"Not pertinent?" Charlotte was incredulous. Then, in a tone that belied an interest that had never been shown toward Anna, she said, "You must tell me everything."
Anna had planned not to share the information she'd concocted so willingly; she'd wanted each detail to be needled out slowly, but the novelty of having someone wishing for her to speak wasoverwhelming. So, rather than insisting she shouldn't speak of it, she relayed the details she'd come up with.
"It was a chance meeting," she began with a dreamy inflection. "I was on a short walk on the far edge of my father's property when I saw him."
The girls leaned in closer, and Charlotte, surprisingly, perched on the bench next to Anna. It was so different from her behavior at the ball. Logically, Anna knew it was simply because of the gossip she possessed, but that didn't stop her from soaking up the feeling. For once, she felt as though she were normal, that she had some sort of status amongst her peers.
"I called to him," Anna said, carrying on her story. "He was riding his horse through the fields, making a right mess of the sod."
"That's a Highlander," one of the ladies said, speaking as though she were an authority. "They have no courtesy."
"That's what I told him," Anna laughed, becoming more and more confident in the tale she was weaving. It was so easily accepted that she couldn't help but sit up a bit straighter. "And he apologized if you'd believe it."
"A Scotsman apologizing?" Charlotte said, leaning in. "Why, he must have been taken with you. You say you've been betrothed for several weeks. How long did it take for the arrangements to be made?"
"They were made quickly," Anna replied. "I brought him to the manor, and he and my father spoke. Before he left, he said he'd like my hand if my father were to permit it."
"And it seems he did," Charlotte said. "But you didn't marry immediately?"
"No, there wasn't any time," Anna said, adding in a wistful sigh to her performance. "He was passing through, coming home from a trip to the southern part of the country. The people of Clan McDonald were expecting him. There was no time to plan a wedding, and my father would not allow him to take me with him without marrying me first."
"Your father's always been quite protective of you," Charlotte said, the inflection in her voice letting Anna know that she'd tentatively accepted the lie. "Had I known, I would not have pestered you for not dancing with men at the ball. It would have been improper."
It was as close to an apology as Anna would get from the woman. So, she savored it, even though it was given because of false information. For once, she just enjoyed being treated kindly.
"I'd appreciate it if you didn't spread this too widely," Anna said after a few moments. "As I said, I'm aware that the public is wary of Highlanders. I would prefer the news to stay between us."
She'll spread this regardless of what I ask, but this will make her even more eager to do it.
"Of course," Charlotte said, sharing a lie of her own. "Your secret is safe with us."
"That's appreciated," Anna murmured, accepting the letter when it was returned to her. "I am sorry for not telling you sooner. I do hope you understand my reasoning."
"I do," Charlotte replied as she stood. Anna was prepared for her to leave without another word, but Charlotte stopped. There was something cold and analytical in her gaze. "I do find it quite odd that this is the first I'm hearing of it, though. It's not as if our fathers don't speak with each other. Maybe you don't have friends, but your father does."
Anna stared back at her, frozen. For a dangerous moment, she was sure that everything would fall apart. If Charlotte realized that this letter was fake, the teasing would only get worse. But her face remained impassive.
"I look forward to meeting this man." Charlotte's words, though clearly skeptical, came as a relief. For now, at least, she couldn't find any holes in Anna's story. "I do hope I'll be invited to the wedding."
As she sauntered off without waiting for an answer, Anna's shoulders dropped. Although her story had been accepted, Charlotte remained skeptical. Anna assured herself that there was nothing that could be found to prove what she'd said false. If Charlotte poked around at the post office, she'd learn that there had been correspondence. If she learned of Laird McDonald'sdeath, then Anna would pretend to be devastated and begin the final part of her plan.
Surely, she won't go that far. I'm simply being paranoid. This plan will work. I can feel it in my bones.
CHAPTER THREE
The letter didn't make any sense. And no matter how many times he read it, he could not find a reason why it had arrived. Hugh's eyes swept over the script, neat and proper. It wasn't from anyone he recognized. And the name at the bottom…
Anna Murray… I daenae ken anyone by that name. I have nae even heard it mentioned.
He read it over and over, trying to fit this piece into his recently acquired Lairdship. No one had informed him of an impending marriage. It seemed unlike his council to withhold this type of information.
"What has captured yer attention, Hugh?" his mother asked, walking into the library where he'd been sitting for the better part of a day. "Ye were lookin' at that when I walked by nearly an hour ago."
"Ach, just a letter that doesnae make a bit of sense," he said, brow furrowed and shoulders tight. "I had hoped that somethin' would connect, but I've nae had any luck."
She stepped forward and held out her hand for the parchment. He hesitated for a moment, for reasons he couldn't quite grasp, before passing it to her. Then he studied her face as she processed the information.
"This cannae be correct," she said, staring down at it. "Ye would have been told about somethin' like this. Seems as though it would be a massive oversight by yer council."
