Before setting off to the two farms Halvard had designated for the purchase of cattle, they decided they should join the patrol following the coastline to ensure there was no sign of any intruder.
After their discussion about Aidan, Halvard had sent out his scouts to scour the island for anything suspicious. They returned to the castle just prior to Kenneth and Halvard’s departure with the news that they had not found anything that could indicate the presence of Aidan’s men. Even so, they reported one of the fishermen had told them of the sighting of a strange vessel near the shore.
The two men rode with the patrol along the shoreline where the ship had been sighted. There were no signs anyone had come ashore, although, as Kenneth reminded Halvard, the tide had come and gone since then and any prints left on the sand would have been washed away.
Even though they found nothing to alert them to danger, the thought of Aidan and his potential for mayhem hung heavily between them, reconfirming Kenneth’s determination to leave Raasay and return to Sleat as soon as possible.
The cattle Halvard presented for purchase at two of the island’s farms, were healthy and well fed. The grass grew high and thick on Raasay, perfect for milking cows and for fattening beef cattle. Kenneth was well pleased with his selection of several young steers and heifers and two cows with calves at foot. These would go some way to replenishing the stock lost through Aidan’s mischief, as well as diversifying and strengthening his existing herd’s bloodline.
It was already well into the afternoon when they returned to the castle. After a quick exchange of his damp clothing for a dry shirtand jacket, Kenneth met with Halvard in his study. It was time to haggle over the cost of the cattle.
Halvard studied him over the table. “What d’ye offer, MacDonald?”
“Fair price. Nay favors asked.”
Halvard considered this no longer than necessary before he nodded. “I’ll nae inflate the price. Aidan has taken enough from us both.”
Kenneth inclined his head. That acknowledgment, more than anything, marked the first true bridge between them
Over several wee drams and a great deal of back and forth negotiating, a price that satisfied them both was agreed upon.
“Ye’re a hard negotiator, lad,” Halvard said, not altogether without grudging admiration, as he lifted his glass for a final swig.
“And I can return the compliment twice over, Laird Halvard. I swear ye’d hammer the devil back tae hell if he tried tae bargain wi’ ye.”
Both chuckling, they left the study to make their way to the dining hall for supper.
Throughout the day Kenneth had been acutely aware of Halvard quietly observing his every move. He did not bristle at being watched so closely. Having declared his affection for the Lady Selene, he well understood that Halvard needed to gauge his measure. This kept some hope alive in his heart that Halvard had not entirely closed his mind to his union with Selene.
The intense scrutiny was again in evidence when Kenneth was joined by Selene in the dining hall. Her cheeks pink from the cold, hair braided loosely over one shoulder, she stopped short when her eyes lit on Kenneth, joy flashing across her face before she could hide it. He crossed to her without a second’s thought, his heart gladdened by the very sight of her. He rested a hand briefly at her back as he murmured something meant only for her. “Yer presence illuminates this place far more than any lamp or torch, me sweet.”
Looking up, he caught Halvard’s gaze on them.
And, again, when Selene passed him a platter of bannocks, Halvard was observing them. She pressed it into his hands with mock sternness, “You forget to eat when you’re brooding,” she said. “Which is most of the time.”
Kenneth huffed a laugh, obediently taking a bite.
Halvard noticed that too.
There was no impropriety between them, only a hundred small, unguarded moments – Kenneth was all ears when Selene spoke, Selene touching him without a thought, their bodies angling toward one another as though instinct guided them closer.
It was not until later, when they entered the solar and found themselves alone before the fire that he had an opportunity to tell her of Halvard’s opposition to their marriage.
Her face fell, and she lifted tear-glazed eyes to lock with his. “’Tis naught, Kenneth, I…”
Before she could finish her sentence, the door opened and Halvard strolled in. He drew in a sharp breath, hesitating when he saw them standing together clutching each other’s hands.
“I beg yer pardon,” he said quickly. “I didnae wish tae disturb…”
Selene stiffened, drawing herself tall as she turned toward him, still holding Kenneth’s hand in hers.
“Laird Halvard, do come in. What you were interrupting is but a small thing of which ye are already aware.”
Halvard walked across to the fire. “And that would be…?”
He said this far too smoothly for Selene it seemed, for she huffed loudly and shook her head with all the fierceness of a cat whose plaything had been stolen away.
“That would be… that you refuse to give your blessing to my marriage with Laird MacDonald.”
