Eventually, she gave up and braided her hair, then wound it in a knot at the base of her neck. She wanted to look good for Arran, but she also had to be prepared for anything today. Her hair could not hinder her.
When she rejoined Arran and Colin at the camp, they were ready to ride.
Arran helped her mount her Iona, and she did not miss how he squeezed her buttocks when he gave her a final boost into the saddle.
And right in front of the other men.
Her face reddened a bit, but if Arran’s soldiers noticed, they didn’t show it. She giggled to herself at her husband’splayfulness, enjoying the fact that he was unable to keep his hands off her.
Once in the saddle, she headed back up the narrow rock ravine and waited for Arran to follow.
Once back on the path, Skye turned to Colin. “Tell me, Colin. If I’m to approach this woman and convince her to jilt Blackwell at the altar, I should ken more about her. What do ye know of her?”
“Not much, me Lady,” he answered. “I do ken that she was widowed nigh on two years ago. She has a son of about sixteen years of age and a daughter who is either seventeen or eighteen.”
“What happened to her husband?”
“He died from an injury, I believe.”
“Was this Lilias a woman of means?”
“Nay, me Lady. She was left with practically nothing after her husband died. Nae gold and nae family either.”
Helpless, and in need of a savior. Poor woman
Skye thought for a moment then replied, “I guess I understand why she would want to remarry. She needs a home for herself and her children. She isnae very old, is she?”
“I daenae ken her age, me Lady, but I do ken that Blackwell believes she is still able to give him an heir. But if she doesnae, then he is willin’ to declare her son his heir.”
“But surely, she has heard the stories about him. She must ken she’s putting herself and possibly her children in danger,” Skye argued.
“The woman may be playing her own game, Skye,” Arran pointed out. “If she marries Blackwell and he names her son his heir, then she may be willing to endure him through his last years. After all, he isnae young.”
Skye paused and then nodded. “A risky bet, but ye are right. If Blackwell dies, then she and her son will get everything.”
She hoped that the promise of inheriting the MacKeith lands and riches would not cloud Lilias’s judgment. She knew how greed and wealth could change people.
They were silent as they climbed the hill to Castle MacKeith. The large stone structure with its manned towers looked as gray and foreboding as it ever did. There were no trees, no flowers, and barely any grass around the castle.
Nae like home.
The thought surprised her.
Home.She’d never allowed herself until now to think of Arran’s lands and castle as her home. The flowers and herbs she planted, the beautiful fields that lay in front of the keep, and the dense forest and loch beyond.
Aye, that’s home.
“Stop where ye are!” the guard at the top of the gate shouted. “Announce yerselves and yer business!”
The noise startled Skye, and her heart immediately began to race, but Arran quickly took control. He urged Devil forward and shouted back, “Laird MacArthur here with Laird MacKeith’s daughter, Skye, me wife. We are here to celebrate her stepfaither’s wedding.”
The guards looked at each other and then nodded. The heavy gate opened.
“Ye may enter!”
Skye, Arran, and Colin rode through the gate, and once inside, a stable boy rushed forward to tend to the horses, but Arran motioned for him to halt.
Skye looked around the courtyard and noticed something strange. It looked almost empty, with only a few clansmen milling about—and it was eerily quiet.
