elliot who continued speaking. “The weddin’ feast preparations have begun. It is tradition here to celebrate whenever there is a weddin’ on hand.”
Elliot was about to say more when they heard footsteps and they both turned to see Jack walk into the garden with Jamie.
At least Jamie looked different from both Elliot and Jack. He had blond hair and blue eyes that seemed too intense to be human.
“My Lady,” Jack said with a small head bow. Jamie standing by his side wore a tight look. His lips remained in a small line and his forehead creased and he wore a scowl that made him look fierce.
Jamie bowed his head to Isla and said, “I trust ye are enjoyin’ the view of the garden, My Lady.”
“I am,” she replied with a smile that Jamie didn’t return. Jamie’s tight expression showed he was not fond of her. It didn’t bother her anyway… she was not going to be here for long, so why should it?
Isla nearly scoffed from how he maintained his tight look. She could instantly tell that this man did not like her.
It didn’t matter anyway. Isla hiked her chin higher and leveled her gaze on Jack. “May I have a word with you?” she asked.
She didn’t give Jack the time to respond before she gave Elliot a small nod and walked to a corner to wait for him. Isla saw Jack say something to his brother and man-at-arms before he excused himself and came to meet her.
“When ye address me in front of my people, ye have to say My Laird.”
Isla folded her arms over her chest. “You almost kiss me and then kick me out,” she said. “Then you make the announcement of our fake betrothal without me?”
“I dinnae kick ye out, and please keep yer voice down,” he cautioned. She saw something flash in his eyes, but he didn’t frown or raise his tone. “No one should ken what we have planned to do.”
Isla moved back from him when he moved closer to her. His scent hit her nostrils and sent a shiver up her spine.
“I announced our betrothal immediately because someone saw us last night. My cousin walked in on us if ye recall. Announcin’ it was the only way to make it official.”
Isla knew he was right. A part of her was simply worked up about it because of what happened last night. Her gaze met his and she felt the tingle race through her again.
“So, what happens next?” she asked. Heat pooled at the back of her neck, and she lifted a hand to rub it away.
Was he not going to talk about the almost kiss?
“We prepare for the feast, and I keep working on my Clan. With our marriage they believe I have enough from yer dowry to fend for the Clan, so I need to make more sales and raise what we need.”
“Oh—” she gasped.
Jack nodded, and they fell silent for a second before his gaze softened a little. “How do ye feel today? Have ye been able to eat?”
Isla realized after he asked that she had eaten nothing since she woke up that morning. Her stomach grumbled a bit now that she was aware of it, and she wrapped her arms around her abdomen.
“I will have the servants bring ye somethin’ ye can eat.”
“Thank ye,” she said.
Jack simply nodded, then turned to walk away from her, but stopped abruptly, and faced her again. “About last night—”
Isla’s pulse skipped a beat once he mentioned the previous night, and her throat tightened so much she had to swallow.