Page 7 of The Highlander’s Fake Wife (Legacy of Highland Lairds #4)

A s expected, his council erupted in a flurry of questions, concerns, and minor outrage. Arthur had learned long ago to let the older men have their moment of chaos, as it made it far easier to rein them back in with an unreadable look from their laird.

And it was the same here, as eventually, his council quieted down, looking as sheepish as a child caught red-handed with sticky scones smeared across their faces. The only one he couldn’t control, of course, was his mother. Who, understandably, looked as taken aback as the rest of their kin.

“Aye, Arthur?” she inquired, looking rather dubious at the claim.

“Ye pair decided on that awful quick.” She gave a glance Olivia’s way, and Arthur wondered if, perhaps, his wee little selkie would crack under the pressure.

But to her credit, Olivia offered a beaming smile in return, going as far as to free her her hand from his and wrap it around his arm instead.

“I’m sorry we didnae tell ye right away,” Olivia apologized sheepishly.

“There was so much that happened last night; we thought it’d be best to tell ye once I had a good night’s sleep.

” Her gaze trailed up to Arthur’s, the lovey-dovey glow in her eyes somewhat diminished by the obvious disdain she held for being forced to lie.

“It was my decision to do so Mam,” Arthur insisted, deciding to offer a bit of support to his partner in crime. “A lot had been spoken of during our ride home, and I said we needed a moment o’peace to speak it out properly.”

Olivia’s expression softened, clearly grateful he’d spoken up for her. Though, that quickly flipped to repressed outrage as he continued on.

“Aye; my wee selkie was so very grateful to have been saved, and she couldnae help but have feelings right away. She was so flustered during our ride, I had to make sure she was thinking straight before we announced it!” He repressed the urge to laugh as Olivia squinted her eyes at him, brow wobbling as she fought not to scowl.

“Of course, m’eudail! ” she replied, voice oozing with love and the barest hint of contempt.

“But ye can hardly blame me; the moment ye pulled me from that tarn, why, the look on yer face took me aback!” She cozied up to his arm further, eyelashes fluttering as her innocent grin held an air of mischief beneath it.

“I never though the enemy laird of me clan could look so–so smitten! He wrapped me in his cloak an’ arms and stayed up all night to ensure I was well–aye, ye can hardly blame me fer falling as quickly in love as I have. ”

She twittered out a girlish laugh, easily swaying the council to her side as they, too, joined her in her revelry. Arthur fought to keep his own smile from curling, leaning down to whisper in her ear. “Smitten, was I?”

Olivia’s chin tilted, acting as if she’d just heard him whisper sweet nothings to her. “Aye; if I must play the part o’lovesickness, so must ye. Grateful as I am, I will not be made a fool fer yer entertainment, m’laird.”

Arthur allowed himself a chuckle, delighted at how venomously she’d spat out his title.

The sudden urge to throw her over his shoulders and take her to bed nearly won out, and he fought to ignore the rise against his trousers.

A goddess of the sea, indeed; he would not be tempted to try and tame such a force of nature.

For his sake, and for the sake of her future.

“Ye were right to put a ‘no touching’ rule in our deal,” he mumbled disappointedly under his breath.

Olivia stood patiently–lovingly–by the laird’s side as they were bombarded with questions, particularly ones pertaining to the wedding. She had been nervous about being interrogated due to her lineage, but Laird MacDonnell had quickly put his council at ease from the start.

There was no chance of betrayal from Olivia’s side, especially after how her own kin had treated her. Still, an air of caution lingered in the council room, even as they excitedly discussed plans for the ceremony and the future of their heirs.

“I think ye can slip out, now,” The laird whispered quietly into her ear. “They’re gonna be talkin’ in circles for hours.”

Olivia nodded, relieved she no longer had to put up an act. With a curtsy toward the council and her hand back in Elspeth’s, she excused herself and did her best to walk calmly toward the door. Once it closed behind the, she exhaled loudly, squeezing Elspeth’s hand for a bit of support.

“Aye, I know the feeling, love.” Elspeth sighed just as loudly as Olivia had, giving her hand a reassuring pat.

“They seem rather intimidating, but they’re all nothing but chatter.

It’s me son that usually has to take action.

” She paused, giving Olivia a bemused look.

“Ye really meant all o’that in there, then?

Having feelings for me son, and all that? ”

Ooh, but Olivia was going to give the laird such an earful for all the lies she had to tell today.

“I…know it may seem rather quick, but we had a bit of time to really…talk, while we traveled back here.” She took in a gentle breath, unable to keep eye-contact with Elspeth for much longer.

“An…truth be told, yer son has offered to help me find me own maither as well.”

“He did?”

Olivia nodded. “He’s done a great deal for me so far, and–and it’s hard not to feel something over that.”

Elspeth’s expression softened. “I can understand that. ‘Tis similar to how his faither charmed me–amazing how quick trouble can find ye in the highlands.”

“Aye?”

Elspeth nodded, chuckling light as she got a faraway look in her warm, brown eyes.

“Aye. Though, he’s the one that got me in trouble, what with his huntin’ snare.

Had me hangin’ upside down fer an’ hour, he did!

” Her laughter turned more vibrant, filling Olivia’s chest with longing adoration.

“Aye…I dinnae let him live that down. Not even on his death bed.”

Olivia’s heart fluttered in her chest. “I’m sorry.”

