Page 9

C ampbell didn’t know what to expect when he had invited the lass’s parents, but the nervous wreck of a laird and lady were almost funny, if he were a man to find humor in such things.

He could see Mabel’s resemblance to her mother, and it irked him that he cared to notice something so trivial.

“We apologize for our daughter’s behavior, Laird Muir.

” Laird MacLennan cut a glare at his daughter, who stood to the side with her head bowed.

“The lass wasnae impulsive before now; ‘tis why we didnae keep a closer eye on her. But we’ve learned from our mistakes now. We are sorry for the inconvenience she posed for ye.”

“Stealing away like a thief, riding across the Highlands without yer maid or protection?” Lady MacLennan shrilled, turning to her daughter. “I never raised ye to be so thoughtless, Mabel. What was the business that had ye riding to Muir Castle without any care for yer safety?”

“Do ye nae ken how dangerous the Highlands are? Even men wouldnae dare do what ye did,” Laird MacLennan added. “Ye could have been hurt or worse.”

“Faither, Maither, I didnae mean to be so reckless. I had good reason to leave the way I did.” Mabel said, trying to defend herself.

“I didnae think of the foolishness of me decision, and the Laird made me see reason. He has been a most gracious host and most respectful. He assigned me a maid, and we havenae been alone together.”

Campbell knew she was lying to prevent her parents from accusing him, but he had been unprepared for it. A smile threatened to break out. He shot her a look that made her cheeks redden.

She no doubt remembered how alone they had been and how she had very nearly been ravished by him. If she were unaware of that fact, he would have to remind her again.

She met his eyes briefly and lowered her head again.

“And ye are proud to say it?” Lady MacLennan snapped. “Why did ye come here? What business do ye have with Laird Muir?”

Mabel worried her lip between her teeth, unsure whether or not to reveal the truth.

Campbell pitied her then. Perhaps he might have been hasty in his decision to invite her parents. It would have been easier to send her home with an escort.

“Are ye eloping?” Lady MacLennan gasped. “Is that why ye sneaked out?”

Mabel shook her head hastily. “Nay, Maither,” she answered. “I?—”

“What could possibly have been yer reason for such foolishness?” Laird MacLennan pressed.

“Faither, I?—”

“Do ye have any idea what something like this would do to yer marriage prospects?” Lady MacLennan snapped, interrupting her. “Who will marry ye now?”

Campbell felt irritation bubble beneath his skin as he watched Mabel shrink further into herself. He imagined it was the same thing she had experienced at home, which explained why she wasn’t aware of her charms and didn’t know how to wield them.

“Maither, if ye will just let me explain…”

“Is that how ye were taught to speak to me?” Lady MacLennan scowled. “How have I never seen this stubborn side of ye? When we return, ye will?—”

“Enough!” Campbell barked, tired of the one-sided barrage of words.

He had needed wisdom to be scolded into Mabel, but dimming her spirits hadn’t been his intention. The sight was painful to witness, and he chafed at it. An unexplainable urge to protect her rose inside him, causing his fists to tighten.

Laird and Lady MacLennan had raised her, yet they didn’t know anything about her courage and selflessness. Yes, she had been wrong in her approach, but her heart had been in the right place.

Her parents turned to him, chagrined, but his eyes were fixed on the lass, who now pressed deeper into the wall.

“We apologize for causing such a disgraceful scene in yer home, Laird Muir,” Laird MacLennan muttered. “We will be taking our leave now. We are sorry for whatever inconvenience she must have caused ye.”

“There is nay need for that, Laird MacLennan,” Campbell stated calmly, wanting them to hear his words and realize that he was not asking but informing them of his choice. “I have proposed to yer daughter, and I would like for us to be married quickly.”

Twin surprised looks met him, and he gave them time to process the news. They had just been berating their daughter for ruining her marriage prospects and obviously had not been expecting the news of an engagement.

“Ye accepted his proposal, Mabel?” Laird MacLennan asked.

Mabel nodded, unable to speak. She didn’t meet their eyes, and for a brief moment, Campbell began to wonder if she was already regretting agreeing to his proposal.

He frowned. Perhaps he should have asked her again, to see if it was truly what she wanted.

