“There’s more than a few tricks I couldteach you too,” Veronica assured Moira. She winked at his mother.“Trust me.”
The remainder of the conversation waspleasantly devoid of anything that could give away Veronica’s timetraveling experience. Victor and Catriona resumed their flirtation,leaving Lachlan to wonder if he should simply order them wed and bedone with it. Leastways, if wed, the deuce of them could leavetheir fawning ways to the privacy of their own bedchamber. Onceupon a time he had considered wedding his sister to a Campbell in ashow of good will, yet he refused to send her there whilst Euanstill lived and ruled. He doubted the old bastard would be leavingthis world verra soon.
Victor and Catriona? Lachlan frowned. He’dconsider the matter later.
*****
“Oh come on!” Veronica said, grinning. Sheplopped down onto Victor’s bed. Lunchtime was over, but she hadwitnessed firsthand how he and Catriona got on while they’dpartaken of it. “She’s obviously into you and you…” She chuckled.“Let’s just say I’ve never, ever seen you trip all over yourself tomake a woman happy.”
Victor blushed. “I admit she intrigues me,”he sniffed. His glasses were back on so he pushed them up thebridge of his nose. He did that when excited or nervous. “Butthat’s not how marriage works around here.”
“What do you mean?”
“Lachlan has total say of who marries whowithin the castle. Ordinary people—the villagers or peasants if youwill—can do what they want, but those who live within CastleCumhacht’s walls are subject to the laird’s wishes in matters ofmarriage.” He sighed. “He’ll probably marry Catriona off to one ofhis trusted soldiers, like Finn or Ramsay. I despise the idea, butthey’re fighting men, unlike me.”
“What you lack in fighting skills you morethan make up for with your intelligence. You’re useful in otherways. Not everyone is born to fight.”
“It’s unlikely Lachlan would see it thatway.”
“Then I’ll talk to him.”
Victor pepped up at that. “You would?”
“Of course.” Veronica tilted her head. Hersmile was sad. “After everything we’ve been through do you stillnot understand how much your life and happiness means to me?”
Her brother didn’t look as though he knewwhat to say to that. “Thank you, Nica,” he softly praised. “Truly.”He cleared his throat and regained his composure. “I hope you knowhow much I love you. I did all of this foryou.”
Veronica felt tears gathering in her eyes.“I know,” she whispered. “Mom and dad would be so proud of us. Weboth fought our asses off to save each other.”
“I didn’t exactly fight—”
“Yes. Yes you did, Victor. It’s a differentkind of fighting, but it’s not ‘less than’ in any way. Look at whatyou accomplished. You created the unthinkable. Time travel existsbecause of you. Now we are living in an era where the situation isfar from ideal, but at least we can be certain the dead stay intheir graves.” She stood up and walked to where he sat at his desk.She placed a loving hand on his shoulder. “You did good, baby bro.Really, really good. I couldn’t be prouder.”
His face flushed, but he found a smallsmile. “I’m happy you approve. Like I said, I did my researchbefore choosing which clan we’d come to. I know this will work outfor you. I can feel it in my bones.”
“I hope you’re right about that.” Veronicaturned the subject back to the original issue at hand. It waseasier to deal with than her own situation. “Anyway, I’ll talk toLachlan about Catriona. I, for one, think the two of you make anadorable couple.”
*****
After eavesdropping on Veronica and Victorfor a spell, Lachlan took to his bedchamber and sat in one of twochairs near to the hearth. Hero stood up, wanting a petting.Lachlan was grateful for the distraction. He pet the dog, yet histhoughts strayed back unbidden to the conversation he’d o’erheard.His future English was not so good that he had been able to ken thewhole of their talk, but he’d understood enough to get the overallpicture.
At twenty and two, Catriona should have beenwed long ago. Had he done his sister a disservice in finding no monworthy of her? He sighed. ‘Twas clear his sister’s heart now laywith Victor. Choosing any mon save him would like as naught reduceCatriona to tears. Mayhap even Victor.
He frowned. Whilst Victor would not havebeen his first choice in a husband for his sister, Veronica wascorrect that Victor had strength in his own way. He couldaccomplish feats none from this time could hope to do. But couldVictor keep his time traveling past to himself for a lifetime?Lachlan dinna ken the answer.
Still, he wished for his sister’s happiness.In truth, he wished for Victor’s as well. The mon had grown on himto be sure, minus his mind-numbing speeches.
“I did my research before choosing whichclan we’d come to.”
The words Victor had uttered to Veronicareverberated in Lachlan’s mind. In other words, Victor could justas easily have chosen the Campbells or another clan entirely. Hadthat happened, Veronica mayhap wouldna be his.
He sighed as he stood up, preparing toreturn to his warriors for more training. ‘Twas possible he owedhis brother-within-the-law more than he’d once thought.
*****
After supper, the castle’s main occupantssat in chairs near the great hall’s mountainous fireplace. Veronicawas the only one standing as the cobbler took measurements of herfeet. She held up her gown just above her ankles, careful to bemodest. She assumed that was the ladylike thing to do.
All she really had to base her knowledge ofladies from antiquity on, though, was virtual downloads ofdocumentaries she’d half-assed paid attention to when she stilllived at home. Victor had been a history buff from a youngage—another facet of mom’s personality that had become a part ofhis—so documentaries had forever been playing in the Banks’ homeduring their youth. Victor and mom had watched them with eagerattentiveness; Veronica and daddy had acknowledged them as littlemore than background noise while the duo played games together orpracticed martial arts.