“Och, nay, sweetness. Was so long ago, now,” Elspeth insisted, though her eyes took on a somewhat misty appearance. She freed her hands and wiped her face, a wobbling laughter escaping her chest.

“Gracious me! I still get so sentimental…but, he died just how he wanted, love. Protectin’ his kin and land; ‘tis the sign of a great laird, being willing to lay yer life on the line like that.”

Same as Olivia’s own father.

“At least he was there for the birth of his children,” Elspeth went on. “I woulda boxed his ears if he werenae there! Havin’ twins, all on me own–och, the man woulda never lived it down.”

“Oh!” Olivia exclaimed, happy to finally have gotten confirmation. “Then, Flora and the laird…”

“Arthur, aye,” Elspeth beamed. “Born practically on the dot, though Arthur will never admit that his sweet sister came a few moments before him.”

“Aye; I’ll remember to remind him now and then,” Olivia giggled.

“Ye do, ye do!” Elspeth laughed, the pair starting down the halls and back to the dining room.

“I think yer just what he needs, love, and I’m glad ye think so as well.

He’s the pride an’ joy of me life–he an’ his sister, a’course–but that boy was an hellion when he were young.

It’d be nice, having such a beautiful woman to keep him in line. ”

Olivia couldn’t help but blush furiously. “I’ll do me best, m’lady.”

“I ken ye will. And it’s ‘Mam’ to ye--ladyship’s orders.

” Elspeth glanced around the dining room, speaking almost to herself at this point.

“I suppose Flora’s back at to library, what with her husband out on patrol–oh, Olivia!

” She turned to face her, eyes alight with a brilliant idea.

“You should go an’ find company with Flora.

I’m sure she’d love to show ye round the keep. ”

“Oh, I daenae want to impose–”

“Nay, she needs a wee bit o’ promtin’ to make new friends,” Elspeth insisted.

“And I think to pair of yer’ll get along famously.

Go on, now; it’s out that door over there and off to the left.

Keep following to hall until ye pass a large, stained glass window overlookin’ the sea.

There should be a large door just across the way from it. ”

Not seeing much of a choice in the matter, Olivia simply nodded in agreement.

“Off with ye, then!” Elspeth gave her a reassuring pat on the back–and somewhat of a forceful shove forward–and Olivia stumbled across the dining room, left to navigate the castle at her own accord.

The instructions were simple enough, thankfully, and after a few minutes of walking, she came across the very stained glass window spoken of before.

It was a beautiful depiction of the keep itself, mounted on a pile of glittering rocks while a myriad of blues and greens illustrated the tumbling sea.

Deep below the surface swam a number of creatures, one of which looked in particular like a pair of seals. In fact, a few more appeared to be sunbathing on the beaches, with a beautiful, red-haired woman lounging beside them, covered in nothing but a seal’s skin of her own.

“Well, I see where the nickname came about,” Olivia said to no one in particular.

“Nickname?”

Olivia bit back a startled yelp, spinning around to see a pair of doors cracked open across the way, Flora’s silhouette standing just beneath them.

She held a number of tomes tucked beneath her arm, curiously staring at Olivia for further explanation.

“A-Ah, Flora.” Olivia offered a polite curtsy, to which the laird’s sister quickly shook her head.

“Nay, none o’that.” She stood nervously behind the door, wrapping her other arm around her stack of books while visibly biting her lip. “After all, I should curtsy back to ye, shouldnae I? Being me braither’s bethrothed and all.”

“Och, nay, Flora,” Olivia insisted. “Ye daenae need to do any of that, either.” Her brow furrowed slightly; how many times had she said that in such a short span of time?

Shaking her head, she moved to approach Flora, injecting as much warmth into her voice as she could manage. “The window–the glass is quite pretty."

Flora nodded, daring to slip a portion of her body out from behind the library’s door. “Aye, isnae it? ‘Twas ordered by me faither–stories of selkies are some of our Mam’s favorites.”

“Are they?”

Again, Flora nodded. “There’s a touch of a rumor–and old legend, about the beaches ‘round here. Some kin say ‘twas a prime meeting spot for selkies, what wit all the seals that tend to appear. Young MacDonnell lads would spend days out there in tents, hoping to catch one changing so they could take her seal’s coat.”

“I assume all they caught were a cold and sandy trousers?” Olivia laughed.

A small flutter of giggles escaped Flora’s mouth; it was like listening to a mouse gently squeak inside a church steeple. “Aye, I suppose so!” The pair continued laughing between themselves, the laird’s sister looking a touch more relaxed than when Olivia had first met her.

“Ah–not to bother ye,” Olivia began. “But yer maither said ye might be willin’ to give me a tour ‘round the keep?”

“Oh…” Flora glanced at her armful of books with an almost longing stare.

“B-but, ‘tis alright if ye cannae!” Olivia added hastily. “I’m perfectly capable o’ exporling on me own, if yer busy!”

A beat passed between them, but eventually, Flora shook her head. “Nay; that wouldnae be very generous of me as yer hostess. Give me a moment to put these back, and I’ll be happy to give ye the tour.”

Olivia nodded, feeling somewhat guilty as the woman slipped back behind the doors.

She certainly seemed to have preferred to spend her days within the cozy warmth of the library, and not parading a stranger about the blustery cold of the keep.

Still, Olivia couldn’t help but feel somewhat relieved for the company.

The laird could swear her safety all he wanted, but it felt better to be in the company of a high-ranking kinswoman.

No one here would dare try anything under Flora’s watchful gaze.

She hoped, at any rate.