Page 37 of Highlander’s Forbidden Fruit

“What have ye got in yer mind, lass?” he asked after a few bars.

“Why’d ye think that?”

“Because I ken ye, and ye dinnae smile like the Devil’s minx unless ye have something brewing in that bonny head of yers.”

Evanna laughed. She was enjoying herself. They hadn’t had a civil conversation in years. This was as close as they were going to get to being friendly, and she was going to make it last as long as she possibly could.

“I do have a proposition for ye.”

“I’m listening.”

“I need ye to help me convince Da that John Winchester is a suitable husband for me.”

There was a moment of silence in which the music engulfed them. It felt like they were the only two people in the world. Sounds and sights tried to reach them, but they couldn’t penetrate the bubble that surrounded them. Something momentous was happening. They could both feel it, but neither could put a finger on exactly what it was that had changed; they only knew that it had changed forever.

Aleck took a few moments to consider. Evanna saw that he was thinking hard and long. She didn’t understand why he would be so reluctant. In a fell swoop, he’d get what he’d always wanted—Evanna married without scandal and far enough away in England to not be a bother.

After what felt like an age, Aleck nodded.

“I’ll help ye.”

“Thank ye, Aleck. Da holds you in the highest esteem. I sincerely mean that. If yer by my side, he’ll see what makes John wonderful and not the fact that he’s English.”

The song ended and Evanna and Aleck were forced to part. “Tomorrow after church, we’ll go for a ride to the tenants. We can discuss everything then.”

Aleck nodded, his jaw clenched tight. No sooner had they parted than Isla Graham slid between them like a human wall.

“Give us a turn, eh?” she said to Evanna, none too sweetly. Her hand slid protectively around Aleck’s arm. With her other, she played with the blue ribbon in her hair. “Yer dress is real bonny. I’d like something like that for me wedding day.” She smiled up at Aleck, who was looking at the floor in embarrassment. “Mayhap ye could make it a wedding present?”

“Isla.” Aleck warned.

“Is naught too much to ask after ye served the Laird all these years. She can well afford another, I’m sure. Can ye nae, Lady Evanna?”

Evanna wanted to be surprised by the uncouth behavior of the girl from Aberdeen, but not long ago she had been quite the same. Not as crass as asking for the dress off of someone’s back, but she had needed an education which Isla might not ever get.

“I’m sure the seamstress in Inverness is more than up to the task of making something similar.”

“If ye say so,” Isla shrugged. “Let’s dance!” she squealed at Aleck and dragged him a few feet away as the music started.

“May I get a dance now?” Laird MacLeod had descended from the high table. Evanna laughed and let him lead her. “Ye and Aleck make a fetching pair,” he commented.

Evanna rolled her eyes. It wasn’t that he loved Aleck best and thought him most suitable. Laird MacLeod’s dreams would come true if Evanna chose a Scot for a husband. It was likely he’d pair her with anyone, even Joseph Algee, before he would consent to her marriage to an Englishman.

“Too bad he’s getting married to Isla Graham.”

“He’s what?” Laird MacLeod frowned at the pair dancing on the other side of the hall. “I thought he was in it for a bit of slap and tickle. Didnae think he was fool enough to propose to a chit of a girl like Isla Graham.”

“Ach, she’s nae all bad. She has a keen sense of fashion.”

“Dinnae they all?” He wasn’t impressed. “I’d always thought the two of ye were fond of each other.”

“We fought all the time. How did ye get fondness from that?” She laughed.

“Yer Ma and I used to fight all the time,” he said quietly. “Didnae make us any less fond of each other.”

Evanna stopped smiling. Laird MacLeod had never willingly talked about Mary before. Yes, people had mentioned her once or twice, but he had never been the one to introduce her in conversation. He must have taken Evanna’s absence to heart for him to be talking of Mary.

“Lord and Lady Ashby told me ye dueled for her.”