Violet gasped, overdramatic and mocking. Her hand came to rest against the hollow at the base of her throat.
Leo snorted at the theatrics and shook his head.
“How could ye let her meet him before me?” Violet asked.
“He’s a member of the council, Violet.”
She let out a long sigh that belied her jovial attitude. Not being permitted to sit on the council as the men did was a sore spot for her.
If I had me way, she’d be runnin' the clan with me. I’d tell half those dobbers on the council to piss off.
“I daenae think it matters what Allistair makes of her,” Violet said, tapping a finger on the page she had been reading, “but I ken ye better than most people do. I can tell if she’s a good match.”
“Just leave it be, Violet,” was all Leo could bring himself to say.
Violet turned the book towards him. A plan he never meant to put into action was spelled out in unmistakable black ink:if that smart ass cousin of mine causes one more problem, I’ll hold him down to the bottom of the loch and make sure he stays there.Leo laughed as he read it to himself, and Violet smirked.
“Ye like me a wee bit more than that, I’d say.” She closed the book and settled into the leather seat, her arms crossed over her chest. “I’m goin' to have to meet her today.”
“I daenae ken why ye are so excited about the matter. She’d been decreed to find a husband or else be forced to marry someone the elders picked.”
Violet kept her arms crossed and narrowed her eyes at her brother. “Well, if it’s such a bother to ye, why did ye agree to it?What difference does it make to ye if she’s sold off to some old miser?”
“I’ve been decreed meself.” Leo reminded her. “We’re defendin' each other from marriage. It was a matter of good timin' that she showed up here.”
“Or fate.”
I cannae hear any of that talk.
The concept of his life being preordained didn’t move him one way or the other, since he simply didn’t believe it was possible. Moments happened as they happened. Life moved forward, and he kept pace with it. What unfolded was not written beforehand by anyone or anything, and what he made of it was entirely up to him.
“Leave fate to the saints and the witches.”
“Ye willnae tell me that there’s more to all of this, but I can see that there is,” Violet drawled.
“What ye’re sensing isnae what is real, Violet.”
She rose from the chair and went to the door, her feet shoulder-width apart. It almost made Leo laugh the way she could switch from playful to serious in a heartbeat, in the amount of time it took him to inhale.
“Ye willnae keep anything important from me, right?” she asked.
“Violet, I have nothin' of importance anyway.”
She bobbed her head once as if agreeing, but Leo knew better than that.
She’s nae the sort to give up so easily. I’ll tell Tyler to keep an eye on her.
“I’ll be in the courtyard if ye need me,” she said over her shoulder as she turned the handle. “It doesnae seem like ye will, but if ye do?—”
“Violet, stop,” Leo barked.
“Stop? What do ye mean by that?”
“Daenae bother Beatrice. Daenae stalk her.”
“Ye’re getting paranoid, Brother,” Violet answered, the corner of her mouth quirking up. “I’m nae doin' anythin' wrong. Just goin' to get some fresh air.”
Beatrice couldn’t bring herself to venture into any of the places where she felt too exposed. The garden and the courtyard had become realms where Leo could find her with ease, turn herstomach and knees into jelly, then leave her to attend to his duties.