“Have ye compromised her?” Laird MacLennan asked suddenly, his eyes flashing with anger. “Is that why ye wish to marry her?”

“Nay, Faither,” Mabel answered.

“Silence, lass!” he yelled.

“Ye arenae to speak when the men are discussing, Mabel,” Lady MacLennan chided softly. “Did I nae teach ye that?”

Anger heated Campbell’s blood at that.

“Ye willnae disrespect me bride anymore,” he warned them with a glare.

“And ye will let her speak. I havenae compromised her, and I willnae tolerate any further questioning of her virtue. Ye raised her, so ye should ken her. She is as well behaved as a lady should be, and I shouldnae be the one to tell ye that.”

Laird and Lady MacLennan looked thoroughly scolded.

Campbell turned to Mabel, stunned by the look on her face. Gratitude radiated off her, potent as well as something else that he didn’t want to see.

“Speak then, Mabel,” Laird MacLennan urged, shattering the spell between them. “I will hear yer tale.”

When Mabel finally finished recounting her tale of how she had helped Layla elope with Aidan—although she hadn’t known at the time that he was the Laird’s brother—and as a result been named the godmother of their children, her parents’ faces reflected a maelstrom of emotions, from disappointment to wonder and then acceptance.

They shook their heads and sighed.

She had tried to keep her voice steady and firm as she spoke, aware of the Laird’s intense eyes on the side of her face.

She still hadn’t recovered from the emotions she had felt as he had defended her against her parents, and his words had left her breathless.

He had been so firm and powerful that her body had softened as she eyed him. He was so confident that all she had wanted to do was throw herself into his arms and hide.

She bit her lip as she awaited her parents’ response, sparing the Laird only the briefest of glances. She found his gaze on her still and felt her breath hitch.

When she had thought of marriage, she had felt nothing but apprehension because the suitors her parents had paraded her in front of her were nothing out of the ordinary. Their bravado was feigned, and none had stirred anything within her other than numbness.

But even before the Laird had said a word, one look from him had ignited flames underneath her skin and a warmth in her heart, which was threatening to burst now as she looked at him.

She knew without a doubt that she wanted to be his wife, and the certainty almost knocked the wind out of her. If her parents didn’t give their blessing, she would still stay with him. It would take an army to drag her back to the life she had lived before him.

“Maither, Faither,” she added, “I would verra much like to marry the Laird. I have never wanted anything as much. Dinnae take me away from him or me godchildren.”

Her words surprised them, she knew. She had never asked her parents for anything or shown any passion towards anything other than her books.

“Ye surprise me, Mabel,” Lady MacLennan murmured. “Ye have never…”

Tears shimmered in her eyes, and the smile she gave brought tears to Mabel’s eyes.

“I wish ye had told us about the children before leaving,” Laird MacLennan said quickly. “But I understand why ye had to leave the way ye did. Ye’re most noble, me daughter.”

Had he been standing, Mabel would have run into his arms.

“Ye will give us yer blessing?” she asked.

He nodded.

“How could we stop ye when ye seem happy with the match?” He smiled. “‘Tis better than we could have hoped for.”

She tried not to grimace at his words.

Her parents needed to learn not to voice all of their thoughts, but until then, she was happy her father had at least agreed to the marriage. Her one fear evaporated.

She smiled and turned to the Laird, who had a calm look on his face.

“We shall make the arrangements quickly then, as I intend to be married in a few days,” he announced. “Until then, ye may stay as guests in me castle.”

They nodded, voicing no objections.

It was a better match than Mabel could have hoped for, and now that it was finalized, uncertainty burned in her belly. But she swallowed the bitter emotion down.

“Well,” Laird MacLennan said, “we would like verra much to meet the boys who have so captured me daughter’s heart. If ye will allow it, Laird Muir.”

“I see nay reason nae to,” the Laird answered. “If ye will excuse me, I must begin the preparations for the ceremony.”

Mabel watched him leave. She wanted to thank him for defending her the way he had, but he hadn’t even spared a glance when he stepped out of the room.

Her heart sank into her stomach, but she couldn’t afford to show her disappointment.

“Well, Mabel, take us to the bairns.”

“Aye, Maither.”