Page 80 of A Highland Bride Taken

Nonetheless, her smile had him feeling giddy as he made his way down to the courtyard to await his family.

“Are ye excited, boys?” Campbell asked when they were finally in the village, staring at the elaborately decorated streets.

The boys had been chattering excitedly on the short walk to the surrounding village, but they fell silent when they finally reached the village square.

They didn’t answer, but were looking around nervously. He and his wife shared a look and smiled.

“Is it scary?” Mabel asked them, and they nodded.

“There are so many people,” Connor mumbled.

“Ye cannae get lost,” Campbell told them with a nod. “If ye get lost, ye can ask any of the villagers, and they will take ye back to the castle. Or ye can just return here, and I will find ye.”

“Me Laird!” he heard someone call, and turned to find Magnus approaching with his family.

“Magnus.”

“Me Lady,” Magnus greeted with a bow. “I am glad to see ye here.”

Mabel smiled and nodded her greeting.

“Elspeth,” Campbell greeted. “Poppy. How are ye?”

“We are well, Me Laird.” Elspeth smiled. “I am glad to see ye finally attending a fair. I thought ye were permanently trapped in yer castle like a mythical creature.”

Campbell smiled at her jest.

She was the only one who teased him despite how others quivered at the sight of him, and that was one of the things that had endeared her to Magnus. Campbell had teased his man-at-arms endlessly for falling in love and marrying her, but their love was beautiful to witness.

“Uncle Campbell?” Poppy called.

“Aye, Poppy mine,” he answered.

“Who are those boys?” she asked, looking down at Ollie and Connor from her father’s arms.

Campbell brought the boys closer as Magnus lowered her to the ground. They were a head shorter than her and watched her curiously.

The adults shared a look and smiled.

“Connor, Ollie, this is Poppy,” he introduced. “Poppy, these are me boys.”

“Good day, Connor, Ollie,” Poppy greeted. “Me name’s Poppy.”

“‘Tis nice to meet ye, Poppy,” Connor told her. “Ye are verra bonny.”

Magnus guffawed while the women smiled fondly.

It seemed that Connor was more confident around women.

“Yer dress is bonny,” Ollie noted, eyeing the garment as though it offended him. “But can ye run? Ye dinnae look comfortable.”

This time, Mabel laughed while Poppy pouted and folded her arms.

“That isnae verra nice, Ollie.” She frowned. “Me faither says that ye have to be nice to lassies. If ye arenae nice, I willnae be yer friend.”

Ollie rushed forward with a sad look. “I am nice,” he insisted. “I can be nice. I am sorry if I hurt ye.”

Poppy continued to pout for only a second longer before she shrugged her shoulders.