Page 75 of The Laird’s Lost Wife

Glancing over his shoulder, Hunter saw that his man-at-arms was frowning in Daphne’s direction.

“Oh, nothing,” he replied, as lightly as he could. “I think that our wee guest is avoiding me. She hasnae spoken to me in days.”

Magnus stiffened. “That’s impolite. I’ll speak to her.”

“No need to do that.”

“No need? Me Laird, she cannae disrespect ye.”

“Ye misunderstand me. She’s nae disrespecting me. She’s just… avoiding me.”

Magnus clenched his jaw, obviously displeased. “Ye daenae have to put up with this, me Laird.”

“Well, I cannae exactly force her to speak to me.”

Magnus looked as though he disagreed.

“I’m surprised,” he said. “Elspeth is serving her and says that she is a decent woman, for all she’s English.”

“She’s nae bloody English, Magnus! Does she sound English to ye?”

Magnus shrugged, turning away and hefting his sword. Their audience had mostly dispersed by now. “Ye want to finish our sparring?”

“I’d better get ready,” Hunter sighed. “Me sister is visiting today.”

“Ah, I heard of that. And yer cousin?”

“Nay, Creighton isnae coming. Nora is with child, again. They thought it better to stay. Besides, most lairds cannae risk leaving their keeps too often. I’ll have to see him another time.”

Magnus shot him a long, careful look. “Will ye be introducing Lady Skye to Daphne?”

Hunter didn’t meet his eyes, focusing on twirling his sword instead.

“I daenae see why nae,” he said casually, as if it didn’t matter much.

Magnus nodded but said nothing.

Dusk had fallen by the time Skye’s carriage rolled up the road toward the keep. The gates were locked, of course, but Hunter himself had stayed on guard, watching out for her. He gave the command to open the gates, and several horsemen in Bryden tartan galloped into the courtyard. The carriage came next, flanked by more armed men.

Hunter hurried down from his position on the wall, trying to swallow his excitement. Since Skye’s marriage, he’d hardly seen her. Her husband, Laird Bryden, was accompanying her, which made this visit more than a simple social call. No, it was a diplomatic visit now.

We cannae just have a normal family dinner, can we?

He reached the bottom of the winding stairs that led down from the wall and caught a glimpse of his mother standing by the castle door, beaming with excitement. He strode toward the carriage, and the door popped open just as he reached it.

A pale, elegant woman with crisp blue eyes and a mass of sleek dark hair poked her head out of the carriage. As soon as she caught sight of him, a smile split her face.

“Good day to ye, Brother.”

He crossed the space between them in several long strides and held up his arms to help her down. She neatly jumped down onto the paving and flung her arms around him.

“I’m so glad to see ye,” he whispered into her hair. “It was getting late, and I was afraid something had happened.”

“The journey’s nae to be sniffed at,” she responded, hugging him back. “I almost wanted to meet bandits or enemy soldiers, just to liven things up.”

He groaned. “God, daenae, lass.”

Laird Bryden clambered out of the carriage next. He was a tall, sturdy man. His black hair was pulled back from his face with a ribbon, but that didn’t quite stop it from falling into his eyes.