"Aye, Castle McDonald," Hugh confirmed, a hint of pride leaking through. Despite the castle's need for maintenance, it was still a gorgeous home, one that he was glad to be in charge of. "It's a bonnie place, the safest in all of Scotland."
That drew a genuine smile from Anna. Her fingers trailed over her thighs, and her eyes took on a cloudiness that told him she was trying to picture it. Like this, she seemed at peace, revealing the same beauty he'd noticed when he first arrived at her manor.
"Ye will be treated as a queen," he said, meaning each word.
He knew that he'd run into issues with his council. They were set in their ways, but he knew he'd be able to convince them of her worth. He knew that her dowry would help win their approval, but he'd demand that she be treated with respect. All of his people, not just his council, would see her worth.
"That can't be true," she said with a giggle. "Me? A queen?"
"Nay, it's correct," he said with deadly seriousness. "Me maither will love ye. Me brother, he's a bit of a character. Might take awhile to warm up to ye, but he will. They're both awaitin' our arrival."
Well, they're awaitin' me arrival, but they'll accept her when they meet her.
"So I didn't just gain a husband," she said, a tremor of awe in her voice. "I gained an entire family."
"Ye did," Hugh confirmed. "And a sister as well. But Arianna is currently away for a few months. She'll be beside herself to finally have a sister."
"That's what I'm most excited about," Anna said with a grin. "I always wanted a sister."
He laughed, imagining Arianna telling him that hemustget married soon. If she could not have a blood sister, she would have one by marriage. Though he imagined he'd get an earful from her when she returned and learned that he'd had the ceremony without her.
"Ye'll get along with her quite nicely," he admitted when he recovered. "She'll be the most thrilled to learn about our weddin'. I imagine she'll be beggin' to throw a ceilidh to celebrate all over again."
"Perhaps that will work in our favor. I am quite sore that we didn't get to celebrate properly," she admitted after a beat. "My father would attend. Martha, too. I could even write to my othermarried friends. Perhaps if we plan the gathering now, everyone will be able to attend."
It dawned on Hugh that Anna may be the most loyal and thoughtful woman that he'd ever met. Already, she was planning a party that included the people from her home and people she hadn't even met yet. Once she was properly acquainted with them, he imagined she'd do whatever she could for them.
"I believe that can be arranged," he conceded, taking a moment to follow her gaze. "Me council will want to meet ye. And they seem to enjoy makin' everyone's lives difficult. I imagine it will take some time to get them to approve a date."
From the corner of his eye, he saw her brow furrow. The confused tilt of her head followed. Finally, she said, "I'm not sure I understand why the council would care about a wedding celebration. Truthfully, I can't quite reason what purpose they serve."
"Ye probably call them somethin' else in England," Hugh said. "Or ye daenae use them at all. Me council is a group of men charged with givin' me advice on decisions. They're supposed to ensure I act in the best interest of me people."
She nodded as she absorbed his words. A chill swept in from the window, causing her to wrap her arms around her body. "That does make sense. Unbiased voices of reason."
"That's the purpose they should serve, aye," he said, unable to cover the hard edge of his voice.
It seemed as though Anna understood what he wasn't saying. She kept her tongue, even as she visibly tucked the information away in her mind. That trait, he thought, would either serve him well or come back to haunt him. With her, he was fairly certain it would be the former rather than the latter.
But I shouldnae underestimate her.
"Ye look as if ye're catchin' a chill," he said, pivoting away from the subject for the time being. She'd encounter the council on her own soon enough. "When we arrive at the castle, me first order of business will be gettin' ye a new set of robes. It gets colder in the Highlands than it does in England."
"That would be appreciated," she murmured as she closed her window for the evening. "I would hate to be stuck in the castle during the winter."
"It'll get cold even within the castle, Anna," he said, noting the way she pulled her arms more tightly around herself as if to combat the imagined chill. "But ye willnae freeze there. Ye'll only be a bit chilled."
"That makes me feel a little better," she said, nodding after digesting the information. "Though I may have to spend winters next to the hearth."
"Ye and me maither both," he grunted.
The soft sound of Anna's laughter carried them into their next comfortable silence. Hugh knew that it would be a sound he would never stop enjoying.
The road was grueling. Anna's experience of traveling was limited, and she'd never been in a carriage for more than two days. By the third day, she had welcomed the dingy inn filled with rough-looking characters. Having a room to herself where she could enjoy not being in motion made these places feel like she was staying in the Queen's castle. Anything would have been better than being on the bumpy road.
When the dawn of the final day of their journey came, she felt as though she might burst from relief. She was practically bouncing in her seat, sliding from one side of the carriage to the other. The sights were so different, especially the further north they went. They seemed to reinvigorate her as they finished the final leg of their trip.
"You were right," she said breathlessly, her eyes wide. The place had a wild feel to it, as if it were mostly untouched by humans. "I've never seen green so green in my entire life."
