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Adele and Heather both nodded along to Sarah’s words, then paused and looked at one another, the smiles upon their faces spreading wider. “Clearly, though, that was not the case, was it?” Adele inquired with a chuckle.
Sarah shook her head.
“Did she say anything else?” Heather asked, setting down her teacup. “Any other suspicions?”
As much as Sarah willed it not to happen, she could feel heat creep into her face. She instantly dropped her gaze, unable to meet the other two women’s eyes. “Well, Christina said that after that initial suspicion did not prove true, she got the impression that perhaps Grandma Edie had called Keir to England to…” Mortification now burned in Sarah’s cheeks, and once more, she felt like sinking into a hole in the ground.
A warm chuckle drifted to her ears a moment before Heather’s hand settled upon hers, squeezing it gently. “There’s no need to be embarrassed, dear. ’Tis a wonderful story; one we will no doubt tell for generations.”
Sarah looked up and met her future mother-in-law’s gaze. What she saw there eased the tension in her shoulders and cooled the heat in her cheeks.
Adele nodded. “Quite true. Quite true. What else is life than a good story? And Edie always knew how to make them happen.” She grinned at Sarah. “Why do you think I instantly sent Keir to her? I knew she would find him the best match possible.” With a satisfied smile, she leaned back in her chair. “And she did.”
Sarah felt deeply warmed by Adele’s words, and yet she had to speak her mind. “How do you know?” Sarah wanted to be accepted and welcomed by these people; still, she wanted their respect to be real, based on something genuine. “We’ve only just met. You don’t… even know me.” A little apprehensively, her gaze drifted back and forth between Adele and Heather, and she felt relieved not to see their smiles waver.
“What you say is true,” Adele said, in agreement. “I may not know you.” Again, she leaned forward and met Sarah’s eyes. “Yet I know my grandson. He’s always been a good man, but when I look at him now, I see that you’ve made him an even better one.” Her brown eyes shone with warmth and affection. “That is all I need to know to be absolutely certain that you are the woman meant to be by his side.” She patted Sarah’s hand affectionately. “Everything else will come later. There’ll be plenty of time for us to get to know one another, dearest.”
Air rushed from Sarah’s lungs, accompanied by an odd chuckle that spoke of nervousness and disbelief alike. Indeed, Keir’s grandmother did remind her of Grandma Edie. Both were deeply affectionate people, honest and direct in their demeanor. And despite the distance between them, Sarah was no longer surprised that their friendship had survived to this day.
A wistful expression came to Adele’s eyes as she settled more comfortably in her chair, pulling up her blanket. “Oh, knowing what I know today, I would not hesitate to trust Edie with my life… but even more so with my heart.” She smiled deeply, a faraway look coming to her eyes, and Sarah suspected she was reliving those moments long ago when she had found her own perfect match. “I wish I could see her again,” Adele murmured, a glimmer of tears coming to her eyes. “It’s been an awfully long time.”
Sarah felt a heavy lump settle in her throat at the depth of friendship between Grandma Edie and her old friend, and she wondered if perhaps one day she would find herself in the same position, wishing to see Christina one last time. Would that happen? Now that she was to marry Keir and remain in Scotland, it seemed likely.
Before more could be said, a knock sounded upon the door, and Sarah saw Keir’s grandmother blink away the tears that had come to her eyes. “Not a moment of peace one can find in this castle,” she grumbled under her breath. Still, amusement made her smile before she called for the visitor to enter.
Sarah turned her head and saw three young men step into Lady Adele’s parlor. Two of them she knew to be of Keir’s family, while the other looked unfamiliar to her.
“Good day, Grandmother, Mother,” Keir’s brother Magnus exclaimed as he strode forward, running a hand through his brown curls. “I apologize for interrupting upon yer morning.” He glanced back at his cousin Hamish, then waved the other young man forward.
Sarah watched as Lady Adele’s gaze narrowed in surprise, a warm smile gracing her features. “Finnigan MacDrummond,” she exclaimed, a shrewd expression coming to her eyes. “Back so soon? Why is it, dear boy, that you cannot seem to stay with your own clan?” She cocked her head, eyeing him curiously. “This is about a lass, is it not?”
The young man’s jaw tensed instantly, his green eyes overshadowed with pain and an almost desperate longing. It echoed within Sarah’s heart, and looking at him now, she was almost certain that he was in love and unhappily so.
“Do not fret, Mr. MacDrummond,” Lady Adele chided him kindly. “Of course, you are always welcome here.” She smiled at her grandson. “Magnus, please try to cheer him up.”
Magnus grinned at his rather uncomfortable-looking friend, then nodded to his grandmother. “I shall do my best, Grandmother.” A moment later, the three men left, and the door closed behind them.
“Love is not always simple,” Heather remarked knowingly, another one of those looks passing between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law that gave Sarah felt a moment of envy, hoping that one day she would be just as close with them.
Lady Adele nodded. “Aye, Edie is right to aid it as she does, and no one will ever convince me otherwise.” Her gaze moved to Sarah. “You’re here, lass, because you were meant to be here. I have no doubt. You’re one of us now.” A sudden grin overtook her face, something wicked lurking in her eyes. “May Heaven help you.”
The two women laughed, and even Sarah felt laughter bubbling up in her throat. Indeed, she wanted them to be right. She wanted to belong here. What if she had not agreed to Grandma Edie’s ludicrous kidnapping scheme?
It was a thought that frightened Sarah, and so she refused to dwell upon it.
Chapter Thirty-Six
HEART TO HEART
Having a word with Kenna proved to be far from simple. After taking the girls to Eoghan and Bonnie, Keir searched most of the castle, and yet caught not even a glimpse of her. Oddly enough, he felt reminded of their childhood when she had hidden from him whenever he had upset her. Still, whether or not Kenna liked it, he needed to clear the air between them.
Crossing the courtyard, Keir came upon Magnus and Hamish, once again accompanied by Finn MacDrummond. Keir grinned. “I heard ye only just left?” he teased, wondering about the tight expression upon the young man’s face. “If I didna know yer name, I’d pick ye for a MacKinnear.”
Magnus and Hamish laughed good-naturedly, and Hamish clasped a friendly hand upon Finn’s shoulder. “Dunna mind him,” he said, winking at Keir. “He only just now became betrothed and has been in a devilishly good mood ever since.”
Keir laughed; still, he did not miss the look of intrigue that came to Finn’s eyes, as though he wished to ask a question but did not dare.
“Let me ask ye, Finn,” he addressed the young man, seeking to distract him, “did ye see or hear anything odd on yer way to the coast?” He looked to his brother and cousin. “Did ye tell him?” The two of them nodded.
