Page 22 of Highlander's Wild Lass

Anthony mashed his lips together and stared at the old woman.

“Apologies, I’ll keep my mouth shut till ye finish.”

Anthony nodded. “Celestia nearly pummeled the man until I stopped her. But the man is tryin’ to undercut their business, apparently has been for years.”

Mrs. Duncan encouraged him to go on.

“That spurred Celestia to take on the business.”

There was a pause, Mrs. Duncan making sure Anthony was finished speaking. “Aye, that is good news. Ye seem to be gettin’ quite close to the young mistress. . .”

A knowing look passed between them.

“How much did Sebastian tell ye!” Anthony exclaimed.

Mrs. Duncan shrugged, a mischievous smile playing on her wide lips. “My nephew cannae keep anythin’ from me. Ye should ken that already.”

Anthony sighed heavily.

“Och, daenae be mad, he meant well by tellin’ me. I’m fond if the idea,” Mrs. Duncan said with an encouraging smile. “If ye do manage to tie that one down, ye will have yer hands full.”

“Aye, true enough,” he said, his lips tugged into a small smirk.

“Have ye asked her yet?”

“Aye, but she’s…very reluctant.”

“I daenae blame her—”

“That’s what Sebastian said too.”

“I daenae remember her bein’ fond of ye when ye were growin’ up,” Mrs. Duncan said. “Why are ye so set on her, when ye have every chief throwin’ their daughters at ye?”

Anthony leaned forward and rested his arms on the table. “Her family needs help.”

“To be sure. But do ye love her?”

“Love her?” he said, thinking back to the kiss they shared the other night. The one that he couldn’t get out of his head.

“Why else would ye marry her?”

“Ye ken it’s not that easy for a chief,” he muttered.

Mrs. Duncan snorted. “If it’s not a love match with Mistress McLean, then why do ye want her?”

“I told ye, to help her family.”

“Nay, what areyewantin’ to marry her for?” Mrs. Duncan pried.

“I just want to wed and be done with it. Eleanor will finally leave me alone about carryin’ on the Moore lineage.”

“Dash yer damned sister, just because she didnae marry for love doesnae mean ye cannae.”

Anthony sighed.

“If ye daenae have any interest in the young woman, then I daenae think ye would be spendin’ so much time with her.”

“What do ye mean?”