Reaching the bottom of the steps, she clattered across the courtyard, pausing only to pat Creighton’s cheek fondly.
“Bring her out, then,” she ordered.
The door opened, and Laurie came exploding out, laughing with joy. She threw her arms around her aunt, chattering constantly about everything and anything.
While the conversation battled on, Hunter silently descended the steps himself. He had a habit of moving so softly and quietly that nobody ever heard him coming. Creighton included. He jumped to find his cousin at his shoulder.
“I wish ye wouldnae sneak up on me like that,” he mumbled affectionately, patting him on the shoulder. “It’s good to see ye, cousin.”
“And ye too,” Hunter answered. He seemed to mean it, although it was generally not easy to read his feelings in his face. As tall and broad as Creighton himself, with thick black hair and piercing blue eyes, Hunter seemed to have chosen cool-eyed impassivity as the best defense against unwanted emotions. As far as his cousin could tell, it worked pretty well. “Have ye heard any word from Skye?”
“Nay more than ye, I imagine. Has she settled in well?”
Hunter’s brow furrowed. “I cannae tell. Ye ken how she can be. But I am convinced that she is nae in danger. At least, Iassumedshe was nae in danger, until I heard that Clan Bryden is all up in arms about their bride bein’ poisoned.”
Creighton sucked air between his teeth. “We’ll talk about this in private. Needless to say, I did nae poison me betrothed, Hunter.”
“Perhaps nae,” Hunter responded coolly. “But remember that it is me sister, nae yers, who lives at Keep Bryden now, securin’ yer peace treaty.”
Creighton set his jaw. “This treaty will benefit ye, too.”
“Aye, it will. But it doesnae change the fact that Skye’s life is at stake, nae Laurie’s.”
“Laurie was too young to go.”
“I am nae arguin’ with ye about this, cousin. We ken why we arranged things the way we did. Just take better care of yer betrothed, aye?”
There was a hint of strain in Hunter’s voice. No doubt he’d been worried about his sister’s safety. Laird Bryden did not seem like the kind of man who’d throw an innocent woman into the dungeons or have her harmed or killed in retaliation for something another laird was rumored to have done. Still, it was unwise to assume too much about relations between lairds.
Even his own cousin.
What must it feel like to have an ordinary family?Creighton thought, with a pang of envy.A normal cousin, a man I could look to as a brother, instead of us both havin’ the weights of our clans on our shoulders?
He glanced up, catching Hunter’s eye. There was a gleam of something like sympathy there.
“Regardless, I am glad that ye are here, Creighton,” Hunter said quietly, placing a tentative hand on his cousin’s shoulder. “We have been preparin’ for yer visit for a while. It’s good to see ye. It has been too long.”
Creighton smiled wryly back.
At that moment, Nora clambered out of the carriage. Aunt Helena gave a cry of delight, coming forward with his arms outstretched.
“What a beauty she is!” she crowed. “And did I hear that ye were a healer too, lassie? A fine skill, a fine one!”
Nora reddened. “Thank ye, me Lady.”
“Call me Helena. Aunt Helena, if ye like. Come, ye will be shown to yer rooms, then we will go outside. A ceilidh and a feast have been arranged.”
“An outdoor ceilidh?” Nora questioned, surprised.
“I cannae wait!” Laurie chirped, jumping up and down and clapping her hands.
“Well, ye and Nora here will go to yer rooms, freshen up, and return,” Aunt Helena instructed. “I’ll have a wee word with me nephew while ye are gone.”
They all made their way back into the Great Hall. Nora and Laurie were herded off one way, and the servants and soldiers disappeared in another direction. That left Creighton, Hunter, and Aunt Helena standing in the middle of the silent Hall, eyeing each other.
Aunt Helena spoke first, folding her hands over the head of her cane.
“I like her,” she pronounced. “First impressions matter, nay matter what anybody says. She’s a clever girl, sharp and kind. Laurie adores her; that much is evident. A good match for ye, Creighton.”
