“It’s glorious!” Maude proclaimed.
Nellie looked at Rhona, then at Maude, then at Skye. “What do ye think, lass?”
Skye peered into the looking glass, barely recognizing the woman looking back at her. She smiled.
“Ye’ll knock him right out of his kilt, ye will,” Nellie said with pride.
“That is the idea, ye ken.” Rhona giggled.
Nellie rolled her eyes.
“I’m ready,” Skye declared with conviction. “Let’s go.”
CHAPTER TEN
Arran paced his chamber. His dip in the loch had cleansed his body and cleared his mind for some time, but he felt restless once more.
Fionn’s arrival had interrupted his thoughts but provided a welcome respite from the anxiety plaguing him.
“Do ye love her?” Fionn had asked.
The question had blindsided him.
What do I ken about love? And it doesnae matter in this case anyway.
Arran didn’t love Skye. But he wanted her more than any woman he’d ever known. And, he wanted to pummel any man who even looked at her.
Suddenly, a knock sounded at the door.
“Me Laird! I have news from the scouts,” a voice called.
“Enter, Ramsey.”
Ramsey, a tall warrior whose main tasks consisted of training MacArthur men for combat, entered the chamber.
“What news?” Arran inquired.
“Just as Magnus’s message said. Laird MacKeith travels this way. He is riding hard and will arrive sooner than expected.”
“And how many are riding with him?”
“Surprisingly, nae many. Logan reported only four.”
“Hmm, perhaps Grayson Blackwell is only fierce when he’s attacking women, then,” Arran said in a disgusted tone.
After telling Ramsey to update him as needed, he returned to dressing for the wedding ceremony. He wrapped his kilt about him and fastened it at the waist. Over his shirt, he clipped the ends of histonnag with a silver brooch in the shape of a snarling wolf. Then he looked into his mirror.
His best kilt, black and green, with yellow threads running through the plaid, with it’s matching cape contrasted with hiswhite linen shirt and silver brooch. His thick, black hair fell to his shoulders, and his midnight eyes shone as brightly as the polished silver of his brooch. He looked wild and perhaps a little threatening.
Maybe I should smile…
A woman once told him that his scowl made him look like the devil himself. That was fine by him. Today, Grayson Blackwell would find out just how frightening he could be if he tried to take Skye from him.
After one last look in the mirror Arran headed downstairs.
The keep was mostly quiet, but the aroma of roast duck and fresh bread hit him as he passed the door to the kitchen.
He should have known Astrid wouldn’t have kept anything simple.
