Skye’s face softened, and several emotions flashed across her face. “Ye care for yer clan very much, Arran.”
“Ourclan. Ours,” he corrected. “Aye, that I do.”
CHAPTER TWELVE
As the afternoon wore on, Skye grew tired. She looked at Elsie and saw her chin tucked into her chest as she snored softly.
She felt a hint of envy. The day had been beautiful, but exhausting.
She was touched by the many gifts she had received from the clansfolk—flowers, sweet-smelling soaps, a handkerchief. But the sweetest gift of all was a shiny rock that a small boy of about three gave her shyly, followed by a kiss on the cheek.
She teared up at their generosity. “I wish me maither was here to see the wedding, to see this. Even though this union is just a necessary arrangement,” she spoke wistfully to Arran.
Arran looked surprised and a bit hurt by her comment, but he did not reply. Skye frowned at him, confused.
“A business arrangement for certain, but I think we will get along well, do ye nae think? I think we are compatible. And in more ways than one. I want ye back in me bed, Skye. I daenae think I can wait much longer.”
Skye felt her cheeks flush. “I have nay doubt of what ye want, Arran. But I think for a man, it is different. I can think of more important things.”
Arran scowled at her. “And what ‘things’ might those be, Skye? The marriage bed, or rather the outcome of what happens there is what makes a clan strong. Families, bairns—that’s what’s important.” He paused for only a second. “And ye werenae thinkin’ of ‘more important things’ before the feast, lass. I seem to remember ye were quite happy to be under me.”
Skye’s face reddened further. “I understand the importance of children, Arran, but somehow, I’m nae sure ye’re thinking about children at the moment. Maybe ye are fit to be more of a rogue, not a husband,” she teased.
Arran looked taken aback but recovered with a grin. “Then I believe ye must save me from me wild and roguish ways,” he said mischievously.
Skye started to clarify the point she was making, but then a wave from one of the guards at the door interrupted their conversation.
Arran smiled. “I have a surprise for ye. Come with me.”
Together they left the hall and stepped out into the courtyard. Skye looked toward the gate and spotted a cloaked figure standing next to a horse. The figure turned around.
“Maither!” Skye practically screamed as she ran to Helena and threw her arms around her. It seemed weeks rather than days since she’d last seen her mother.
Arran stepped away and watched the happy reunion.
“I cannae believe ye are… Are ye hurt? Did ye have any trouble gettin’ here? Are ye hungry?” Skye kept firing question after question, but then she stopped to catch her breath. “Oh, Maither, I am so sorry. I ken ye must be tired. Come inside, and I’ll get ye something to eat.”
Helena nodded. “That will be fine, Daughter. The trip was long, but me escorts ensured me comfort.” She paused, looked her daughter up and down, but didn’t question her about the festivities.
Once inside the Great Hall, Helena sat across from Skye, and a servant rushed over with a goblet and a plate. Helena looked at the snoring woman next to Skye but didn’t say anything.
“This is Arran’s aunt Elsie, Maither,” Skye informed her. “She is tired after me wedding.”
As soon as she said the word ‘wedding,’ she realized she hadn’t yet told her mother that she was now wed to Laird MacArthur.
“Ye were taken from me by that brute mere days ago, and now ye’re married?! Who are ye married to, Skye?”
Skye knew it would do no good to try and protect her mother from the shock. “I married the brute, Maither.”
Helena’s eyes went wide, and her mouth dropped open. She took a moment to gain her composure. “I should have kenned when I saw how fine he was dressed. Oh, Skye, why did ye do such a thing? The man kidnapped ye!”
Just as Skye was about to explain, her mother raised a hand. “I am confused, lass. Gilroy was supposed to take ye back to Castle MacKeith. Why didnae he?”
“He tried, Maither. But things didnae go as planned. Much has happened, and I will tell ye all about it. But tell me, were ye treated well by his men?”
“Aye, Daughter. When we were separated, Colin took me back to our cottage. At first, I was frightened. But he brought Ava to me. Then two others came and told me that ye were safe, and they would take me to ye.”
Skye heaved a sigh of relief.
