“Will ye show me around the castle later today, Orlagh?” she asked, trying to distract her.
“Oh,” Orlagh gasped. “Darragh hasnae taken ye on a tour of the castle yet?”
“Nay,” Talia answered, sending a rueful smile his way in the hope of brightening his mood. “He has been too busy trying to find me a husband.”
Orlagh laughed. “Ye willnae blame him for his haste, dear Talia. Ye’re a rather lovely girl. It would be a real shame to keep ye toourselves any longer. I will miss ye terribly when ye leave. Ye’ve become like a daughter to me.”
“As I will miss ye, me Lady,” Talia told her with a smile, and she meant it.
Growing up without a mother figure, Orlagh had all but assumed the role since Talia had come to the castle. And she was grateful for the affection the woman showed her, which was a welcome thing in this strange place where she didn’t know anyone.
“Oh, do ye have to be wed so quickly?” Orlagh lamented. “I am tempted to move with ye when ye marry.”
“I will be glad to have ye,” Talia assured.
Darragh turned to her with a small smile, and she read the gratitude in his eyes. She lowered her eyes as heat spread across her cheeks, but by the time she glanced back at him, the look was gone.
9
“Me Laird, Hayden McFarden is here to see ye,” a footman announced.
Ah. Hayden.
Darragh remembered the man from one of the cèilidhs his father had hosted two summers ago. He was a handsome lad with a good head on his shoulders, responsible even though he was the second son of a laird. He would likely become Laird too, as his elder brother was sickly and without heirs.
Still, that was a big gamble.
Darragh didn’t know the man’s thoughts on women or his history with women. At least this interrogation would reveal the man’s intentions before he allowed him to meet Talia.
He gave her a look, but she regarded him with the same bored indifference with which she regarded the suitors until they hadanswered his questions. She rose from her seat and moved to the other end of the hall, where she would not be seen by Hayden until Darragh called for her.
He suppressed a smile and turned back as Hayden entered the hall.
“Laird McGhee,” Hayden greeted with a bow. “‘Tis a pleasure to meet ye again.”
“I am glad ye accepted me invitation.” Darragh indicated the chair opposite him. “I believe ye are yet to be married?”
“Aye,” Hayden answered. “I havenae been fortunate to find a worthy bride. And when I say worthy, I daenae mean one is to be more esteemed than the other, but me faither is against marrying into certain clans.”
Darragh nodded. “That is understandable. The future of yer clan depends on making valuable connections with other clans.”
“Indeed. I’m sure ye think the same if ye intend to take a wife,” Hayden said. “Me sister is young, but she is well trained and is verra bonny.”
“Indeed,” Darragh uttered just to be polite. “Perhaps I shall visit ye when me search begins.”
“I look forward to it.” Hayden gave a charming smile.
Darragh found himself returning the smile and made a mental note to add Hayden to the top of his list. The man was charming and didn’t put on airs. He seemed to be well-behaved.
He almost decided against further questions, but he needed the answers to them before he introduced Hayden to Talia.
“I have only a few questions for ye, Hayden,” he began. “‘Tis important I ken what sort of man ye are before I introduce ye to me ward. I promised her faither that I would protect her.”
“‘Tis a reasonable thing and most responsible.” Hayden nodded. “I would do the same for me sister when it’s time. What questions do ye have for me?”
“I want to ken how ye would treat yer wife. What would ye expect of her, and what would ye do if she fell short of yer expectations?”
“I daenae expect much other than that she loves me and is good to me sister,” he answered. “I am busy running the clan, as me braither is indisposed, but I will love her and try to spend time with her. I might nae possess charm or humor, but I would like her to possess both so she may add color to our lives. Even if she were lacking, surely we would find some way to enjoy each other’s company as we grow old together.”
