Helen could have withered where she stood. Please let there not be a scene. She clapped a hand over her mouth and scanned the faces to see who had uttered such a bold remark, but no one stood out.
“Mind your own affairs,” Aleck groused.
Maggie’s face grew red and she launched into an ear-splitting wail.
Aleck thrust the babe toward Sarah. “Take the brat back up to the nursery. She has no business in the hall until she can sit at the table and hold a knife in her hand.”
Shrieking at the top of her lungs, Maggie didn’t settle. Sarah shot Helen a panicked grimace, as if she’d just been scolded by a humongous troll.
Helen stepped in, smoothed a hand over her daughter’s crown. She would see that Maggie’s first appearance ended on a positive note. “Thank you, dear Sarah,” she said so all could hear. “Maggie made quite an impression for her first appearance and I am ever so happy to have your assistance. I believe it is time for her to retire now.”
Sarah dipped into a brisk curtsey. “As you wish, m’lady.”
Helen affixed her regal smile while Sarah proceeded to the stairwell with the howling Maggie. Honestly, the wee cry was music to a mother’s ears. The clansmen and women also watched and applauded appreciatively. Besides, no one ever expected a bairn to be silent.
When Helen turned to the high table, Aleck had resumed his seat, but Eoin remained standing. In two strides, he took her hand and led her to the lady’s chair. Helen recalled her father had paid such a courtesy to her mother often.
“Miss Maggie is delightful, m’lady.” Eoin grinned as if nothing were amiss—as if it were a common occurrence for the chieftain to shun his daughter and ignore his wife. “Thank you for bringing her for an introduction.”
Helen took her seat. “I’m ever so glad you approve, Sir Eoin.”
Aleck gestured to the empty chair with his knife. “Sit your arse down, MacGregor, and stop acting like you’re groveling to the Queen of Scotland.”
Eoin’s pleasant exterior waned. “This is a well anticipated gathering is it not?”
“Aye, everyone enjoys the minstrels when they come.” Aleck poured himself a tankard of whisky. Evidently, he’d decided ale wasn’t strong enough this eve.
Eoin reached for the bread. “I, too, enjoy music and dancing.”
Aleck snorted. “You seem like the type who would prefer to kick up your heels and rub elbows with the lassies rather than take part in more manly pursuits.”
Stopping mid-chew, Eoin rolled his eyes toward the chieftain. “Let us say I enjoy all manner of pursuits.”
Aleck took a long draw from his tankard. “Do you enjoy swivving buxom lassies?”
How utterly inappropriate. Helen’s face burned. If only she could slide under the table and hide, but she could never do that, and chiding Aleck would only serve to rouse him further.
Without a modicum of emotion etched on his face, Eoin reached for the ewer of ale and filled his cup. “With all due respect, this is not suitable conversation for mixed company.”
“So you consider it appropriate banter for an alehouse, do you?” Aleck threw his head back and laughed.
Could things grow worse? Helen glanced at the faces of the clansmen at the table. Every single face appeared uncomfortable and not a one looked her way.
Suddenly not hungry, she pushed her food around her trencher to the sound of idle chatter from the crowd. Still, no one on the dais uttered a word. When she at last looked up, Aleck eyed her from behind his tankard. She tensed as he leaned forward to speak. “If you continue to disobey me, I’ll have no recourse but to lock you in your chamber.”
She drew away from his foul-smelling breath. “You wouldn’t.”
Aleck scowled. “Now that you’ve asked to go to Iona, how will I know you will not run?”
“Mayhap I’d already be away if I had.”
A tic twitched under his eye. “Do not use an insolent tone with me.”
Helen pursed her lips and stared down at her lap. Must he grow more disagreeable by the day? She glanced at Eoin. He offered an apologetic shrug of his shoulders.
“What about hunting?” she asked, blurting out the first thing that came to mind. “I enjoy a good hunt with a bow and arrow.”
Eoin appeared to appreciate the change in subject. “As I recall, your marksmanship is admirable.”
She smiled.
“We could put her atop the bailey walls if there was a siege.” Aleck swayed in his chair and laughed at his