The thought of caressing her skin—smelling her lovely hair—gazing upon her without that veil… her voice promised that she was the rare beauty shown in the single photograph he possessed of her. Her mischievous smile and glittering eyes staring back at him always.
The other men gathered round him and patted him upon the back in congratulatory fashion, then ushered him inside, where the scent of savory meat being braised and fresh bread baking in the oven made his mouth water and his stomach roil with hunger.
The public room was near filled with all the men of the village, no women in sight, not even the innkeeper’s daughter who normally served the meals and ale at this time of day. Instead, there were two men dressed in livery with trays in their hands, rushing about with glasses filled with ale, brandy, and perhaps some of that superior whisky.
Seth made it no secret which he preferred right now and chose whisky, drinking it down in two gulps to the approval of everyone. Upon which he was immediately given another serving.
“At this rate of imbibing,” the earl said close to his ear, “you’ll crawl to the altar and shame my beloved niece.”
Seth gazed at the man as he sipped at the second drink and shook his head. “I would never embarrass Rosie.”
The earl eyed him with great suspicion. “Rosie, is it? And where did such familiarity with my niece come from?”
“Sir,” Seth started.
But the earl stopped him short by raising his hand. “I don’t want to know.”
“Why are you so set against me?”
The earl snickered. “I’d be against any man who anchored my sweet Rosie to this godforsaken place.”
The insult surprised Seth. Lucky for them both, no one else was listening at the moment, for the other men were too busy singing and drinking. “I had no idea you disliked it so much.”
“I disapprove of this place for Rosalind,” the earl said. “She deserves better. A London lady. Bath. Cornwall, even. But for her parents to choose to marry her to you, I can only think they had every intention of keeping her here.”
Seth didn’t know how to respond, exactly. The earl spoke truthfully. By marrying Seth, Lady Rosalind would not spend much time in London or the other fashionable places in England. Their lives would be tied to his estates in and around Belware mostly, though they would travel as the seasons allowed.
“Our parents were the best of friends, Lord Westerly.”
“Aye,” the earl said. “It is because of those long-standing ties that I am honoring the marriage contract. But…”
“Westerly…” They were interrupted by Sir James, who flung his arm carelessly about the earl’s shoulders and grinned. “Are you giving the young baron a stiff talking-to?”
The earl let out a frustrated breath. “Until…”
“Here.” James cut him off rudely and swiped two cups of beer from the tray of a passing servant and shoved them into the hands of the earl and Seth. “Drink many of these, and everything will start to look clearer.”
“Clearer?” Seth thought the opposite would happen if he overindulged in spirits.
“Aye,” James said. “’Tis the Highland way, is it not, Westerly? Have you failed to do your duty and teach this young man about his homeland and our traditions?”
The earl raked his fingers through his thick hair and sighed. “The baron knows our ways.”
“Actually,” Seth looked at Sir James, “there are many things I don’t know. For instance, why would a bonfire happen on the kirk grounds on this night of shadows and monsters?”
“Shadows and monsters?” the earl appeared offended.
“Oh, go stuff yourself,” Sir James shooed the earl away as if he were little more than a bothersome fly. “I will answer your questions.”
“Very good,” Seth said appreciatively. “The bonfire?”
“Well, some cannot stomach why we allow it. But this village and all of the original families, including yours, have a blood debt on their hands. And we sanction the bonfire every year as a way of honoring the elder women in our families, for they shall dance late into the night while we drink and try to forget.”
“Because…”
“The murder of the northern women,” Sir James said soberly. “A blasted shame what happened.”
“How does dancing around a bonfire honor those women?”
