Page 59 of A Highland Bride Taken

“Ye’re smiling,” Kian scoffed. “Ye must tell me the tale.”

“I would rather keep such details to meself,” Campbell quipped, swiping a tankard of ale from a passing tray.

Kian did the same and took a sip, making a face.

“Nae everyone makes good brews, Crawford,” Campbell huffed.

“Forgive me refined palate,” Kian said smugly. “‘Tis been a while since I have had ale.”

As the owner of one of the largest whiskey distilleries in the Highlands, Kian no doubt had not tried a drink of lesser quality, and he did not even bother to hide his pride in his hard-won success. The Crawford family business had expanded under his leadership, and it was a point of pride for Campbell as well.

Notorious in business but fair in judgment, Kian was feared around the Highlands, almost as feared as Campbell. The other clans wanted to be associated with such a prosperous clan, hence their constant efforts to curry favor with him.

His alliance with Clan MacLennan had surprised even Campbell, but he knew his friend did not do anything without considering the risks carefully.

No doubt, MacLennan was the only clan that did not have designs on his family business, yet one had to wonder.

“Ye never told me why ye married Lady Scarlett,” Campbell pointed out.

Kian made a face, as if he had tasted something sour, and took a long swig of his ale.

“I dinnae want to speak of it,” he answered coldly.

“Does she nae please ye?”

“Dinnae make me speak of it, Muir,” he warned. “Me marriage is none of yer business.”

“Yet ye so gladly speak of mine.”

“Only because ye need guidance and I am surprised, is all,” Kian muttered. “Me wife’s sister is the more quiet of the bunch. Timid, if ye will. Yet she so bravely married ye and hasnae run from ye. ‘Tis strange.”

“Nae as strange as yer wife staying with ye,” Campbell retorted.

They grinned and watched the party.

Campbell knew he had made the right decision by hosting the cèilidh. The boys were happily playing with Poppy and other children from the clan, and even his wife looked…

He frowned deeply as he watched her converse with another laird who was struggling to keep his eyes off her bosom.

Damn that dress.

“Ye seem taken with yer new wife,” Kian noted, drawing his attention.

“I dinnae ken what ye mean,” Campbell muttered with a frown, trying but failing to keep his eyes off his wife.

Kian shot him a knowing smile and turned to look at her.

“I can see why ye are taken with her,” he continued. “She is bonny. Ye’re nae the only one who can see that. I just have never seen ye watch a woman so intensely.”

And that was the reason for Campbell’s irritation.

His wife had been getting attention from his clansmen and even guests from other clans, and he did not like how their eyes lingered longer than was proper on her cleavage.

When he had ordered the accursed dress, he had expected it to ease his wife’s troubles and make her happy. It was to be a beautiful design as befitted her station, not tempt every man who looked her way. He had not expected it to be the cause of the headache that was building between his temples.

“Ye look like ye’re going to kill Laird Fraser soon,” Kian snorted. “I would advise ye to stay yer hand. He is a powerful man, and ye dinnae want a war with him. I dinnae see meself riding into battle with ye; I am much too busy as it is.”

Yes, but Campbell was damn near close to forgetting that fact.