A kitchen maid placed a large tray of baked fish surrounded by carrots, parsnips, and potatoes on the table, and another placed a bowl of rabbit stew in front of each one of them. Round loaves of brown bread lay in baskets at the center of the table.
Skye smiled when Mary walked in with a tray of mugs and a pitcher of water. The maid didn’t dare glance her way, but when she placed her mug on the table, Skye was able to look her in the eye and wink at her in reassurance.
Mary nodded back at her to show that she understood.
“Do ye nae think she is a bonnie lass, Arran? She’d warm a man’s bed just fine, would she nae?”
Skye noticed Arran shifting in his chair, and anger flashed in his eyes.
“Aye, she is a bonny one, she is. But that’s nae me concern. Do ye have the deeds drawn up?”
Deeds? What deeds?
“What’s yer hurry, lad? Dinner has just been served. We will eat, and then I’ll have an explanation as to why there is just one woman sitting at me table instead of two.”
Arran started to reply, but a maid picked up his mug and refilled it. While he waited for the maid to leave, Skye looked at him, frozen in her chair, and wondered what he was going to tell Laird MacKeith.
Now free to speak, Arran explained, “Me men and I found Skye living alone in a small cottage just past Dunefall.”
“Dunefall?” Grayson exclaimed. “That’s more than a day’s ride! What was Helena doing? Did she find another man? There’s nay way she could have survived on her own. Quite the sheep, that woman!”
“I dinnae ken. Skye served the surrounding farmers and the village as a healer. She was alone.”
“Where was her maither?” MacKeith asked.
“I asked, of course. I searched, too. Skye said her maither died.”
Skye detected the slightest change in the tone of Arran’s voice and was surprised he’d been able to answer so quickly. He sounded very convincing, and she made a mental note to add lying to her list of his talents along with kidnapping.
She let out a breath she’d been holding. Arran could have told MacKeith where her mother was, but he kept his word.
“And ye believed her?”
“Nay, I didnae. But as I said, we searched. And I sent me men to ask the villagers. No one had ever seen her maither, ever.”
“What does that even mean? Nae one person ever saw Helena?”
“Skye kept her hidden away when she was alive. The scar on her forehead was too noticeable. Someone might have recognized her.”
“Ye always were a smart one, ye were, Daughter. But that’s quite unfortunate,” Grayson replied quietly.
Skye knew this tone. He didn’t believe everything Arran was saying.
“Aye, it is. But as ye see, I wasnae able to bring yer wife back, but ye have Skye. I’d like to get the deeds and be on me way.”
“Very unfortunate, indeed,” Grayson murmured as if he didn’t hear him. He paused, and then he turned and looked at Skye, but this time in a different way. “So, ye’re sure Helena’s dead and I’m a widower, huh?” he asked without looking away from her.
Arran nodded. “Aye, I am.”
Grayson lifted his hand and stroked his beard. “Aye, it is most unfortunate. But nay matter. I have the real prize sitting here before me.”
“What do ye mean?” Skye asked.
“Yer beauty is renowned across the Highlands, ye ken that. I’ve received several offers for yer hand in marriage. I only need to find which suitor will pay the most for ye.”
Skye gasped.
Grayson’s lips curled into an evil smile. “I mean the best offer,” he corrected himself.
