Page 30 of Highlander’s Forbidden Fruit

“His Ma’s sick.”

“His Ma’s in Inverness?”

“Aye.”

“What for? I thought she lived here.”

“She went to visit her sister.”

“She has a sister in Inverness?”

“Aye, and a brother in Aberdeen, but they arenae on speaking terms.”

“Then why’d ye mention it?”

“Just to say it’s lucky it’s Inverness and nae Aberdeen, which is much further away.”

“Lucky for whom?”

“Stevie of course. Cannae imagine traveling on horseback to Aberdeen in this cold.”

“Damn Stevie and damn Aberdeen! Who’s going to play the bagpipe for the feast? My daughter is coming back after nine months in England. We must have bagpipes.”

Aleck coughed to disguise the bark of laughter that had escaped him. It had been like this for a fortnight or so. Ever since the letter had arrived announcing Evanna’s imminent return to Glenlivet, Laird Julius MacLeod had been making preparations much like a mother hen clucking and pecking her brood in form.

Nothing was good enough. The chambers needed to be aired out twice every day, the floors that had been polished only two days ago were deemed unsatisfactory and polished again. A whole new wardrobe had been ordered and a beautiful necklace of sapphires and diamonds commissioned.

Aleck suspected Laird MacLeod was feeling a bit self-conscious. The daughter that had known nothing but this castle and Glenlivet was now coming back after visiting London, Paris, and Venice. In his mind’s eye, the castle would be found wanting, and, as an extension of his castle, him.

“A gypsy troop has made camp a few miles from town. I can go see if someone among them can play the pipes,” Aleck suggested.

“It won’t be half as good as Stevie,” Laird Julius grumbled.

“Aye, but it willnae be drums.” Aleck spread his hands to take in the drums.

“Yeesh.” Laird MacLeod grimaced. “True enough. Go and see what ye can do, lad.” He patted Aleck’s shoulder. “Take these away, oaf!” he ordered Royce.

“Aye, my Laird.” Royce hopped to it, throwing a grateful nod at Aleck.

Walking through the flurry of activity in the great hall, Aleck was grateful to make it outside where the air was less electric. Everyone was suffering from Evanna fever; they could talk of little else. Even Aleck was looking forward to her return. Nine months had felt like an eternity. He was also relieved that she’d be coming home before Christmas. Though he had said nothing, Aleck knew Laird MacLeod had been worried about spending the holiday without his daughter.

Aleck told himself he was happy Evanna was coming home for Laird MacLeod’s sake. But a part of him knew this wasn’t true. There had been no news of Evanna finding a husband, nor any engagement announcements. This gave him hope, but it was a hope he did not cultivate or give much notice too.

“Aleck!”

He groaned at the sound of his name. Knowing full well who it was, and try as he might to avoid her, he turned around to face Isla Graham, Lockard’s granddaughter.

Barely out of her nappies, Isla was tall with a head full of red hair. She was barely fifteen but had come into her breasts early so considered herself a woman. Aleck had had a job avoiding her since he’d arrived from London, and she’d taken a fancy to him. She was like a fly, always buzzing around him.

For his part, he’d given her no encouragement. Lockard was a right bastard without his granddaughter complicating things. If she were to go crying to him about some mistreatment, or he was to find them alone in a room, Lockard would drag him to the altar and no two ways about it. If it came between marriage to Isla or the hangman’s noose, Aleck would gladly dance the gallows jig than be tied to her for the rest of his miserable life.

“I heard yer going to town,” she said, her pale blue eyes dancing in her face. She wasn’t unattractive. Men around her stared at the picture she struck, and her animated hands were sure to catch the eye of the blind. Aleck, however, was immune to her charms. “May I come with you?”

“I’m going to the gypsy camp close to town. I dinnae intend to visit the shops.”

“Aye, but I could go with you, and you can leave me at the shops. I only have a lace to buy. My hair would look lovely in a satin blue lace, you ken?”

“I’m sorry, lass.” Aleck was not at all sorry. “I leave on the Laird’s business.”