Page 66 of Taken By the Savage Highlander

“As you can see,” Nicolas said when the silence stretched between them for a beat too long, “a marriage with confirmation of a child is no longer sufficient. The requirements to receive Lady Margo’s dowry, along with her inheritance, have changed.”

“This is a large change,” Cameron said without looking away from the new contract. “Lord Abbott is attemptin’ to stipulate that the money and the land can only be released to a son that Margo bears.”

“If you refer to the deeds to the lands, you will see that this inheritance had been intended for Lady Margo’s first son from the moment her dowry was created,” Nicolas said, the information sounding rehearsed. “Lord Abbott is simply enforcing the contract he created with his late wife.”

“I may be inclined to believe it if there werenae a clause that left Lord Abbott in control of the lands until the child is married,” Cameron said, walking over to the table and spreading the documents over the surface. “Ye cannae expect me to sign somethin’ like this so late in the evenin’ and without any witnesses.”

Nicolas made a noise at the back of his throat, without attempting to join Cameron in front of the documents. Cameron was not sure if it was because he had read them enough to know them or because he was trying to avoid further discussion.

“I would like me Council to have the opportunity to read through this proposal,” Cameron said, preparing himself for an argument. “Any discussion regarding Margo’s inheritance and dowry will happen publicly. This is no longer between just the two of us.”

Nicolas shifted, finally coming to stand at Cameron’s side. He looked through the window, looking as if he was having a debate Cameron could not hear. Finally, after staring at the moon for a moment too long, Nicolas said, “I will inform Lord Abbott of your conditions, then. We will be in touch shortly.”

He gave a sharp nod of his head before beginning to grab the pages once more. Cameron’s hand darted out, his grip on Nicolas’s wrist tight enough to make his bone creak. “Ye will leave me with these documents. I ken ye arenae foolish enough to have only one copy of the deeds.”

“Of course, Laird MacLeod,” Nicolas said, his voice tight yet placating. “You should take some time to familiarize yourself with the new conditions. It will save everyone time when we meet again.”

“Aye,” Cameron growled, releasing the man after another beat. “I will arrange the meeting and write to Lord Abbott.”

“I will be sure to inform him when I return,” Nicolas said, wiping down the front of his coat as he straightened his shoulders once more. “He appreciates your cooperation in this matter.”

Cameron stood there, unmoving. He watched as Nicolas left the meeting room with the last bit of his dignity. The man’s departure was even stranger than his sudden appearance. Was this not a meeting of utmost importance? Why else would Lord Abbott send someone to Scotland?

I must find Margo. I daenae like any of this.

“I will be speaking with my husband about interrupting couples when they’re dancing,” Marian said, pushing a glass of wine into Margo’s hands.

The red liquid swirled around the crystal as Margo’s fingers wrapped around the stem. She sipped the bitter liquid, enjoying the musicians’ slowing tempo. Marian, Eleanor, and Anna all acted as if Lachlan taking Cameron away was the worst thing a person could have done. Margo might have been disappointed when Lachlan pulled her husband away, but she was enjoying every other aspect of the evening.

It was difficult for anything to bring her mood down, even though dancing with Cameron had been the most memorable part of her night.

“I cannot fault the men for wanting to duck away,” Margo said as warmth spread from her chest through her limbs. “They tolerated the dancing and politeness long enough.”

“But he should have seen how much you were enjoying yourself and left you be,” Marian sighed, sinking into a chair dramatically. “I was surprised to see that Cameron truly knew how to dance.”

“I was as well,” Eleanor said, something wistful in her tone. “Now I hope even more that whoever I marry knows how to dance.”

“I would argue that your sister got incredibly lucky with her husband,” Anna said, sounding exhausted. “But perhaps you will be just as lucky.”

“You look dead on your feet,” Marian said when Anna punctuated her words with a yawn. She passed her mostly empty wine glass to Eleanor before standing once more. “I will walk you to your quarters since Hugh is with the men in the Solar.”

“You do not have to do all that,” Anna said, though she didn’t swat Marian away when the other woman grabbed onto her elbow. “I can find my way back on my own.”

“Of course you can,” Marian said. “But perhaps I’m feeling a bit tired as well.” She looked between Margo and Eleanor then. “I hope you will excuse us both.”

“I’m beginning to feel tired as well,” Eleanor said, looking at the wine as if she were waiting to get permission to taste it. “It has been a long night.”

“It has been long, but I have really enjoyed myself,” Margo said, giving Eleanor a single nod, signaling she could sample the liquid. When Margo met Marian’s eyes once more, she said, “You have been an excellent hostess tonight. Your rest is well earned.”

“Yours will be as well,” Marian said with a little twinkle in her eye. “Perhaps when you get back to Castle MacLeod, you can write me a letter and tell me everything you got up to after I went to bed.”

“Behave!” Margo said, her cheeks going a bit pink. Despite her protests, though, Margo knew that it was nice to have a friend she could talk to about sensitive matters.

“I will behave just as well as you do,” Marian said as her parting words.

She turned, dragging Anna along with her. The two women moved slowly through the thinning crowd, as if the excitement of the day now weighed heavily on their bones. Margo knew she should be just as tired, but her entire body was buzzing with the prospect of seeing Cameron once more.

His words on the dance floor still echoed in her mind. A shiver of anticipation ran up her spine at the prospect of stealing away into his room after retiring for the night. It was as if he had ignited a part of her she had not known was there.