Page 18 of A Highland Bride Taken

She looked towards the high table and tried to remember how to walk when she found the Laird’s intense blue eyes trained on her. If he was surprised to see her, he didn’t show it. But he extended a hand towards her, inviting her to sit beside him.

Whispers rose as she sat in the indicated chair, but her only concern was the man beside her.

“Did ye find yer accommodations suitable?” he asked.

“Aye, Me Laird,” she answered. “I thank ye for yer hospitality.”

He nodded and resumed eating.

She took the time to admire his strong jaw and the fine picture he cut in the sunlight filtering through the large windows.

“Have ye decided how ye will convince yer parents of our marriage?” he asked.

She didn’t have an answer that wouldn’t be a lie. In truth, she hoped her parents would agree without probing simply because he asked. Because if they were to protest, she would have totell them about her involvement in Layla’s marriage. Even her presence here would spark questions she didn’t know how to answer.

“I was hoping we might discuss the bairns.”

“What about them?” the Laird asked, not looking at her.

“I wanted to know if ye’d found any clues as to who was in the boys’ room.”

The Laird stopped chewing and then resumed as if he didn’t hear what she had said.

“Me Laird?”

He ignored her still, but she noticed how his body tensed. Wisdom required her to be silent, and for once, she chose to listen to it.

She tucked into the food that was placed in front of her, but still watched him as he ate, her eyes narrowing on his lips as he sipped from his goblet.

Her mind flashed back to the almost kiss in his study, and she couldn’t help but wonder what a full kiss would have been like. Would he have been gentle, or would he have been forceful?

She let her eyes roam over his face, flushing when she found his eyes on her. His mouth twisted into a frown, but before he could say anything, she stood up quickly.

She decided to visit the boys, since there would no longer be restrictions on her visits as she would be married to him.

The thought made her giddy with joy. Her freedom to be with the boys, not the marriage.

She found them picking at their meal with dour expressions, but their faces lit up as soon as they saw her.

“Mabel!” Ollie cried.

“How are ye?” she asked, giving them each a kiss on the head.

They shook their heads. But rather than sympathize and make them even sadder, she decided to bring them further out of their shell.

“Shall we go on an adventure today?” she suggested.

They perked up at that. Layla had mentioned in her letters that the boys had a curious side; as such, an adventure would be the necessary thing to lift their spirits.

“An adventure?” Connor echoed.

He was still the most withdrawn of the two, but with time, he would learn to trust her.

“Aye,” she answered. “Would ye like to go out and play games?”

The boys exchanged a hesitant look and then nodded, which caused her to break out into a smile. This would be the first time they had left their room in a week, and she was glad for the progress they were making.

She chattered as they went, hand in hand, and she was glad to see some light return to their eyes. They were about to step into the courtyard when they were stopped by an austere-looking woman.