Page 57 of A Highland Bride Taken

“She is already of marriageable age. Nay man wants an old bride.”

“Aye, Maither,” Mabel groaned with an eye roll.

Once their mother left, Skylar launched herself at her sisters with a cry.

“I thank ye for sparing me another lecture,” she whined. “Maither hasnae left me be since ye got married. Why did ye have to marry so early, Mabel?”

“‘Tis nae what I planned,” Mabel answered, her eyes straying to her husband, who was standing beside Laird Crawford, deep in conversation.

He truly was a very handsome man. His eyes met hers, and she reddened, lowering her head. When she lifted it to turn to her sisters, she saw Skylar watching her with a knowing grin.

No doubt the girl had arrived at the wrong conclusion.

“I wonder, darling sister,” Skylar started. “Have ye fallen in love with yer husband?”

“Fallen in love?” Mabel spluttered. “Surely ye must be joking.”

Desire? Aye.

Like? Maybe.

Love?

That was not what she felt for him.

“I am nae,” Skylar insisted. “‘Tis nae so hard to believe. He is verra handsome, and he seems to make ye happy. Ye’re only human, and nay one will fault ye for falling in love with him.”

“That doesnae mean I love him,” Mabel argued, shaking her head. “I respect him because he is good to me and the bairns, but ‘tis all I feel.”

Her eyes strayed to him again, and this time he was already looking at her. She lowered her eyes again and only turned when Skylar laughed.

“‘Tis so obvious that I wonder how ye dinnae ken it yet,” she teased. “Dinnae worry, ‘tis possible yer husband feels the same.”

“Stop teasing her, Skylar,” Scarlett scolded. “Dinnae make us drag ye to some eligible bachelors.”

“Ye wouldnae dare.”

“Oh, Laird Stuart,” Scarlett called out to the young laird who had only just assumed the title.

Laird Stuart turned to them, visibly pleased to have been acknowledged.

“Ye are a harridan, Scarlett.”

“Yet ye love me,” Scarlett intoned. Then, she turned to face the man. “I believe we havenae seen each other since the wedding.”

“Aye, Lady Crawford,” Laird Stuart said with a bow, taking her hand to place a kiss on it. “Ye look especially lovely this eve.”

“I thank ye for the compliment,” Scarlett answered with a nod. “I would like to introduce ye to me sister, Skylar.”

Mabel lightly pushed her sister forward, smiling as the conversation kicked off, with Scarlett playing chaperone.

Skylar would be terribly upset with them later, but Laird Stuart was handsome and charming, so their mother would be pacified if she decided to look in their direction.

More guests trooped over to greet her, all wanting to meet the new Lady Muir. However, while she smiled and conversed, she couldn’t ignore the feeling of being watched.

23

“Muir,” Kian Murray, Laird of Clan Crawford and Campbell’s closest friend, greeted, coming to hug him. “I feel like I havenae seen ye in ages.”