Page 8 of The Highlander’s Fake Wife (Legacy of Highland Lairds #4)

H aving arrived in the keep at the dead of night, Olivia hadn’t the chance to truly take the sights properly.

Much of the castle’s interior was decorated to reflect various treasures found along the shoreline.

Driftwood had been carved as painting frames or simply left naturally to be displayed proudly, while tables and desks propped a number of beautiful seashells and sea glass.

Olivia passed by a pair of councilmen relaxing in front of a fireplace, a driftwood hnefatafl board between them and a set of pieces seemingly crafted from fishbones and glimmering scales. They offered her a nod, and she offered one back, still unable to determine if they trusted her fully yet.

Flora soon led her outside the castle’s entrance, the bright sun shimmering against the sandstone bricks of various storehouses and homes. Fellow kinsfolk were bustling about this time of day, carrying nets of freshly-caught fish or woven baskets overflowing in curiously-red seaweed.

The scent of smoke and salt filled the air as the hearths of homes smoked food for the colder months ahead, and fishnets filled with more of the sea’s treasures dangled above like banners one might use during festivals.

A loud string of barking caught Olivia’s attention, and she was nearly knocked on her feet as a familiar deerhound sprinted around her, circling Flora with excited yips and barks.

“Aye, Maesie–I wouldnae forget to bring ye to the beach!” Flora beamed.

The newly formed trio made their way towards a stonework path sloping down the isle’s side, leading to the glimmering shores stretch out as far as Olivia could see.

Flora immediately slipped off her shoes as Maesie took off across the sand, splashing through the shallows with ecstatic yipping.

Not wanting to be the odd one out, Olivia hastily followed suit, the sand surprisingly soft and cool beneath her feet.

“It’s nice when it isnae too hot,” Flora said. “The sand tends to soak up the sun rather well.”

“I can imagine,” Olivia replied, wiggling her toes as she experienced the strange, new sensation. “So! Yer gonna show me how ye MacDonnell’s have fun ‘round here?”

Flora gave off a nervous smile, gesturing towards the shallows. “A-Aye! Just…try and see if ye can keep up!”

A challenge. Olivia’s grin widened, her competitive streak stoking a fire in her belly.

She trailed after Flora as the laird’s sister kicked her bare feet through the shallows, spraying ocean water across the sky in a dazzling display.

Olivia followed suit, a surprised yelp escaping her lips at the sudden frigidity.

She gave an experimental swish with her foot, gasping as her spray dotted along Flora’s lower dress.

“Och! Sorry, Flora, I didnae–!” Another gasp as a shower of cold water flew Olivia’s way, hands raising to try and block it from her face.

“Yer gonna play dirty like that, an’ I’m bound to respond in fair!” Flora taunted, the deerhound barking and snapping in the air to try and grab the droplets.

“Aye, ye wee tricky pixie!” Olivia puffed out her cheeks, bending over to catch a palmful of water. “This means war!”

Flora let out a playful shriek, darting away before Olivia could throw the water her way.

She raced after the laird’s daughter, abandoning the weight of the world on the wet ground behind her, and cackled like an absolute maniac.

Maesie kept pace easily with the two, occasionally weaving quickly in-between their legs and nearly sending the pair falling into the water.

“Truce, truce!” Flora laughed, Maesie hopping around her enthusiastically.

Olivia pulled her foot back, squinting dramatically Flora’s way. “Aye?”

“A-Aye,” Flora replied, breathless. “I promise, no more splashing.”

Olivia raised a brow, but pulled her foot back to her side.

“Besides,” Flora added, gesturing to Maesie as the deerhound dug furiously into the wet sand. “I can show ye how to find the best shells.”

Interest piqued, Olivia observed her hostess as she got down on her hands and knees, digging before revealing a number of pearlescent clam shells.

The hunt went on for what felt like hours, occasionally turning up a cockle or conch shell.

Though, Olivia began avoiding those after the third time nearly getting her fingers pinched off by a disgruntled crustacean.

It always brought Flora to giggling tears, and for the first time in days, Olivia felt entirely at ease.

The sun passed lazily above them in the sky, eventually reaching midday when the trio decided to take towards the rockier outcrops.

With her boots once more laced onto her feet, Olivia hopped well-far behind Flora and Maesie, having trouble catching her balance against the sea-slicked stones.

Flora, meanwhile, looked like an absolute natural, easily dancing from rock to rock as if she really did possess a pair of gossamer wings.

She glanced behind her shoulder, giggling nervously as she slowed her pace. “Sorry, Olivia!”

“Och, nay! Daenae apologize on me part!” Olivia laughed, arms wobbling out in the air as she finally managed to catch up.

Her hostess had long-since relaxed around her, the nervous tick in her tone having melted away into playful revelry.

She even had a bit of a tongue on her, just like a laird Olivia was becoming all-too familiar with.

Twins, indeed; she could see how similar they really were after today.

Their pace slowed to an eventual stop, having wandered beneath the roof of a sea cave.

Olivia couldn’t help but marvel at the sight, the ceiling rung with different layers of colored stone worn away by the wind and water.

Its shape reminded her of a massive dome, with just enough of a gap to allow small ripples of water to slip underneath.

Maesie, being in possession of seemingly endless stamina, darted around the shallows once more and chased after swimming fish.

