Archie ran off, and Maxwell said, “While he’s at it, Magnus and I will stretch our legs and look around for a bit until we’re ready to head to the castle. With your permission, of course?”
“Certainly,” Brodie agreed. “It’s been quite a long ride. By all means, take your time.”
Magnus and Maxwell nodded, making themselves scarce.
As Brodie waited for Archie to return, whistling to himself quietly to stave off the mounting anticipation of meeting his one true love, a woman in a plain dress entered the stables, looking around.
Once Brodie caught sight of her, he found that he could not bring himself to take his eyes off her.
She was magnificent. The most beautiful woman he had ever seen.
Her lustrous brown hair was pulled back in a sensible ponytail that revealed her long, pale, lovely neck. Her eyes were blue as the ocean on a sunny day, twinkling with wit and charm. Even beneath her simple frock, Brodie could see that her body had magnificent curves…ones he could easily imagine running his hands over as he kissed her full and inviting lips.
And from the way she was looking at him, it was clear that she felt a strong attraction as well.
Good heavens, he thought, feeling himself blush.If even the servant girls here are this captivating, Isla herself must be a goddess among women! I am all the more eager to meet her!
“Well, well!” the woman said merrily, looking him over. “It appears we have a traveler among us! Or rather, more than one, given the two horses standing next to your own. Greetings, and welcome to the castle of the MacLeods…or their stables, at any rate,” she corrected herself with a laugh.
Even her laughter was alluring to him, like the gentle sound of wind chimes in a sweet breeze.
“Thank you kindly,” he replied, trying to sound as calm and confident as possible.
“Have you seen a blonde lad named Archie around here, by any chance?” she inquired. “I’m to tell him to saddle Lady Isla’s mare so that she might indulge herself in a brief ride before her guest arrives today.”
“I have seen the lad in question,” Brodie informed her cheerfully. “He is arranging refreshment for our horses and should return directly.”
“Ah, excellent! And are you and your allies passing through on your way to somewhere else, then?”
“As it happens,” he answered, “we have reached our destination!”
She raised her eyebrows. “Then am I to assume that you are one of the riding companions of Brodie MacKenzie?”
“Not quite. Rather, IamBrodie MacKenzie. And what might your name be, dear lady?”
The woman seemed to falter for a moment, then regained her composure. “I…did not realize I was speaking to the son of a laird, sir. Forgive me.”
“No doubt you were expecting me to dress more grandly for the occasion,” he replied a bit bashfully. “My mother expected the same. However, I felt that more subtlety was called for. In the name of good taste, and to deter highwaymen from recognizing me as nobility and accosting me for valuables. Now, you were about to tell me your name?”
“Yes! Forgive me!” She curtsied, seeming deeply embarrassed. “My name is Margaret, sir. A pleasure to make your acquaintance. I am the maid to Lady Isla, and your arrival has been much…” It seemed as though she was struggling for the most tactful word. “...anticipated.”
“Has it? I am so delighted to hear that! I have long awaited this day as well.”
Magnus and Maxwell returned to the stable. “Who have we here, then?” Magnus asked, trying—and failing—to keep from being too obvious in admiring Margaret’s figure.
“This,” Brodie pronounced grandly, “is none other than Margaret, the maid of Lady Isla herself! And she is about to escort us the rest of the way to the castle.” He turned, giving her a sly wink. “Aren’t you, lass?”
“Oh! Yes! Of course!” Margaret was flustered. She hadn’t been prepared to meet such a handsome and charming man that day, and having done so, she’d been even less prepared to discover that the man was betrothed to Isla, and therefore thoroughly out of her reach. “Archie will take good care of your mounts, I assure you. And I suppose there is no need for me to ask him to saddle Lady Isla’s horse since you have already arrived. Follow me, please, and I shall see that you three are given a proper welcome.”
As they walked toward the castle, Maxwell and Magnus trailed a few steps behind. Margaret was well aware that they were staring at her lasciviously, but she paid them no mind.
Rather, she was thinking of what Isla had said to her when they were trying on dresses together: That someday, she would have the freedom Isla longed for so deeply to marry whomever she pleased.
Aye, unless the lad has already been promised to my betters, eh?There was no spite in that thought, just a faint tinge of sadness and the wistful notion that a noble lady such as Isla felt that Margaret enjoyed more liberty in life than she did.
Well, no matter. All that was left was for Margaret to lead the man to meet his intended and to hope that his pleasing countenance would be enough to make Isla smitten with him so that she would not feel as though she were being forced to marry someone who was wholly undesirable to her.
Margaret had never been jealous of Isla’s title, her family, her fine clothes, her luxurious bedchamber, or her trinkets. But just then, she felt the slightest pinch of envy toward her, knowing that she was to be courted by one so fine-looking and charismatic.
