Page 49 of Highlander’s Forbidden Fruit

“Looks grand.”

Evanna turned to find Vano leering at her dress.

The annoyance Evanna felt at the sight of him was unbearable. The man was a lecher, and all manners of unsavory, but he had Laird MacLeod’s patronage. Evanna had tried to tell her father in not so many words that she disliked his new bagpiper, but something would always come up. It had also not been lost on Evanna that Vano’s playing brought the Laird joy and calmed him down considerably. Evanna was torn between her need to get the man as far away from her home as possible and her father’s health and happiness.

“Shouldnae ye be in the kitchens getting yer supper now before the feast?” she asked instead of losing her cool.

“A man needs more sustenance than food, Lady Evanna.” He winked.

“I believe ye are right. I’ll tell my father to let ye go back to yer gypsy camp after the feast. Ye must miss yer folks.”

“You mistook my meaning.”

“Oh, I think I understood ye very well,” Evanna said sternly. “It’s ye who willfully misunderstand me. Yer a nomad; ye will nae stick around long. I expect yer camp will uproot and move on by spring.”

She must have hit the nail on the head because Vano looked disgruntled.

“Not all gypsies are nomads. Some have been known to stay on in places and sire great families.”

“Aye, many might. But yer not the kind to stay in one place, are ye Vano?”

Instead of flushing with shame, the man grinned with pride. “It is no crime for a man to have more than one woman.”

“It should be.”

“Come now,” Vano laughed. “Are you telling me you have not encouraged more than one suitor on your travels?”

“How dare you?” Evanna was so mad she nearly stabbed him with a butter knife. “I would never be so shameless as to consort with two men at a time. It is dishonorable and vile to betray the trust of those who love you.”

“You must be an angel dropped from heaven to be so sinless,” Vano scoffed.

“Nae.” Evanna lifted her chin in defiance. “I simply see no virtue in selfish behavior.”

Vano had more to say, but Mrs. Lane came to the rescue.

“I believe our guest has arrived.”

Evanna did not spare another glance at Vano and followed Mrs. Lane outside where Laird MacLeod was waiting with his men. He looked resigned more than anything else. Evanna spied Aleck among the waiting men. He flashed her a tight smile, and she could empathize with how he must be feeling. If she’d insulted someone of being a dishonorable rake, she would be apprehensive to meet them too. She wondered how John would feel meeting Aleck again. She hoped it would not start the visit on the wrong foot.

A carriage was winding up the road. It was quite handsome and large. The crest of the Earl of Winchelsea was painted upon its doors, a black knight’s helmet on a yellow field. Evanna waited, breathless, like everyone else, as the carriage pulled up to the front door. The butler opened the carriage door, and John stepped out, his blonde head reflecting the last of the days light.

Horror flooded Evanna as she realized a major faux pas was in the making. John Winchester could not speak to Laird MacLeod unless introductions were made. John, being the guest could not greet Laird MacLeod, and Laird MacLeod being of higher station could not introduce himself. Evanna would have to do so, but it was unheard of for a woman to boldly introduce her suitor to her father.

Yet there was no other solution. Biting the inside of her cheek, she was about to step forward when she saw Aleck take John by the hand.

“Welcome to Glenlivet, Mr. Winchester,” Aleck said, shaking John’s hand. “May I introduce ye to Laird Julius MacLeod?”

Evanna sighed with relief. Aleck had saved the day! She had to admit his gentlemanly manners and forethought were a refreshing surprise to her.

“Thank you for the invitation, Laird MacLeod,” John said, bowing his head slightly. “I have never had the pleasure of visiting Scotland, and I must say it has been a grievous error on my part to not pay this honor to our countries’ most beautiful lands sooner.”

“I trust ye found the journey pleasant enough?” Laird MacLeod said, his tone begrudgingly genial. “I ken it’s a long one.”

“It is long, yes, but I have traveled much further and found little beauty to show for it. Compared to the heat and dust of India, Scotland is a bed of beauty that refreshes the traveler at every turn.”

At the mention of beauty, he looked at Evanna meaningfully. Evanna flushed. That was bold of him. He was flirting with her in front of her father. She hadn’t expected him to forget propriety at such a crucial point, even when she had told him Laird MacLeod was reluctant to give his blessing to the union.

Laird MacLeod looked back at Evanna then at John, his face an unreadable mask. After a tense moment, in which Evanna thought she would pass out from anxiety, Laird MacLeod burst out laughing.