Flora sat down against an old, sturdy log, a ring of larger rocks encircling a pit of ash from previous fire pits.

“Me braither an’ I used to come here when we were wee bairns,” she said, digging her feet deep into the sand.

“It’s a great hiding spot,” Olivia marveled, sitting down beside her new friend.

“Aye. Drove Mam crazy when we’d accidentally fall asleep out here,” Flora giggled. “One time, she sent me to go an’ collect him, and I found him napping alongside a pod o’ seals!”

Olivia chuckled lightly, easily able to imagine such a ridiculous scene. “So, is this the spot where they beach themselves?”

Flora nodded. “‘Tis nice and secluded–no predators can reach them, no gulls can swoop down to bother them.” She inhaled slowly, beaming at the strong, oceanic breeze that slipped between the opening of their hideaway. “No nosy parents to take ye back in fer studies. I…really enjoyed the time we spent, him an’I.”

A slight frown crossed Olivia’s face. “Do ye not do it anymore?”

“Nay. He’s far too busy running the clan.

And…” Flora sighed, laying back to stretch out along the sand.

“I think it makes him sad to think about. Reminds him of a time he cannae go back to. Reminds him of a future he’s already…

” her voice trailed off, clearly not comfortable revealing such personal information about her brother.

“Well…” A mischievous smirk crossed Olivia’s lips. “Do ye and that giant of a husband of yers come out here, then?”

Flora’s face lit up, and she pulled handfuls of her hair over to try and cover up her embarrassment. “Olivia!”

“What? ‘Tis an innocent question,” Olivia remarked lightly. “And would be perfectly normal fer a married pair to do.”

Enough of Flora’s hair parted to allow a small smile to be see. “A-Aye…I suppose it is.”

“So, how’d he convince ye? I mean, he has a certain…” Olivia waved her free arm, a smirk crossing her face. “Largeness, to him, I suppose.”

It was Flora’s turn to push on Olivia’s shoulder. “Now who’s being a troublemakin’ pixie?”

“Aye, but ye didnae deny it!” Olivia laughed. Flora soon joined in, and Olivia decided to flop down onto the sand beside her. The rippling reflection of water danced across the top of the cave, and the pair’s mirth soon died down to soft giggling.

“In truth, Maesie had the biggest hand in our arrangement,” Flora admitted.

At the sound of her name, Maesie came bounding over, flopping over top Flora’s legs and completely soaking her gown. Flora let out a startled squeal, setting a hand on the deerhound’s wet head and scratching behind her ears.

“She seems to like ye quite a bit,” Olivia said.

“When Nathan first came to our clan, he’d brought a few hunting dogs alongside him an’ his kinfolk,” Flora explained.

“One happened to be pregnant, and he let Arthur take his pick. He of course, let me choose in to end, and I chose the wee runt o’the litter.

” She grinned, holding Maesie’s head in both her hands and nuzzling her nose.

“Now, she’s to fiercest hunter among the pack. ”

“And Nathan…?”

Flora’s smile softened. “Nathan let me come during training with her, and…well, we spent a lot o’ time together doing so.

” She watched as Maesie settled against her lap, absentmindedly stroking down her lead and across the length of her spine.

The deerhound’s tail thumped, clearly pleased with the attention.

“And what about ye, Olivia? I ken me braither has a way wit his words.”

Olivia’s brow furrowed slightly. The way Flora had said that sounded less like a teasing jest and more like…concern. “Should I ken some dark secret about him?”

“Och, nay, of course not!” Flora insisted. “I’m just…surprised, is all. Arthur–I love me braither, believe me–but he can be a bit of a flirt around the lasses. I’d just hate fer ye to be taken in by his…rakish nature.”

That came as a slight surprise to Olivia. True, he’d been a bit more forward with her once they’d arrived at the keep, but up until now, she assumed the laird was more the type who enjoyed endlessly torturing others with jabbing quips and playful teasing.

Though, now that Flora pointed it out, she supposed that could be taken as flirting…but, no. The laird wasn’t interested in any of that. Their arrangement was simply transactional; nothing more, nothing less.

“Olivia?”

Olivia blinked, shaking her head with nervous laughter. “I daenae think he’s leading me on, if that’s what yer concerned with. We had…quite a bit o’time to talk during our ride back. He was very gentleman-like the entire time.”

Flora exhaled loudly, clearly relieved by her answer. “Oh, good! But daenae think I willnae be keeping a close eye on him. He steps outta line, an’ I’ll box his ears fer ye.”

“I appreciate that,” Olivia chuckled lightly, still over-analyzing her every interaction with the laird until now.

He was…kind to her, yes. A bit gruff at first, but who didn’t have walls up against a stranger at first?

And, in truth, there were moments during their ride home that she may have leaned a bit too far back into his chest, or perhaps took a bit too long to release his hand when he helped her dismount for the night.

But, she hardly considered any of that flirting--and, he was simply acting the part as laird. That was all.

“Olivia?”

That was…all, right?

“Olivia? Ye with me?”

Olivia blinked, suddenly aware the pair of them had stood up at some point. Her face began to flush, and she opened her mouth to apologize.

“Oh dear…are ye getting hungry, Olivia?” Flora asked. “I’m so sorry--and here I am going on and on about idle gossip. Come; we’ll head back to the castle fer lunch.”

Olivia nodded eagerly, knowing full well that the truth would ruin her for the rest of time.