“Aye, me Lady. He’s at breakfast. Shall I show ye?”
“Nay, I recall the way, thank ye,” Hannah said with a smile and took herself to the dining room.
This time, the doors were wide open, and there were many men and a woman inside. The conversation was lively as they ate and scooped more food from the serving plates arranged in the middle of the table. She recognized Lucas and, at the head of the table, Aiden.
Upon further glance, she recognized Peter as well, the gardener who’d helped her clip angelica root at Calder Castle.
Aiden looked up when conversation fell to a murmur at the sight of her in the doorway. “Hannah,” he greeted with a smile. “Join us.” He gestured to the chair to his left, which she suspected was empty for a reason.
“Oh, nay,” she said politely. “I need to get going.”
“Ye’ll nae be on the road with an empty stomach, lass,” he chided, frowning. “Join us.”
She had a feeling that“I’m yer Laird, and I say aye,”would come next if she tried to beg off again.
With an amused shake of her head, she entered the room and sat in the indicated chair, which happened to be next to Peter and across from Lucas.
“Good morning, Mistress Leon,” Peter greeted with a kindly smile that crinkled his eyes.
“Hannah,” she reminded him.
“Aye, Hannah.”
“Good morning, Peter,” she returned. “It’s lovely to see ye again.”
“And ye. May I introduce ye to me wife, Isla?” Peter gestured to the woman beside him. “Isla, this is Hannah.”
“Good morning,” Isla said, with a broad grin that wrinkled her face. That, with the hazel eyes, tipped Hannah off before Peter spoke again.
“And me son, Lucas.”
Hannah smiled at Lucas. “Nice to see ye again.”
“And ye, lass.”
He sat to Aiden’s right, suggesting that Aiden held him in high esteem.
Other than the family, Hannah saw three men she didn’t know. Two blondes and one with red hair. None of them made an effort to introduce themselves, and she didn’t ask. Instead, she filled her plate and ate swiftly as conversation picked up again.
Aiden leaned over to her. “Did ye sleep well, lass?”
“Aye,” she responded politely. “I suppose I’m spoiled now after the accommodations.”
He chuckled. “I expect ye’ll be able to adjust, lass.”
She grinned back at him and nodded, finishing her plate with gusto. She couldn’t complain about the food either. If she was going to be made to spend the night, then she’d do it in luxury.
As she finished, she pushed her plate away and glanced at Aiden. “By yer leave, Violet must be in an absolute panic.”
“Aye, lass, I’ll see ye out.” Aiden rose with her as she said her goodbyes to Lucas’s family.
They left together, and he guided her to the stable. It was far larger than hers, which was no surprise, and she found Fin saddled and ready.
Her pony tossed his head at the sight of her, and she smiled, patting his neck. “Good boy.”
“Now,” Aiden said with raised eyebrows, “ye’ll nae be leaving this escort behind, ye ken?”
“What?” Hannah asked, bristling.
