Page 77 of The Laird’s Lost Wife

Hunter bit back a sigh, shaking his head. “And I didnae mean to snap at ye. But this is me keep, Evander. I daenae need ye to cause trouble, talking about heirs.”

“Of course. But it’s something Skye is concerned about, too.”

“Then let Skye speak to me about it.”

Evander nodded again, and the two men made their way to the dining room.

Sure enough, Helena had a decent-looking spread set out on the smaller table. Bread, cheese, meats of all kinds—mostly cold—bowls of fruit, and of course, wine. Lady Pilbury sat in a chair at the head of the table, looking tired, and Daphne stood behind her.

At once, Daphne’s eyes met Hunter’s, as if she’d been waiting for him. She averted her gaze straight away, of course.

“This is Lady Pilbury,” Helena announced. “And this is Daphne and her wee daughter, Willow.”

“Daughter?” Skye echoed, frowning. “Where?”

On cue, a small, tangled mess of hair poked out from under the table. Willow beamed up at them, and River peered out under her chin.

Daphne reddened. “Willow! I am sorry, I told her to sit down.”

“Daenae worry,” Skye responded, pulling out a chair and plopping down onto it. “She’s a bairn, and we all ken what bairns are like. Lady Pilbury, it’s good to put a name to a face. Me mother speaks highly of ye.”

Lady Pilbury inclined her head. “She’s spoken often of you too, my dear. She adores you and your brother. As a mother myself, I understand the importance of having good, reliable children.”

Skye gave a faint smile. Then her gaze landed on Daphne. She paused, narrowing her eyes.

Hunter held his breath.

“Ye look familiar,” she murmured. “Are ye a Tulloch?”

Daphne stiffened. “I’d rather nae speak of me family more than I must.”

There was a moment of silence.

Skye tilted her head, obviously deciding how to respond. Eventually, she nodded. “I understand. Well, how are ye enjoying yer stay, then? Sit down, all of ye. I didnae travel this far to have ye all hovering around me in a nervous circle.”

Lady Pilbury chuckled. “I can tell that you are Helena’s daughter, my dear.”

Skye grinned wickedly. “Let’s eat.”

About an hour after they’d arrived, Skye announced that she and Evander would retire to bed. Lady Pilbury was already yawning, heavy-eyed with exhaustion, and Willow had been sent to bed too, her baby fox in tow.

Skye and Evander left, with Daphne trailing behind them. Hunter made to follow, but before he could, his sister seized his arm and towed him away.

“So, Daphne Tulloch, eh?” she breathed. “I ken her sister. Is she staying here for long?”

“I have nay idea.”

She shot him a pointed look. “She’s beautiful.”

“Is she? I’ve nae noticed,” he lied.

She stopped, narrowing her eyes at him. “What’s going on between ye two, then?”

He flinched. “Nothing. Nothing is going on between the two of us.”

She folded her arms and pursed her lips. “So ye say. Ye are a bad liar, Hunter. Ye always were.”

“Enough, lass.”