15
“’Tis rather loud,” Keira complained, looking down at the guests greeting one another in the Great Hall from the raised dais where they stood.
Violet was inclined to agree, but the hum of excitement in the room was so palpable that it had begun to seep into her. She was looking forward to the rest of the festivities as the night progressed. She had been looking forward to it since the guests began arriving earlier in the day.
It had been quiet earlier when the clan’sseanchaihad regaled them with tales of the clan and the calm waters of the loch she had frequented with Ruaridh. Violet was inclined never to visit the loch at night after the story she had heard.
Still, the music was lively, and the gay crowd made her quickly forget the woe the lore had put in her.
The tables in the Great Hall had been pushed against the walls to make the room wider and create a dance floor where guests danced in a scattered array that was unlike anything she had seen in England. There was so much food, and drinks flowed endlessly.
It was a joy to see their hard work come to fruition and see everyone satisfied.
A few of the guests eyed her warily, but none gave her any scalding looks, for which she was grateful. They were mostly curious about the woman who had entered on the Laird’s arm.
She had greeted a few of them with Ruaridh earlier, but he had told her to wait with Keira till he made some introductions later.
She couldn’t complain because the sheer number of guests that filled the castle made her feel somewhat overwhelmed, but over the week they would live with them, she was sure she would adapt.
Now, Ruaridh was standing with some lairds from neighboring clans. He was unbelievably handsome, with his usually unruly hair slicked back in a way that left his handsome face on full display. His crisp white linen shirt was almost fully covered by his plaid, which bore his clan’s colors of green and yellow proudly.
A wide range of colors was on full display this evening, and she was grateful she had chosen to wear the deep green gown. It would match his tartan, and the thought had her smiling.
She spotted him moving closer to them with a couple in tow, and she stood straighter with a small smile. Keira straightened as well, perhaps wanting to impress her father.
The pair were handsome, with matching heads of dark hair, but while the man had striking green eyes, the woman had a pair of cool grey eyes that had Violet wondering if perhaps she had done something.
“Callum, Sienna, may I present Miss Violet Wilkinson, me bride-to-be?” Ruaridh said. “Violet, this is Laird McMahon and his sister, Sienna.”
Violet curtsied politely, even though her cheeks warmed at having been so wrong in her assumption.
“Good evening, Laird McMahon, Lady Sienna,” she greeted. “It is lovely to meet you.”
“And ye as well,” Laird McMahon returned, taking her hand in his and placing a chaste kiss on the back of it. “And call me Callum. I have heard much about ye from Ruaridh. How are ye faring with me friend?”
“I am rather happy, my Laird—Callum,” she answered with a wide grin.
“And ye’re sure I cannae steal ye away?”
She heard Ruaridh clear his throat and wondered why he looked so glum. Still, she had been correct in her assumption that he surrounded himself with such jovial friends, who were a stark contrast to his reserved nature. She was honestly glad to see that he had such wonderful company.
“Ye mustnae mind me braither, Ruaridh,” Lady Sienna interjected, wrinkling her nose. “Ye ken he is a big flirt.”
“I am nae flirting with her,” Callum retorted. “I am only curious as to how such a bonny lass is saddled with me grumpy friend.”
“Ruaridh will get his revenge once the games begin,” Lady Sienna said, shaking her head. Then she turned to Violet and smiled. “Daenae mind me braither’s antics, Miss Violet. He likes to annoy Ruaridh. One day, he will certainly pay for his antics. And I insist ye call me Sienna as well.”
Violet nodded with a smile, though her heart began to race at the easy camaraderie between the beautiful woman and Ruaridh. Sienna had called him by his first name, and the usually stoic man smiled softly at her.
She wondered at the initial icy look she had gotten from the woman. Could it be because Violet had ruined her hopes of marrying Ruaridh?
Violet fell silent as a bitter feeling settled in the pit of her stomach. Sienna and Ruaridh would have made a very striking pair. Standing side by side now, she was close to his height,and her lovely, elegant features were a perfect match to his stoic ones.
“That is if he can beat me in any of the games,” Callum joked. “And is this wee Keira I see?”
“Aye,” Ruaridh answered.
“Oh, how she has grown!” Sienna cooed. “Ye willnae remember me, Keira, but the last time I saw ye, ye were a wee lass.”
